Beyond Delhi: The Hidden Smog Crisis Affecting Northern India

While Delhi often garners media attention for its hazardous air quality, cities like Chandigarh, Agra, and Meerut face equally dire pollution levels. Citizens are increasingly suffering health issues related to this toxic smog, and many lack the means to shield themselves from its effects.

Northern India faces a smog crisis that does not just limit itself to Delhi. Imran Ahmed Ali, a lawyer in Chandigarh, highlights the dire conditions as pollution levels soar more than 15 times beyond safe limits prescribed by the World Health Organization. The cold winter months trap pollutants close to the ground, exacerbating respiratory issues for the city's residents, who are left feeling helpless.

According to reports by IQAir, eight out of ten most polluted cities globally are located within the Indo-Gangetic Plains, a region that stretches across northern India. The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago emphasizes that these polluted air levels could shorten the life expectancy of 540.7 million residents by an alarming 5.4 years. Yet, national and international media often focus solely on Delhi, where the government implements annual pollution control measures, while other regions receive little attention.

Pollution in northern India is a composite of several factors including vehicular emissions, industrial discharges, and the seasonal burning of agricultural waste. During winter, stagnant cold air traps pollutants, worsening health conditions. Medical professionals are ringing alarm bells about respiratory problems arising even in healthy individuals, with children and the elderly being particularly susceptible.

Residents like Aditi Garg from Meerut have altered their daily routines entirely, often confined indoors to avoid the toxic air. For many, including workers in the unorganized sectors of Uttar Pradesh, staying indoors is a luxury. Mohammad Salim Siddiqui, a vendor from Kanpur, fights the pollution daily while worrying about his family's health.

The Indian government initiated the National Clean Air Programme in 2019, aiming for a 20-30% reduction in particulate matter by 2026. However, experts say there is a dire need for coordinated efforts and discussions to make substantial progress against pollution.

As citizens voice their frustrations, many have resigned themselves to living with toxic air, regarding it as an accepted part of life. The focus must broaden beyond Delhi to address this environmental disaster plaguing northern India's substantial populace.