We need to nab the killer in the air

It’s not that time of the year yet, but it’s already entering conversations and concerns like a rough beast slouching towards northern India. Air pollution is back on the agenda. Last week, the Supreme Court criticised air pollution boards of Delhi/NCR, Punjab and Haryana for being ‘ineffective’ due to inadequate staffing. Of the 344 sanctioned posts in the Delhi Pollution Control Board, 233 are vacant. In Punjab, 314 of 652 sanctioned posts are empty, while in Haryana, 202 of 483 sanctioned posts are unmanned. The top court asked the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the body responsible for tackling pollution in the region, how it plans to address pollution and stubble-burning, the bane of seasonal AQI spikes, in the coming months amid such a personnel crisis.

In the last few years, air pollution has gained civic and political traction. Yet, on the ground, things seem to remain the same. No effective solution has been found to curb stubble-burning, even as other sources of pollution remain high. Cost of such negligence and apathy on public health and economy is significant. Researchers, including those from Mumbai’s International Institute for Population Sciences, examined PM2.5 pollution levels across 700+ districts. They found that air pollution exceeding national standards increases the risk of death across all ages, by 86% in newborns, 100-120% in under-5 kids, and 13% in adults.

How we equip our pollution-mitigation agencies has a direct bearing to how we value our own people. How many more scientific reports do we need to drive home the point that air pollution is killing people? Central and state governments must realise that this fight can’t be won by working in silos. Or without trained personnel and funds.