India's air pollution: the need for city-centric plans and regulations
Authors: Gowda Parameshwara Prashanth
Journal: The Lancet Planetary Health (2021)

I read with great interest the paper by the India state-level disease burden initiative air pollution collaborators on the health and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India.1India State-Level Disease Burden Initiative Air Pollution CollaboratorsHealth and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.Lancet Planet Health. 2021; 5: e25-e38Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (51) Google Scholar In India, there is a diverse set of factors responsible for air pollution in different locations (urban, semi-urban, and rural). Shortage of applicable infrastructure, especially in rural and semi-urban areas, is the main limitation in the analysis of air quality. As the authors have correctly pointed out, studies on sources of emissions in major cities of India have used different methods, source signatures, and emission inventories. Missing meteorological data only adds to the indeterminacy in such a setting. Models such as the Urban Background Model developed at Aarhus University in Denmark successfully modelled the concentrations of CO, NOx, NO2, O3, and PM2·5 at the urban background level in Quito, Ecuador.2Valencia VH Hertel O Ketzel M Levin G Modeling urban background air pollution in Quito, Ecuador.Atmos Pollut Res. 2020; 11: 646-666Crossref Scopus (5) Google Scholar Such existing models could be tested, and new models could be developed at locations in India with complex topography. It has been articulated in the Global Burden of Disease 2019 paper that regulation can have a profound effect on exposure to and health effects of ambient particulate matter pollution. Government action through strict policies and regulatory measures are shown to directly affect air pollution.3Murray CJL Aravkin AY Zheng P et al.Global burden of 87 risk factors in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019.Lancet. 2020; 396: 1223-1249Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (662) Google Scholar Unfortunately, the initiatives of successive Indian governments as such are not well thought out and proactive.4Verma M GreenpeaceCan India bear cost of Government's apathy & inaction on air pollution?.https://www.greenpeace.org/india/en/press/2098/can-india-bear-cost-of-governments-apathy-inaction-on-air-pollution/Date: 2018Date accessed: December 31, 2020Google Scholar National emission inventories and a standard protocol for air pollution emission reporting across states are not available. PM2·5 was included for all manual stations monitoring air quality under the national ambient monitoring programme only in 2016. A study of the 102 city-specific clean air plans approved under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) showed that only 48 cities have source-specific actions with interim targets.5Ganguly T Kurinji SL Guttikunda SK How robust are urban India's clean air plans? An assessment of 102 Cities.https://www.ceew.in/sites/default/files/CEEW%20-%20How%20Robust%20are%20Urban%20India's%20Clean%20Air%20Plans%2016Jun20.pdfDate: 2020Date accessed: December 31, 2020Google Scholar The report found inadequate budget (90% of cities) and replication of action points and timelines (53% of cities). It was suggested that involvement of multiple regulatory agencies could result in fragmented accountability. The Smart City Project is an excellent opportunity to identify and replicate successful city-level models to implement policy regulations.2Valencia VH Hertel O Ketzel M Levin G Modeling urban background air pollution in Quito, Ecuador.Atmos Pollut Res. 2020; 11: 646-666Crossref Scopus (5) Google Scholar City-centric designs could be complimented with an additional tier of an airshed approach, which needs to be adopted in the NCAP. Clear, concrete, and coherent regulatory measures must be spelled out to directly address the issue of air pollution. Coordination between different stakeholders is essential to implement air pollution management plans. The state funding, statutory regulations, and the political willpower at large would be instrumental in our efforts to flatten the curve of air pollution. I declare no competing interests. Health and economic impact of air pollution in the states of India: the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019The high burden of death and disease due to air pollution and its associated substantial adverse economic impact from loss of output could impede India's aspiration to be a $5 trillion economy by 2024. Successful reduction of air pollution in India through state-specific strategies would lead to substantial benefits for both the health of the population and the economy. Full-Text PDF Open Access