Cause and Effect- A Pollution perspective.

Why is air-pollution a problem in Delhi?

This can be better understood by exploring the main causes of air-pollution in Delhi:

a. Industrial waste and effluent release into the air and water. (All year round)

b. Vehicular pollution: Passenger, light goods, heavy goods all government and private. (All year round)

c. Seasonal Agri crop waste burning (Especially around winter)

d. Burning of solid waste and landfills - ewaste, industrial waste, household waste, hazardous and bio-medical waste. (All year round)

e. Energy production and usage. (All year round)

f. Use of wood and waste wood incineration (All year round)

g. Devolved commercialized religious rituals, practices and festivals- bonfires, bursting fire crackers, heavy vehicle movement for processions and transport etc.

h. Animal husbandry and cattle rearing (All year round)

i. Construction/demolition activity (All year round)

j. Open flame cooking using wood, waste wood or coal (All year round)

k. Heavy duty goods transport diesel vehicles 

l. Inefficient PUC checks and traffic regulation

There may be many more reasons but these are the major ones for Delhi NCR's situation. Most of the resident population would say they are not party to the problem as many of them use public transport and do not directly contribute to any of the above, however indirectly they do through their consumption. Everything they use and own requires two things in processing, water and electricity and even the filtration and pumping of water requires electricity and both require burning of fuels to generate energy to convert into electricity. So even in small ways living a sustainable life can contribute when done by masses.

So why does it get worse in the winter in Delhi? The problem in part is the water vapor in the air. Naturally all year a certain amount of humidity exists in the air and air conditioning is used across the city and this results in drying of air indoors and increase in humidity outdoors resulting in heating and trapping of particulate matter in suspension in the air.  Vehicular exhausts, factories etc, all increase ambient humidity in atmosphere. On a clear summer day the sun evaporates the vapor resulting in less suspended particulate whereas in the winter the soup bowl that is Delhi surrounded on three sides becomes a vapor trap and cooling resulting in formation of thick mist that blocks the sun out and prevents warming and results in increased particulates in the breathable air. This is why air pollution is worse in winter than in the rest of the year.

Effects of Air Pollution

• Air pollution causes irritation in the throat, nose, lungs and eyes.  It causes breathing problems and aggravates existing health conditions such as emphysema and asthma.

• Contaminated air reduces the body’s defenses and decreases the body’s capacity to fight other infections in the respiratory system.

• Frequent exposure to polluted air increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.  Breathing air that is filled with fine particulate matter can induce hardening of the arteries, triggering cardiac arrhythmia or even a heart attack.

• People who exercise outdoors are susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution because it involves deeper and faster breathing.

• Acid rain contains hydrogen ions, which can damage trees, crops, harm marine animals and induce corrosion in metals.

• Smog causes harmful health effects in humans and animals.  Studies have shown signs of black lung disease in dolphins of due to high concentrations of carbon particles in the air.

• People afflicted with heart disease, children and older people are more sensitive to air pollution.

- Joseph T. Varghese, Author & Managing Trustee, KEYS Trust

Follow us @    KEYS Trust India FB Page 

                         Climate Connexions Delhi 

Support us @ Google Pay on +91 9818768028

All we need is Rs 15,000  per month for a year to keep us going and working stress free on this & many other environmental and social issues with youth and communities in Delhi NCR. If 15 donors donated Rs 1,000 a month we would be grateful.

Contact us @  Call or Whatsapp: +91 9818768028, email: keystrustindia@gmail.com

(Statutory warning: This blog post by no means is an exhaustive list of what causes air pollution and how it affects health. This is a representation of views & factss that came forth from the author based on years of learning and experience and knowledge as we know expands and changes and grows with time and access to new information via research. Any images used are not owned by the author or KEYS Trust and belong to their original sources and are merely used for education & visual representation purpose.Any suggestions or improvements are welcomed and any flaws in the content in terms of correction, omission or additions may be kindly excused & communicated to the author by way of email to: keystrustindia@gmail.com)

Tips for Outdoor Water Conservation in Communities and Households

  

•   Avoid lawns, non-native ornamentals, and water hungry plants. 

•      Water plants early in the morning during the summer months to reduce evaporation losses. 

•    Use a watering can or mug instead of a hose and pour water around the base of the plants avoiding the stem and leaves to prevent leaf burn or primary root rot or stem infections. 

•      Water soil only to the point that the top 3-5 inches of soil are damp if watering daily and ensure avoiding over flow or over saturation of soil. 

•      Use a sprinkler that throws large drops of water rather than a fine mist if land area is large. This will reduce water losses from wind drift and evaporation. 

•     Use of drip irrigation for bedded plants, trees, or shrubs and even potted plants and vertical gardens can be considered for water saving when plantation is organized. 

•     Use mulches to help reduce soil moisture losses. This can be home-made compost, manure, wood chips, leaf litter, etc especially in the places with harsh winters and summers.

•       Do not "sweep" the driveway or sidewalk using a hose. Use a broom instead and sprinkle water after to settle dust near the home. 

•      Do not water the streets, sidewalks, and driveways to settle dust or clean. Nothing will grow a thing there and therefore there is no need of water. 

•      Use a bucket of soapy water to wash and a bucket of clean water and a sponge or damp cloth for rinsing and wiping down the car. 

•      Leave a bowl of fresh water out for birds, insects and local fauna daily. 

•     For washing hands and feet if there is a tradition of not wearing footwear in the house, store a closed bucket of water and a mug outside instead of using a running tap or hose. 

•      Design the exteriors based on natural contours to ensure retention and recharge of ground water using a combination of modern and traditional low cost, low energy, know how. Invest in rain water harvesting and ground recharge measures in proximity to the home. 

•     Avoid tarring, tiling, cementing or concreting around the home which reduces natural ground water recharge drastically and has a heat radiating effect on the home. 

•     Surround homes with trees and shrubs for shade and leave soil mulched and uncovered to ensure ground water percolation and retention.

This list is meant as a starter for those wishing to Save Water. The actionable points for Outdoors can be enforceable in gated communities by RWAs in response to the growing water crises or by self-regulation by members of the community in non-gated ones.

- Joseph T. Varghese, Author & Managing Trustee, KEYS Trust

Follow us @    KEYS Trust India FB Page 

                         Climate Connexions Delhi 

Support us @ Google Pay on +91 9818768028

All we need is Rs 15,000  per month for a year to keep us going and working stress free on this & many other environmental and social issues with youth and communities in Delhi NCR. If 15 donors donated Rs 1,000 a month we would be grateful.

Contact us @  Call or Whatsapp: +91 9818768028, email: keystrustindia@gmail.com

(Statutory warning: This blog post by no means is an exhaustive list of what can be done to conserve water outdoors. This is a representation of views & ideas that came forth from the author based on years of learning and experience. Any images used are not owned by the author or KEYS Trust and belong to their original sources and are merely used for education & visual representation purpose.Any suggestions or improvements are welcomed and any flaws in the content in terms of correction, omission or additions may be kindly excused & communicated to the author by way of email to: keystrustindia@gmail.com)

Tips for Indoor Water Conservation in Communities and Households

In the Kitchen:

·       Keep a container of water in the refrigerator to cool instead of running water from the tap.

·       Avoid RO if using Water Board water for cooking and drinking.

·      Switch to gravity and adsorption based technologies to save water, electricity, health, reduce waste and prevent wastage of money. Residual chlorine might need remedying in monsoons.

·       Ways to remove residual chlorine from Jal Board water,

a.    Use a net covered bucket to aerate water which is conventionally treated at source to evaporate excess by leaving it for 4-6 hours. Net to prevent insects.

b.      Boil to evaporate excess chlorine, however this leads to loss of dissolved oxygen.

c.      Use chlorine removal tablets in storage containers.

d.      Use activated carbon dips in gravity based filters to kill smell and taste of residual chlorine by removing it along with other contaminants.

·       Turn off taps when not in use and replace taps if there is a drip.

·       Check pipes to ensure there are no leaks or damage annually.

·    Have water tested annually or bi-annually from a government approved lab for water from tube wells, bore wells, springs or surface water from rivers and streams or open wells to ensure quality of water and based on quality and contamination look for remediation.

·       Switch to low flow taps or adjustable aeration or misting nozzles to reduce water usage.

·  Use biological agents to clean and scrub dishes, counters, or floors to reduce chemical contamination of waste water, reduce indoor air pollution and damage to skin and health.

·       Keep conservation in mind when working in the kitchen. Small water savings can be had by,

a.     Not using an electric coffee maker machine

b.     Only using enough water in an electric kettle as is needed

c.  Using a pressure cooker  or pot with a lid and timer to cook foods instead of boiling in an open  vessel

d.    Letting frozen foods slow defrost by keeping them out a little earlier to use rather than soaking them in hot or tap water.

e.    Washing vessels, meat and veggies in a tub or basin of water and then using the waste water in potted plants and gardens.  A tub or basin is a finite amount of water.

f.     Wipe down dishes with a wet clean cloth using a clean tub of warm water than rinsing under an open tap.

In The Laundry:

·       Wash only a full load when using the washing machine. It takes on average about 115 to 225 liters of water per load. Differences are there in capacity, size and type of washing machine- front loading or top loading, etc

·    When hand washing in a bucket, use a 15 or 20 liter bucket to pre-soak before soaking in soap solution or scrubbing with bar soap targeting key areas of clothing where dirt and grime tends to accumulate like, arm pits, collars, chest, elbows, cuffs, bottom of pants, etc., and then rinse out using minimal water. Avoid bleach and conditioners if possible.

·    Try and use biological cleaning agents where possible to reduce contamination of ground water with waste water and reduce impact on skin from harsh chemicals.

In The Bathroom:

For bathing,

·       Avoid using a bathtub unless it is for a baby and the tub is baby sized.

·    Avoid a shower. Use a bucket and mug. A bucket is a finite amount of water just like our planet has a finite amount of clean potable water. Make sure,

a.     Bucket is 15 or 20 litres and not more.

b.     Use a smaller mug that way no excess water is poured and waste.

If using a shower,

a.    Install a low-flow showerhead that restricts the flow of water from the shower to less than 9.5 litres per minute.

b.    Ensure shower is turned off during soaping, shampooing, conditioning and is only used for wetting and rinsing.

c.    Take short showers. Ensure not to exceed 10 minutes in the shower.

d.  The amount of water used in a shower depends upon the type, height, angle and maneuverability and flow adjustment capacity of shower head, the pressure of water, the amount of time a person takes or needs to get clean,  resulting in greater wastage.

For toilets,

·       Install a low-flow toilet that uses only 5-10 litres of water per flush.

·    Test toilets for leaks. Add a few drops of food coloring or a dye tablet to the water in the toilet tank, but do not flush the toilet. Wait a few minutes to see if the coloring appears in the bowl. If so, the toilet has a silent leak that needs to be repaired.

·    Use a toilet tank water displacement device, such as a toilet dam or bag in older models. Also, a plastic bottle can be filled with stones or with water, recapped, and placed in the toilet tank. These devices will reduce the volume of water in the tank but will still provide enough for flushing. (Bricks are not recommended as they eventually crumble and can damage the flushing mechanism.)

·     Displacement devices are not recommended for use with newer low-flow toilets.

·    Never use the toilet as a trash can to dispose of gum, cigarette butts, body hair, used tissue, sanitary napkins or other items. Unnecessary flushing wastes water placing an added burden on sewage treatment plants and septic tanks.

For basic hygiene,

·       Use a bucket and mug or a small bowl or tub.

·       When brushing teeth, turn the water off until it is time to rinse.

·    Do not let the water run while washing hands. Turn the water off while soaping and turn it on again to rinse.

·   When shaving, fill a small tub, sink or mug with warm water instead of letting the water run continuously.

This list is meant as a starter for those seriously wishing to "Save Water" in line with the government's stand. The enforcement of points for indoor water conservation largely depends upon how responsible and responsive citizens in RWAs are within their homes in response to the growing water crisis plaguing cities due to poor planning and incorrect understanding of natural resources.

- Joseph T. Varghese, Author & Managing Trustee, KEYS Trust

Follow us @    KEYS Trust India FB Page 

                         Climate Connexions Delhi 

Support us @ Google Pay on +91 9818768028

All we need is Rs 15,000  per month for a year to keep us going and working stress free on this & many other environmental and social issues with youth and communities in Delhi NCR. If 15 donors donated Rs 1,000 a month we would be grateful.

Contact us @  Call or Whatsapp: +91 9818768028, email: keystrustindia@gmail.com

(Statutory warning: This blog post by no means is an exhaustive list of what can be done to conserve water indoors. This is a representation of views & ideas that came forth from the author based on years of learning and experience. Any images used are not owned by the author or KEYS Trust and belong to their original sources and are merely used for education & visual representation purpose.Any suggestions or improvements are welcomed and any flaws in the content in terms of correction, omission or additions may be kindly excused & communicated to the author by way of email to: keystrustindia@gmail.com)

Airing our fears, killing our people. Where is the voice?

Man has progressed but the mind and spirit have regressed. Evolution is not just a physical necessity but also a mental one. 

What & Where is the problem?

Air pollution is a yearly phenomenon in Delhi NCR now. It is also a serious issue in other metro cities across the nation due to similar practices & circumstances. Come winter & people are wheezing, falling ill, blacking out, even dying (some more slowly than others). Apparently we lose about 2 hours of life for every day we breathe in Delhi and yet lessons learnt are nil. Every year now the health advisories flash red. The Courts see red and demand a response from the government. The Center ignores and passes blame and the State bumbles with meaningless tokenism to escape it.

The local government of the city state is helpless with lack of authority over the respective institutions which come normally under the authority of the state. So to avoid blame with zero expertise they takes to a 'monkey see monkey do' approach with things like even odd which has zero impact on pollution, just to placate the Courts and public temporarily. Meanwhile the national government sits still and silent pretending not to see or hear anything only misdirecting the issue using other issues and a smart use of media- paid a/v, print and social. 

Introduction of CNG was a scheme to hide the pollution clouds. Visible pollution reduced, toxicity of the invisible pollution increased. Public remained with their heads in the clouds thinking "All Iz Whell". Once the winter of discontent passes, 'Out of Sight Out of Mind' is in motion, which in Desi terms translates into 'Raat gayi Baat gayi'. The pollution still remains at less toxic levels than before (nonetheless still too toxic for human health) but because it is no longer visible it is no longer a problem. Waste in dumping sites have been over capacity since 2008, the ban on single used plastics has also been around forever but rather than enforce it, it has given way to tech fixes of incineration, and waste to energy instead of sorting and recycling, enforcing manufacturing bans. 

The state cannot fully be blamed as it does not hold a lot of its own land or the land authority, it does not hold law and law enforcement and it does hold health but not appointment of health professionals.  Alternatives to single use plastics which are another form of plastics is out, posing to the public as recyclables and cloth.  Meanwhile, the belligerent educated and mislead public in the city, oblivious of the games that are being played with their health respond with statements like, Humein toh aadat si hai ab, Hum immune hain, Kuch nahi badlega, etc. Basically as long as their comfort and convenience is not disrupted and someone close to them is not suffering they do not care. 

Industry will make what sells, they will keep making unless there is a loss of public interest or there is a government dispensation to penalize or restrict them. Profit trumps public welfare. So we cannot expect industry to change voluntarily. Getting government to restrict them too is difficult. The public is the voice if they feel empowered to do so. A Nirbhaya even for a few days showed us the power of the public. Protesting alone will achieve nothing neither will the bhook hartal or morchas. What is required is a systemic change, a disruption of the status quo, a demand for change starting with every individual and community banding together contributing to that change.

The larger problem is the unplanned and unrestricted population growth and illegal developments housing them since Independence. They are often ignored and even legalized as a vote bank though they add to the risks within the city be it from a fire, flooding, quake, etc. The people living in them have bigger problems the traditional roti, kapda makaan aspiration and pursuit of a status upgrade with time. People who moved in as political refugees, asylum seekers, labor, security forces. government personnel or who moved here in the last decade for work with the growth of industry, IT and BPO units or moved for education and a better life have no stake in the welfare of the city. For them Delhi is a transit point, a place they live in out of necessity awaiting something better, not by choice and often for a lifetime. None of them have ownership of Delhi or feel any pride or belonging even if they own huddled illegally constructed properties here. 

Unlike other cities and towns you will not find settlers here saying "Apna Dilli". So if there is no Dil attached to Dilli how do we expect people and problems to change and resolve? So in such circumstances what do we the citizens of India & more so Delhi do? To define citizen action one must define the problem, the sources of the problem and address the causes of the sources of the problem in order to design effective localized solutions to resolve them at grassroots level as communities. What the law, industry or government cannot, communities can. Demand drives supply, kill the demand the supply will die, if consumer behavior changes, production patterns will change. 

The AQI (Air Quality Index) up to 50 is considered good, after which human life, health and well being deteriorates. On average AQI stays between 100 - 250 in most parts of Delhi(excluding pockets of micro climates where it may drop to 50-55) and in the winter reaches dangerous limits of 300 - 999+, which is hazardous and toxic. Knowingly and unknowingly Delhiites are both the victims & perpetrators of crimes against humanity as they do not realize their role in the state of the environment in Delhi. 

Yes, Right to Health may have not been a Fundamental Right in India under its Constitution. However, the Constitution directs the state to take measures to improve the condition of healthcare & impose a pollution free environment for good health of its people, under Articles 38, 39(e) 41, 42, 47, 48A of the Directive Principle of State Policy (DPSP). But then it is more than mere State Duty, for Supreme Court relying on international documents in the case CESC ltd. v/s. Subash Chandra Bose, concluded that Right to Health was a Fundamental Right. 

In T. Ramakrishna Rao vs. Hyderabad Development Authority, the Andhra Pradesh High Court observed: Protection of the environment is not only the duty of the citizens but also the obligation of the State and all other organs of the State including the Courts. The slow poisoning of the atmosphere caused by environmental pollution & spoliation should be regarded as amounting to violation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Thus linking pollution to health and declaring it a violation of the right to life with dignity as well.

This means that if Delhiites decide to take ownership of their city, they have an absolute right to congregate and challenge the government legally both the Centre and State on the state of the environment and the worsening quality of life. The important thing is to remain true to the cause and prevent politics, or media hungry agents with political agendas posing as concerned citizens, activists and ngos from diluting and disrupting it. Delhiites might actually live an extra 9-10 years if WHO air quality norms were followed. Speaking from personal experience, the  pitiful condition of children, elderly, women & men of this city that once took pride in being green & clean, cannot be unseen when you walk into hospitals in the winter. Meanwhile, seasonal rants about the weather, pollution & their health conditions on social media with pictures to reinforce their misery & win solidarity are a trend now to no effect other than to evoke sympathy. 

Companies run charity events & festivals for multiple causes in the winter with "good intentions" neglecting the immediate problem at hand (oversight since money has been invested and returns are higher than breathing problems in the public). But you will not find them fighting for the air pollution cause unless it is to peddle a product or service. Give them a good reason to change. Government actions are as good as flogging a dead horse because they lack expertise and function in arrogance just to meet election deadlines. They are engaged in showering people with meaningless freebies and PR campaigns now. But now is the time to raise the real issues and hold them all accountable. Make them work for the people rather than idolizing them as Gods and heros. Ask questions, demand answers. 

In the meanwhile, to see what we can do to help with the situation as citizens, please take a look at:

1. Low Carbon Living @ Home
2. Low Carbon Living @ Work

- Joseph T. Varghese, Author & Managing Trustee, KEYS Trust

Follow us @    KEYS Trust India FB Page 

                         Climate Connexions Delhi 

Support us @ 
1.

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All we need is Rs 20,000  per month for a year to keep us going and working stress free on this & many other environmental and social issues with youth and communities in Delhi NCR. If 40 donors donated Rs 500 or if 20 donated Rs 1000 a month we would be grateful.

2.

PayTM to support Action4Air: +91 9818768028

This is our response as a a responsible organization working with youth & community in terms of practical action to help children... both the underprivileged children studying in government and unregistered schools (free, based on donation) & the children studying in private & semi-private schools (nominal fee for the program, the proceeds of which add to the amount for raising awareness in the underprivileged). If you live in Delhi, can see, smell and suffer from the pollution then help us do some social good. Remember even Rs 100 could safeguard a single child. For any queries or if you need any assistance in terms of alternate means of funding do get in touch with us.

Contact us @  Call or Whatsapp: +91 9818768028, email: keystrustindia@gmail.com

(Statutory warning: This blog post by no means is an exhaustive list of what can be done to deal with air pollution in Delhi. Keep watching this space as it will be updated & populated with more information & links when it becomes available. This is a representation of views & ideas that came forth from the author that could be explored for viability. It is based on the limited research, deliberation & understanding of the author who suffers from the after-effects of air-pollution in Delhi. The images used are not owned by the author or KEYS Trust and belong to their original sources and are merely used for education & visual representation purpose.This by no way means the author is an expert & any flaws in the content in terms of correction, omission or additions may be kindly excused & communicated to the author by way of email to: keystrustindia@gmail.com)