OneIndia's Aarushi Ranjan sits down with Dr. Mayank Saxena, Additional Director in Pulmonology & Sleep Medicine at Fortis Hospital, to discuss the severe air pollution crisis gripping Delhi as winter approaches. With smog blanketing the city and air quality levels plummeting, Dr. Saxena provides insights into the primary causes, including stubble burning and vehicular emissions. He also shares effective precautions for citizens and evaluates government initiatives like the Graded Response Action Plan. Join us for an in-depth conversation on the urgent need for sustainable solutions to safeguard our health and environment.
#DelhiPollution #AirQuality #DrMayankSaxena #OneIndia #SmogCrisis #PublicHealth #EnvironmentalAwareness #StubbleBurning #GRAP #CleanAir #SustainableSolutions
#DelhiPollution #AirQuality #DrMayankSaxena #OneIndia #SmogCrisis #PublicHealth #EnvironmentalAwareness #StubbleBurning #GRAP #CleanAir #SustainableSolutions
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00:00Hello and welcome to One India News. And today, in this special episode, we are tackling a
00:09topic that resonates with all of us living in Delhi right now. And that is air pollution.
00:15As winter roars in, the capital's air quality is spiraling downwards, putting the health
00:21of millions at risk. If I give you a brief about today, today we are experiencing a temperature
00:27of around 32.93 degrees Celsius, with a low of 22.05 degrees Celsius, and humidity is
00:35at 26%. We are already feeling the fog and the smog. To help us unpack this critical
00:43issue, we are joined by Dr. Mayank Saxena. He's Additional Director in the Department
00:47of Pulmonology and Sleep Medicine at Fortis Hospital in Noida. Dr. Saxena, welcome to
00:54One India News. Thank you so much. So, the first question which I would like to ask you
01:01is to explain us the primary reasons behind air pollution every time in winters. Many
01:08people give different reasons for it. Some say it's because of the stubble burning in
01:13neighboring states. Some say it's because of the festive season, the crackles bursting.
01:19But in your opinion, in your understanding, what are the primary reasons which cause this
01:24air pollution every time in this time period from October to February?
01:29So rightly said, we are seeing every year, we are seeing that during this time from October
01:36to November, December, the pollution actually goes up in a very severe state. And moreover,
01:44the reasons can be multifactorial. However, we can divide these reasons into two, like
01:48natural reasons and man-made reasons. Natural reasons, basically it happens because the air
01:53speed, it goes drastically down during this period and which actually causes the cleaning
02:00capacity of air to be very low. So anything that gets stuck in the air, like pollutants,
02:08PM 2.5 or whatever, it gets stuck in the air and it is very difficult for the air to clean out,
02:13basically. Second thing, the natural reason is the temperature. The temperature goes down a little
02:20on the stable side. The humidity content also, it's on a little higher side in the post-monsoon
02:26phase. So the pollutant carrying capacity of the air also gets increased, basically,
02:32compared to the dry times and summer times. So anything that gets the air capacity of the air
02:42to carry pollution, it actually increases during this time. So these are actually natural reasons.
02:47But however, because this is not only to India, but we are seeing in the subcontinent,
02:54the temperatures and air quality, like air speed, it is similar. But why in India,
03:02in Northern India, we are facing more of a pollution. Now I'm coming on the man-made
03:07reasons, basically. They're basically due to the Praline stubble burning, the vehicular pollution.
03:13And yes, we are seeing the festivities and all, Diwali crackers and all. So we may see more of a
03:19pollution that gets trapped in. But I'll not blame only Diwali to this pollutant and all this.
03:26There are multifactorial cause of it. Many of things are preventable. Many are not. But still,
03:31we are seeing last 10 years back, there was not much of talk about the pollution and all.
03:36But in last 10 years, something has happened. And anytime we are seeing more increased pollution
03:41in coming days, and these 10 years have been little not so good from the pollution aspect.
03:47So there's something man-made factors to pinpoint those factors.
03:52Okay. So there are man-made factors and then there are natural factors, what I understand.
03:57So the man-made factors, we can stop that and improve the air quality. Natural factors are
04:03natural. Okay. So let's talk about the Graded Response Action Plan, which is also called GRAP.
04:10It has been implemented to manage air quality issues. I want to know in your opinion, how
04:16effective has it been or how effective it is going to be in this winter? Will it make any change?
04:22Will it help the people? Any state measures that are being taken would always be for our
04:29benefit only. And we have to follow them as per the state guidelines, basically. So I will always
04:34say that whatever the state is taking action, we should welcome it and it should help in curtailing
04:39down the pollution to any specific extent. But yes, the things if we have to see in both aspects,
04:46if we are living on the government's part only that, okay, government has to pass the instruction,
04:50we have to follow it. Something should be done from our side also. Like during these times,
04:56if we have like earlier, there used to be odd even or something, we have to just see what we
05:00can do from the controlling the vehicular emission aspect. We have to do car cooling.
05:05We have to cut down any construction related things that may be causing more of a suspended
05:10particulate matter to be more in the air. Like we are seeing heaps of cement and heaps of all
05:17the construction related things that are there. So ultimately, it's a state and the personal
05:22responsibility basically from the all aspects. And moreover, we should start controlling the
05:28pollution aspect from our side. I think two or one month ago, one month earlier, basically.
05:34What happened, every time we are starting the initiation in November and December.
05:39Yes. We start facing the issue. Then we start taking the measures and precautions, not before.
05:46Yes. So start the things earlier. Then actually, it's now it's a damage control if we are seeing.
05:53So ultimately, it's again the things, it's the talk of the thing. Every year, we are talking
05:59that we have to do this, we have to do that. But ultimately, the talk happens in during,
06:03only when the... So we have to start a little bit early from the state, also from the individual
06:12aspect also. So it will be a collective effort from the government and individual aspect,
06:17or a family aspect so that we can control the pollution in a very effective manner.
06:23Okay, so Dr. Saxena, you're saying that we are actually controlling the damage,
06:27which is already done. We should be taking the measures before. Okay, we are talking about the
06:33government measures. So let's add on to that. The government has introduced several measures
06:38like the Green War Room, and campaigns like Pradushan Ke Virud. And there are many NGOs
06:44also who work in like cleaning Yamuna and cleaning the air quality of Delhi. Do you believe these
06:51initiatives are sufficient to make a significant impact? Because as we were discussing every year,
06:57these kind of initiatives are done. But every year we face the same issue. So is it sufficient
07:03to get out of this air pollution issue which we are facing in Delhi?
07:09So it is fine. I will not be against it because it is anyway, it is any day for our benefit only.
07:18But as I said, I'm little talking about if they can be implemented a little earlier than the usual
07:25because now, being the pollution is rising, we are talking now we'll do that, we'll do that. But
07:30ultimately, the damage has been done. Now if you're seeing in during pollution times, we are
07:35putting pollution towers to control pollution and all. But ultimately, what we are doing to
07:41control that, we have to identify the specific areas like every year, we are seeing more of
07:47the pollution in Delhi and Sia, that region, Anand Vihar and all. But what we are doing for that
07:52matter, are we able to control in a future aspect, we have to be a little futuristic in our
07:57our things. And these NGOs and everyone is putting all the efforts, but a little timely effort before
08:05the things has happened would always be beneficial, more beneficial. Sir, finally, I would like to ask
08:11you, what message do you want to convey to the policymakers, to those who are taking these
08:17initiatives, and also to the citizens regarding the urgent need for a sustainable solution? You
08:22were saying that we should be taking measures that which is for long term, not for a shorter
08:28period. So what sustainable measures could be taken to tackle Delhi's pollution? So importantly,
08:35we are already on the verge of implementing all the things like we are seeing more of
08:39electric vehicles, we are seeing more of government initiative to control like diesel,
08:43and all the cars should be banned after this much of time duration. More vigilant traffic
08:49policing, checking the PUCs, pollution under control. So it is not that we are not seeing the
08:54action, we are seeing action from the government. As I said, from the individual aspect, also, it
08:59should not be fear of law, but it should be message from within like, yes, if my vehicle
09:03not get the pollution, then we should be getting the pollution done. Second thing, we should be
09:07more pro for the public transport usage or more of a carpooling or we can, you know, club the
09:14population in one transport mechanism and we can reduce the vehicular emission in that matter.
09:20Second thing, strict checks on industries and construction that are happening these days or
09:25events during the period. Now, we are seeing like we are seeing more of like green channels that
09:32are being created, where the construction are there basically there to stop the spread of
09:38all the heaps of cement into the air. So that the mechanisms are already developing,
09:44and they are being developed, just it's need more fairer and more stringent implementation
09:50to control the pollution that happens every year during this time. So as I said,
09:55again, I'm repeating that the action should start way away from around May or June.
10:02Okay, then it will be will be seen in November. So I think in all this, if we start early.
10:12Sir, the last question which I would like to ask you is that as a pulmonologist,
10:17what are the three precautionary measures which you want to give to the citizens,
10:22which they should be definitely following to keep their respiratory system healthy?
10:27So many times we have seen, if I say for example, 10 years back, who would
10:33thought of having a nebulizer machine or steamer or something like at home.
10:37So now, the pollution is one of the reason that we are seeing more of every like kid,
10:44or every elderly or everyone in a home getting cough that is not even going at this time of time,
10:49any viral infection that is happening, but it is not going. So anytime it is affecting the
10:54immunity also, it is affecting our recovery process also, the pollution exposure should
10:58be avoided. And there are two, three things we can do to avoid the pollution. First of all,
11:04get N95 mask during these times, because it helps in curtailing the exposure to the pollution when
11:09you're outside. Second thing is HEPA based air purifiers, it can be used by the individuals who
11:15are having any asthmatic situations or COPD or any respiratory conditions, or any other
11:21healthy food, they will be useful. As per appropriate room size, you should be using
11:26the air purifier accordingly. Third thing, we may use air purifier and all the things,
11:31but what about indoor air pollution? It is most talked about outdoor air pollution,
11:36but indoor air pollution has to be a little thing to be talked about also, because
11:44many a time this is one of the main factors. So get your chimneys in the house corrected,
11:49get your exhaust systems corrected, get your, in your house, there should be no hawans or puja,
11:56especially during these times, people are more into festivities and all. So,
12:01and like burning crackers also, not against burning crackers, but at least then if you're
12:06a respiratory patient, avoid around in your vicinity, like there should be no firecrackers
12:12around you. More importantly, every society must designate a place outside their, you know,
12:18premises basically, where they can be burned and where the pollution exposure can be reduced
12:26from that aspect. Don't burn crackers within your entry of the premise or in the like courtyard or
12:33some veranda or something. So just avoid exposure to those crackers also, like puljhadi and these
12:43smoke that produces more of a smoke. So I'm not against the crackers, but we should
12:48utilize it judiciously in terms of festivities. Okay, sir. Thank you so much for joining us.
12:55That was Dr. Mayank Saxena. We value your expertise and valuable information that you
13:00have provided us today. The challenges posed by air pollution in Delhi are indeed significant,
13:06but with informed strategies and collective action, there is a hope for improvement. It's
13:12essential together to take sustainable solutions. Thank you so much, Dr. Saxena,
13:17for talking to One India News. Don't miss out. Log on to oneindia.com for more updates.