Causes:

1) Motor vehicle emissions (Major) , wood-burning fires, fires on agricultural land, exhaust from
diesel generators, dust from construction sites, burning garbage and illegal industrial
activities in Delhi.
2) The Badarpur Thermal Power Station, a coal-fired power plant built in 1973.
it produces 80 to 90% of the particulate matter pollution from the electric power sector in
Delhi. The power plant has been permanently shut down since 15 October 2018 .
3) Fire in Bhalswa landfill is a major reason for airborne particles in Delhi.
4) Agricultural stubble burning also affects Delhi's air quality when crops are being harvested

5) Lack of active monitoring and reaction by authorities.

6) Lack of political priority.

7) Meteorological issues: The winters are extremely important in Delhi as it is dominated by

cold, dry air, and ground based inversion with low wind conditions, which are responsible
for increasing concentration of pollutants

Air quality index of Delhi is generally Moderate (101-200) level between January to September, and
then it drastically deteriorates to Very Poor (301-400), Severe (401-500) or Hazardous (500+) levels
in three months between October to December, due to various factors including stubble burning, fire
crackers burning during Diwali and cold weather.

Effects on children
irreversible lung damage, lower children's immune system and increase the risks
of cancer, epilepsy, diabetes and even adult-onset diseases like multiple sclerosis.
Effects on adults
reduced lung capacity, headaches, sore throats, coughs, fatigue, lung cancer, and early death.

Air quality assessment in delhi:

• Critical pollution (C) : EF ≥ 1.5;
• High pollution (H) : 1.0 ≤ EF < 1.5;
• Moderate pollution (M) : 0.5 ≤ EF < 1.0; and
• Low pollution (L) : EF < 0.5
(EF is the exceedance factor, EF=ratio of annual mean concentration of a pollutant and its
respective standard)

Control measures taken to reduce the pollution level:

1. Odd-Even Policy
2. Delhi Authorities Enhance Parking Fees By Four Times
3. Ban On Entry Of Trucks( Unless commercially important goods)
4. Ban On Civil Construction and Strict compliance of Graded Response Action Plan
5. More trips of Metro and Delhi buses increase its number
6.
of Delhi is generally Moderate (101-200) level between January to September, and then it drastically
deteriorates to Very Poor (301-400), Severe (401-500) or Hazardous (500+) levels in three months
between October to December, due to various factors including stubble burning, fire crackers
burning during Diwali and cold weather.