Air Pollution: A Case study on the Impact of COVID-19 on Delhi City

Abstract

India is the second most populated country globally and requires massive urban infrastructure. As a result of this rapid growth, air quality in cities has deteriorated. A World Health Organization survey found that 147 males and 136 females per 100,000 persons in India are died by air pollution. In recent times, Delhi, the capital city of India, experienced the worst condition of air pollution. Therefore, different air pollutants were assessed for Delhi city using the Central Pollution Control Boards report in this study. The study indicated that a city's air quality has considerably beyond the safety limitations of the Central Pollution Control Board. From the study, it is clear that the various activities in the city are causing air pollution, but neighboring towns are equally responsible for it. Countries suffered enormous economic losses due to the COVID-19 shutdown, but air quality improved. Pollution levels fell by half during the shutdown. The Delhi government established an odd/even system and educated the people on the benefits of carpooling to curb air pollution. Recently, smog towers were installed to clear a larger volume of polluted air and supply fresh air to the surrounding community. The study recommends that reducing pollution is not just a government duty, but the general public still plays an important role. © 2023 American Institute of Physics Inc.. All rights reserved.