Air Pollution Reduction Efforts in the India Industrial Sector – Part 1 of 2

Overview of Air Pollution in India

India is facing a considerable challenge in reducing air pollution levels. With over 1.3 billion people and a rapidly growing economy, India’s industrial sector is playing an important role in air pollution in the country. From agricultural burning to industrial emissions, air pollution is a growing concern in India for the health of its citizens and the environment.

Causes of air pollution in India

Air pollution in India is a growing health and environmental concern. Many parts of the country routinely experience hazardous air pollutants, particularly during winter when air quality deteriorates significantly due to burning biomass (mostly agricultural residue) and coal to keep warm. This contributes to what is known as the “airpocalypse” in some parts of India, where residents live with air pollution levels higher than what is considered safe.

A range of factors contributes to the severity of air pollution in India. The main sources of airborne emissions come from vehicles and industry – especially in urban areas – and from crop burning and wood burning for cooking or heating. The major causes include:

• Vehicular emissions: With large urban populations, India’s cities are afflicted by vehicle emissions from two-stroke engines that burn adulterated fuel or use leaded petrol.
• Industrial emissions: Industrial pollution from coal-fired power stations and factories continue to plague Indian cities even though tougher environmental regulations have been applied in recent years.
• Fossil fuel consumption for household use: With electricity still inaccessible for many lower socio-economic groups, residential households rely heavily on solid fuels such as wood, lignite, and coal for cooking.
• Agricultural fires: Burning agricultural residues (stubble) remains a widespread practice by farmers across north India – a single fire can burn hectares within minutes, causing hazardous particulate matter concentrations in the local area of over 574 km2 (224 mi2).

Impact of air pollution in India

India continues to face significant air pollution challenges. The contributions of industrial pollution sources are significant and come mainly from burning coal and other fossil fuels, gas flaring, vehicular emissions, and forest fires. Consequently, India’s air pollution levels remain very high compared with other regions worldwide.

Air pollutants emitted from industrial activities include carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), heavy metals (e.g., cadmium, lead, mercury), and ground-level ozone precursors such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Exposure to these pollutants poses serious health risks for people in India. Long-term exposure is linked to various cardiopulmonary diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). It has also been associated with an increased risk of premature death from stroke, heart disease, and lung cancer. Additionally, exposure to particulate matter has been linked to chronic bronchitis and decreased lung function, making it especially harmful for vulnerable populations such as children.

India’s air quality management system is complex and incomplete due to a lack of effective enforcement mechanisms at both national and local levels. However, there have been some efforts at both state and central government levels which have had some success in reducing air pollution in major cities – for example, the introduction of Bharat Stage IV vehicular emission standards in 2017 – but more action needs to be taken to combat India’s pollutants-levels issue fully.

Government Initiatives

The Indian Central Government has taken various initiatives to reduce air pollution in the industrial sector as part of its larger mission to improve air quality across India. Some key initiatives include implementing stricter pollutant emission standards, green technologies, and investing in green infrastructure. This article will detail the various government initiatives and outline the implications for the industrial sector.

National Clean Air Program (NCAP)

In 2019, the Indian Government announced the National Clean Air Program (NCAP) to tackle pollution in the country. The NCAP is a mission-oriented program to address air pollution. It aims to improve air quality and reduce air pollution across the country, with stringent measures and control strategies for both incidents of severe air quality and areas with poor ambient quality due to rising dependence on fossil fuel energy sources.

The NCAP has seven well-defined strategies, including enhancing awareness, focusing on source apportionment and estimated source contributions through appropriate monitoring networks, data analysis and assessment, and strengthening systematic planning and action for source. To reduce emissions from major polluting sources, augment access to cleaner fuels/technologies in sectors like transportation, power generation, etc., gradual phasing out of polluting industries or diffusing latest technologies available, etc., controlling open burning of biomass/waste material, among others.

The NCAP also requires States/UTs to prepare detailed State Action Plans in 62 non-attainment cities by 2020. The incorporated action plans will focus on identifying hotspots with a high concentration of sources that require urgent interventions like intense monitoring, community engagement activities, and public awareness initiatives, among others. While gradually decreasing monitored annual PM2.5 & PM10 concentrations by 20% & 30%, respectively, from the 2017 / 2018 baseline over five years (i.e., 2021 – 2025). Additionally, under the NCAP, about 102 cities above 1 million population will be taken up for a comprehensive action plan. Other cities will be included under the CAAQMS network across India within the 2020 – 2021 timeframe.

National Air Quality Index (AQI)

The National Air Quality Index (AQI) is a system implemented by the Government of India to provide a numerical value for air quality. It is calculated based on multiple pollutants and can range from 0 to 500. The AQI technology is updated frequently and provides real-time monitoring 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in major urban centers. This enables individuals and organisations to respond to changes in air quality effectively.

The index was designed to notify individuals about the air quality level at any given time and allow them to take actions necessary for their well-being. In addition, AQI technology has been used as an effective tool for decision-makers and policymakers to identify priority areas for pollution reduction initiatives. In 2018, the AQI was modified with an alarm system based on levels of personal risk associated with various measured pollutants.

In recent years, the Indian Government has taken several steps toward reducing air pollution through various initiatives such as the Clean Air Action Plan (CAAP). The plan focuses on preventing the use of open-burning trash pits or incineration of wastes; limiting emission levels from industrial areas; controlling vehicular pollutants by introducing better efficiency standards; accelerating the adoption of alternative fuels like CNG among urban transport vehicles; promoting public transportation systems; mandating green cover regulations and encouraging energy efficiency projects throughout India.

Thanks to these measures, India has seen a significant reduction in its annual mean atmospheric concentrations per cubic meter since 2010, proving that targeted efforts may successfully improve air quality across urban centres nationwide.

Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS)

Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) are essential to government initiatives for air pollution reduction. They help monitor and assess the air quality in industrial areas to identify potential sources of emissions that require additional attention. AQMSs measure a variety of pollutants, including particulate matter (PM), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and ozone (O3). Results from the stations are used to determine whether emission regulations need to be more stringent or relaxed, depending on the prevailing conditions.

The Government of India has mandated that all industrial sites in its jurisdiction have an AQMS station to monitor air quality periodically. This program enables occupational health and safety professionals to track emission levels and detect any hazardous particles and materials being released into the atmosphere. The observations reported by these stations also provide important insights into existing environmental issues, providing valuable information for developing effective solutions. Additionally, these data can be used to plan important maintenance works ahead of time to ensure a maximum level of safety is maintained at all times.

In addition to periodic monitoring, the AQMS programs use advanced equipment, such as mobile monitors, which can travel across large areas to capture accurate air quality readings in various regions. The data gathered by these monitoring devices help communities stay informed about their local environment before taking further action or making any decisions relating to air pollution control measures at their workplaces or living areas.

Industry Initiatives

The industrial sector in India is making great strides to reduce air pollution through various initiatives. Efforts are being taken to introduce new technologies and develop strategies to reduce emissions in the industrial sector. In addition, a number of programs and collaborations between the public and private sectors are also being initiated. This article will explore the initiatives to tackle air pollution in India.

Emission Reduction Strategies

Emission reduction strategies for air pollution in India’s industrial sector focus on various initiatives and technologies. These include implementing energy-efficient measures, introducing cleaner production practices, and enforcing control regulations on major polluters. A key strategy is transitioning industries from traditional fuels to renewable energy sources. This could be achieved through improved monitoring and compliance with emissions regulations and incentive programs or subsidies to encourage new technologies.

The Indian Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has recommended the adoption of Low Carbon Emission Development Strategies including phasing out unnecessary fossil fuel consumption, reducing fugitive emissions, enhancing agricultural/livestock management practices, improving industrial standardisation measures to limit air pollution, utilising waste-to-energy systems in industry operations, switching to renewable or clean energy sources such as wind/solar/biomass/hydro power etc., relaxing the standards for various criteria pollutants in order to meet emission targets efficiently (e.g., 30-40 mg/m3 permissible PM10 levels are usually double that recommended by WHO), strengthening pollution prevention programs such as Clean Air Action Plans (CAAP), increasing public awareness on environmental matters through campaigns/programs etc., undertaking research activities related to air pollution abatement technologies, incentivising organic fertilisers & composting processes over chemical sources, scaling up a budget for setting up global-scale green funds & subsidies for pollution control projects like biomass burning etc.

Cleaner Production Technologies

Cleaner production technologies refer to strategies and methods designed to reduce or eliminate pollution at its source rather than dealing with it after it has been generated. Cleaner production technologies have the potential to provide effective solutions to ongoing air pollution problems in India’s industrial sector.

The use of cleaner production techniques can be divided into four main categories:

1. Using cleaner fuels and processes;
2. Improving plant operations;
3. Improving facility planning; and
4. Implementing process integration and recovery measures.

Examples of these techniques include switching traditional coal, oil, and gas fuels to alternative renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and biomass. Additionally, monitoring technology can optimise plant operations for maximum efficiency. More efficient heating systems can help reduce the overall carbon footprint of a facility by reducing energy consumption. In contrast, improvements in facility planning can help optimise the physical layout of industrial sites for the efficient use of space and materials. Finally, dedicated efforts towards recycling materials or recovering waste products through re-engineering processes can further reduce air pollution levels at their source.

Adopting cleaner production technologies is essential to reduce air pollution levels in India’s industrial sector, meet emission standards set by national laws, improve business competitiveness and protect human health. Overall, these measures are an important part of a comprehensive approach toward addressing India’s air quality issues.

Pollution Control Equipment

Air pollution control equipment is increasingly important in the industrial sector of India. These products collect, filter, and purify the air, reducing emissions that can harm the environment and human health. Environmental agencies have implemented regulations requiring manufacturers to use available pollution control equipment to reduce emissions of hazardous substances and overall air pollution levels.

Pollution control equipment includes four main technologies: scrubbers, electrostatic precipitators, fabric filter systems, and catalytic converters. Scrubbers are large filters that remove contaminants from air or gas exhausts by passing gas through a wet-chemical scrubber solution. Electrostatic precipitators pass contaminants (like soot) through an electrical field that separates charged particles according to their polarity. Fabric filters are composed of canvas made from synthetic fibres meant for trapping dust particles before they escape into the atmosphere. Catalytic converters employ a catalyst (i.e., a substance that accelerates chemical reactions) to convert harmful gasoline engine exhausts into harmless elements like carbon dioxide and nitrogen gases—thereby reducing tailpipe emissions released into the environment due to burning fossil fuels.

Industry initiatives such as Clean Air Act mandatory audits also promote the use of air pollution control equipment as part of ongoing efforts in India’s industrial sector to improve air quality and efficiency standards. Through this, companies can implement outcomes-based policies that reduce environmental impacts and fortify cleaner energy production techniques while meeting the required guidelines set forth by government entities like India’s Ministry Of Environment & Forests (MOEF). In doing so, industries across India benefit on multiple fronts with improved health and environmental outcomes along with greater economic benefits stemming from reduced operational costs associated with utilising pollution control equipment within their production cycles, as well as more informed decisions on allocating resources holistically towards environmental sustainability efforts nationwide at large.