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Q10:
What initiatives were taken for reducing vehicular air pollution in Delhi? Has air quality improved in Delhi?
Solution :
Step 1: Contextual Framework of Vehicular Pollution in Delhi
Delhi, recognized as one of the most polluted cities globally in the late 1990s, faced severe air quality degradation primarily due to vehicular emissions. The following initiatives were mandated by the Supreme Court of India based on the recommendations of the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) to mitigate these impacts.
Step 2: Key Initiatives for Mitigation
- Transition to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG): The most significant intervention was the total switchover of Delhi’s entire public transport fleet, including buses, auto-rickshaws, and taxis, from diesel/petrol to $CNG$. [Per the directives of the Supreme Court of India].
- Phasing out Older Vehicles: Implementing the de-registration of commercial vehicles older than 15 years and private vehicles older than 10-15 years to reduce the emission of older engines that lack advanced catalytic converters.
- Upgradation of Fuel Quality: Implementation of Euro-IV (and subsequently BS-VI) emission standards, which require low-sulfur petrol and diesel to prevent the poisoning of catalytic converters.
- Expansion of Mass Transit Systems: The development and massive scaling of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) network, which significantly reduced the dependency on private vehicular transportation.
- Infrastructure Development: Construction of peripheral expressways (Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways) to divert heavy-duty, non-destined commercial transit traffic away from the city center.
Step 3: Visual Representation of Emission Reduction Strategy
Step 4: Analytical Assessment of Air Quality Improvement
| Indicator | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | Significant decrease due to cleaner combustion in CNG engines. |
| Sulfur Dioxide ($SO_2$) | Substantial reduction due to desulfurization of transport fuels. |
| Particulate Matter ($PM_{2.5} / PM_{10}$ ) | Mixed results; while vehicular emissions dropped, secondary sources (stubble burning, dust, construction) maintain high concentrations. |
Step 5: Synthesis and Conclusion
While the initiatives were globally lauded as a model for urban air quality management—resulting in a measurable reduction of $CO$ and $SO_2$ levels in the early 2000s—the overall air quality in Delhi remains precarious. The improvement in vehicular emission profiles has been offset by:
- Exponential increase in the number of vehicles: The growth rate of private car ownership outpaces the efficiency gains of modern engines.
- Non-vehicular factors: Transboundary air pollution, such as biomass burning in neighboring states (Punjab/Haryana) and urban construction dust.
Final Solution: The initiatives—primarily the transition to CNG and strict fuel standards—were highly successful in curbing localized vehicular pollutants. However, while air quality saw temporary improvements, Delhi continues to face severe air quality challenges due to a surge in vehicle volume and external environmental factors, meaning the problem is managed but not fully resolved.
More Questions from Class 12 Biology Environmental Issues EXERCISES
- Q1: What are the various constituents of domestic sewage? Discuss the effects of sewage discharge on a river.
- Q1: What are the various constituents of domestic sewage? Discuss the effects of sewage discharge on a river.
- Q2: List all the wastes that you generate, at home, school or during your trips to other places. Could you very easily reduce the generation of these wastes? Which would be difficult or rather impossible to reduce?
- Q2: List all the wastes that you generate, at home, school or during your trips to other places. Could you very easily reduce the generation of these wastes? Which would be difficult or rather impossible to reduce?
- Q3: Discuss the causes and effects of global warming. What measures need to be taken to control global warming?
- Q3: Discuss the causes and effects of global warming. What measures need to be taken to control global warming?
- Q4: Match the items given in column A and B:
- Q4: Match the items given in column A and B: Column A Column B (a) Catalytic converter (i) Particulate matter (b) Electrostatic precipitator (ii) Carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides (c) Earmuffs (iii) High noise level (d) Landfills (iv) Solid wastes
- Q5(a): Write critical notes on the following: (a) Eutrophication
- Q5(a): Write critical notes on the following: (a) Eutrophication
- Q5(b): Write critical notes on the following: (b) Biological magnification
- Q5(b): Write critical notes on the following: (b) Biological magnification
- Q5(c): Write critical notes on the following: (c) Groundwater depletion and ways for its replenishment
- Q5(c): Write critical notes on the following: (c) Groundwater depletion and ways for its replenishment
- Q6: Why does ozone hole form over Antarctica? How will enhanced ultraviolet radiation affect us?
- Q6: Why does ozone hole form over Antarctica? How will enhanced ultraviolet radiation affect us?
- Q7: Discuss the role of women and communities in protection and conservation of forests.
- Q7: Discuss the role of women and communities in protection and conservation of forests.
- Q8: What measures, as an individual, would you take to reduce environmental pollution?
- Q8: What measures, as an individual, would you take to reduce environmental pollution?
- Q9(a): Discuss briefly the following: (a) Radioactive wastes
- Q9(a): Discuss briefly the following: (a) Radioactive wastes
- Q9(b): Discuss briefly the following: (b) Defunct ships and e-wastes
- Q9(b): Discuss briefly the following: (b) Defunct ships and e-wastes
- Q9(c): Discuss briefly the following: (c) Municipal solid wastes
- Q9(c): Discuss briefly the following: (c) Municipal solid wastes
- Q10: What initiatives were taken for reducing vehicular air pollution in Delhi? Has air quality improved in Delhi?
- Q11(a): Discuss briefly the following: (a) Greenhouse gases
- Q11(a): Discuss briefly the following: (a) Greenhouse gases
- Q11(b): Discuss briefly the following: (b) Catalytic converter
- Q11(b): Discuss briefly the following: (b) Catalytic converter
- Q11(c): Discuss briefly the following: (c) Ultraviolet B
- Q11(c): Discuss briefly the following: (c) Ultraviolet B
CBSE Solutions for Class 12 Biology Environmental Issues
Chapters in CBSE - Class 12 Biology
- Reproduction in Organisms
- Human Reproduction
- Reproductive Health
- Principles of Inheritance and Variation
- Molecular Basis of Inheritance
- Evolution
- Human Health and Disease
- Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production
- Microbes in Human Welfare
- Biotechnology: Principles and Processes
- Biotechnology and Its Applications
- Organisms and Populations
- Ecosystem
- Biodiversity and Conservation
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