Delhi has long ranked as the most polluted city in NCR, but now another city is going to surpass it. Even before winter has officially begun, a thick blanket of dust and polluted air has already settled over Delhi.
Residents of Noida and Greater Noida are now facing a significant crisis, as the air quality issues that afflict Delhi may soon impact them even more severely. According to recent data and environmental experts, Noida could become more polluted than Delhi in the near future.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board and UPPCB, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi has fallen into the poor or very poor category over the past three days. Meanwhile, certain areas of Noida, including Sector 125, have recorded AQI levels in the severe range, exceeding 400. Experts warn that this trend indicates a significant danger in the near future.
Talking to News18, Vivek Chattopadhyay, Principal Program Manager in the Air Pollution Control Unit at the Center for Science and Environment, said that Noida and Greater Noida can become more polluted than Delhi in the near future. He cited several solid reasons for this concern.
Chattopadhyay explains that pollution levels depend on wind speed and direction. A major reason for the increasing pollution in Noida and Greater Noida is their position downwind from Delhi. When weather patterns change, the wind direction can shift, allowing pollution from Delhi to flow into these areas. If the wind speed is low, the pollutants can get trapped, worsening air quality.
Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, and Sahibabad are more industrialized than Delhi. The numerous factories in these areas release gases and pollutants that contaminate the air. As a result, pollution levels here are higher than in residential neighbourhoods.
Power cuts are uncommon in Delhi, but Noida and Greater Noida experience frequent outages. As a result, industries in these areas rely on heavy diesel generators and other alternatives to maintain operations, which significantly contribute to pollution.
Public transportation in Noida and Greater Noida is less than half of what is available in Delhi. Services like the Metro and electric buses are available to a much lesser extent. Most residents rely on private vehicles, and ample parking space leads to many households owning multiple two-wheelers and cars. As a result, the emissions from these vehicles contribute to rising pollution levels when they are in use.
With millions of people moving from Delhi and other cities to Noida and Greater Noida, construction has surged to create residential spaces. There has also been a rise in industrial and commercial building projects.
Unlike Delhi, where construction is often halted due to pollution concerns, such restrictions are seldom seen in Noida.
As winter arrives and pollution levels rise in Delhi, the situation in Noida and Greater Noida could worsen. The air is already starting to become polluted, and if measures aren’t taken to address this issue soon, living in these areas could become increasingly difficult, Chattopadhyay added.
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