Recent WHO report has highlighted declining air quality especially Particulate Matter in north indian cities like Delhi, kanpur, lucknow, Ludhiana etc requiring immediate measures.
Geographical factors:
1)Low average rainfall leading to dust in air
2)Loamy Alluvial soil prone to suspension in air
3)Swift winds like loo during summers bringing dust from rajasthan arid lands
4)High pressure in upper troposhere due to jet streams leading to subsiding winds.
5)Shrubs and other semi arid and arid vegetation in Bagar plains unable to bind loose soil
Anthropogenic factors:
1)Industrialisation had lead to high SOx and Nox pollutants in air
2)Urbanisation has lead to vehicular emissions, cutting of trees, construction dust
3)Agriculture practices like ploughing, burning straw and plough use
4)Overgrazing in semi-arid areas has lead to desertification and loss of vegetation
5)Excessive groundwater impact tree survival
CONCLUSION:While geographic factor are the circumstances, anthropogenic factor exaggerate their effect. There is a need for urban planning through green belt, mass mobility techniques, carbon tax, strict enforcement and
organic agriculture.
