Topic: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment
Q6. What are the key contributors to chronic PM10 pollution in Indian cities? Explain why regional variation demands city-specific mitigation strategies. (10 M)
Difficulty Level: Easy
Reference: DTE
Why the question:
A recent four-year analysis by Respirer Living Sciences (2021–24) revealed that all major Indian metros breached PM10 safety limits, highlighting the failure of blanket air quality approaches.Key demand of the question:
The question requires identifying the major sources of PM10 pollution in Indian cities and explaining why local environmental and socio-economic factors necessitate region-specific mitigation strategies.Structure of the Answer:
Introduction:
Mention PM10 as a major air pollutant with sustained exceedance across cities; refer to latest CPCB/Respirer data.Body:
- Mention key contributors like vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial activities, etc.
- Explain regional variation in emissions, climate, urban form and governance capacities that make localised approaches essential.
Conclusion:
Stress the need for decentralised, evidence-based clean air governance rooted in city-level action.
