Syllabus: GS–III Environment and Ecology

Why in the news?

Recent air quality assessments by national and international research bodies show that parts of Northeast India, including Assam and Tripura, are emerging air pollution hotspots, challenging the long-held belief that the region enjoys uniformly clean air.

The changing air quality narrative

For decades, air pollution in India has been associated mainly with Delhi and North India. While this perception remains largely valid, new evidence suggests a quiet but serious deterioration of air quality in the Northeast. According to findings by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Assam and Tripura recorded high levels of fine particulate matter throughout the year, including during the monsoon months when pollution usually dips elsewhere.

• Eleven districts of Assam now figure among the fifty most polluted districts in India.
• Industrial zones like Byrnihat (on the Assam–Meghalaya border) have repeatedly recorded dangerous levels of PM2.5.
• Black carbon emissions from Guwahati are also contributing to local warming and climate disturbances, with implications even for Himalayan glaciers.

Understanding the core problem

PM2.5 refers to particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, nearly thirty times thinner than a human hair. Because of their size, these particles:

• Penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream.
• Increase the risk of asthma, heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer.

The World Health Organization estimates that ambient air pollution causes about 4.2 million premature deaths globally each year, underlining the scale of the crisis.

Sources of pollution in the Northeast

Air pollution in the region arises from a mix of human activities and natural factors:

• Industrial emissions from distilleries, iron and steel plants, and ferroalloy units.
• Vehicular pollution, especially diesel trucks and outdated transport fleets.
• Biomass and fossil fuel burning, including domestic cooking and waste burning.
• Mining-related dust, particularly near tribal and forest areas.
• Natural contributors such as wind-blown dust and forest fires that spread pollutants across states.

Despite closure orders issued in early 2025 against polluting factories in Byrnihat, monitoring by the Central Pollution Control Board showed limited improvement, highlighting weak enforcement.

Health, equity, and indigenous concerns

Air pollution does not affect everyone equally.

• Children and the elderly are most vulnerable.
• Indigenous and tribal communities face compounded risks as industrial and mining activities operate close to protected and forest areas.
• Pollution threatens not only health but also livelihoods, traditional lifestyles, and cultural survival.

Dust-laden trucks, deforestation, and industrial expansion are increasingly eroding the environmental security of these communities.

India’s policy response: Is it enough?

India monitors air quality through the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme, coordinated by the CPCB and State Pollution Control Boards. The Air Quality Index, introduced in 2015, helps communicate risks to the public.

In 2019, the government launched the National Clean Air Programme with the goal of reducing particulate pollution. However:

• Its targets remain less stringent than global standards.
• The WHO recommends annual mean limits of 5 micrograms per cubic metre for PM2.5, far lower than India’s benchmarks.

The Air Quality Life Index of the University of Chicago shows that nearly half of Indians live in areas where pollution significantly reduces life expectancy.

Lessons and the way forward

Global experience shows improvement is possible. Beijing, once called the world’s “smog capital,” reduced severe pollution levels by about 35 percent within a decade through strict enforcement, industrial relocation, and early warning systems.

For the Northeast, a multi-pronged strategy is essential:

• Cleaner transport systems, stronger public transport, and zero-emission last-mile mobility.
• Strict industrial emission standards with continuous real-time monitoring.
• Effective waste management to curb open burning.
• Protection of tribal and forest areas from unregulated industrial activity.
• Public awareness and community participation, especially among vulnerable groups.

Conclusion

The air of Northeast India is no longer as pristine as commonly believed. While pollution levels are still lower than in Delhi, early warning signs are unmistakable. Without timely intervention, the region risks repeating the mistakes seen elsewhere. Strong political will, scientific planning, and rigorous enforcement can ensure that development does not come at the cost of clean air and public health.

Exam Hook

Mains (GS III):
“Air pollution is no longer a problem confined to metropolitan North India.” Discuss with reference to emerging air quality challenges in Northeast India and evaluate the effectiveness of India’s policy response.

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