What Delhi can learn from the Great Smog of London in 1952

Delhi winters have always been famous. The past few years have, however, lent a new notoriety to the season here. Unprecedented pollution levels more often than not, leading to hazardous air conditions that Delhiites and anyone visiting have to breathe in . This year has been no different. AQI levels have plummeted close to the 500 mark at various locations across the national capital where they continue to hover while the state govt responds with its usual knee jerk measures of shutting schools, reducing attendance in offices, an odd-even scheme for vehicles to ply and stopping construction activities. 

However, Delhi is not alone among Asian countries with this distinction. A decade ago another capital of an Asian giant, China's Beijing ranked with Delhi as being among the most polluted in the world. Beijing has since cleaned up its act after it launched a campaign to this effect a decade ago. But if Beijing's example may not be viable for Delhi to follow could we perhaps take a cue from another great city? Believe it or not, London, the heart of the British Empire at one of its best times reeled from similar conditions. This was the Great Smog of London in 1952 and it has left behind many lessons from which we can learn. I say so because Prime Minister Churchill, who some say was the best PM Britain has ever had, initially brushed aside all environmental concerns. In fact it is said that even as the smog descended onto the city he  insisted on continuing to burn coal to give the illusion of a solid economy. All that changed when he himself visited the hospitals and saw the thousands impacted. 

What was the Great Smog of London? 

It was a lethal smog that hung over the city for five days, from December 5 to December 9, in 1952. Smog was a part of London life since the 1700s caused by extensive coal burning. The industrial revolution made them even more common. By then they were called pea-soupers because of their dense yellow appearance. But the December smog of 1952 was a pea-souper of unprecedented severity. London came to a standstill. Even ambulances were unavailable. Visibility was so reduced that pedestrians couldn't even see their own feet. Hospitals saw a spike in pneumonia and bronchitis cases and deaths. Even animals were not safe as herds of cattle  in Smithfield reportedly choked to death. Thousands lost their lives in the sulfurous hell of those five days. The initial fatality count was 4000 according to the registrar general but it is today estimated to be 12,000.

What caused the great London smog?

A combination of period of unusually cold weather, combined with an anticyclone and windless conditions and airborne pollutants arising out of burning coal. So, very similar to New Delhi's conditions; and how did the UK govt deal with it? 

Aftermath of the Great Smog of London

• The Clean Air Act was enacted in 1956
• Smoke-free areas were established throughout the city 
• Burning of coal in domestic fires as well as in industrial furnaces was restricted

In New Delhi, all we are hearing are the familiar voices pointing to stubble burning by farmers of the North and a blame game between the centre and the state. Homeowners were offered grants to switch to different heating sources. Oil, natural gas, and electricity were alternate energy sources offered.

But, how long can this continue? How long can this year on year sequence of events which culminate in a gradual fading away of the furore and outrage till a weather change causes all to be forgiven and the matter to finally be brushed under the carpet continue? How long can Delhiites die slowly a little every year while our political masters indulge in an all too familiar war of words? 

It's time for a new approach just like London decades ago.

Lessons Delhi can learn from Great Smog of London 1952

Already, a number of solutions, most of them temporary  have been deployed, such as asking office employees to work from home in order to reduce vehicular pollution, using anti-smog gun sprays, and shutting down construction sites. Then there are steps taken by the Delhi government for reducing vehicular pollution - like switching to CNG, establishing strict pollution levels norms for vehicles, ensuring vehicles use unleaded petrol, low-sulphur petrol or diesel and catalytic converters and slowly phasing out old vehicles. So could we, perhaps have a similar ‘Clean Air Act’ like London? Could the govt incentivize the use of cleaner fuels and could we have smoke free zones? 

If and only if the Government takes on these measures and more and learn from the best practices that have succeeded across the world can we breathe freely and perhaps survive to see another winter.