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Picture Courtesy: The Hindu

Context:

Dust pollution has emerged as a major environmental and public health challenge in rapidly urbanizing and industrializing regions. It primarily consists of fine particulate matter released from construction activities, vehicular movement on unpaved or poorly maintained roads, mining operations, industrial processes, and natural sources like dry soil surfaces. In many Indian cities, dust contributes a substantial share of overall particulate matter levels, especially during dry seasons when wind easily lifts loose soil and debris.

Must Read: Air Pollution |AIR POLUTION IN INDIA : CAUSES, IMPACTS & SOLUTIONS | SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS FOR AIR POLLUTION | Air pollution impact on Rural and Urban areas |

What is Dust Pollution?

Dust pollution refers to the concentration of mechanically generated particulate matter primarily coarse particles (PM10 and larger fractions), but also a measurable share of PM2.5 produced through frictional, construction, and soil-disturbance activities, and re-entrained into the atmosphere due to vehicle-induced turbulence and wind shear.

Key Features (causes) of Dust Pollution:

Dominance of mechanically generated particles (not combustion-based): Unlike vehicular or industrial emissions (which are combustion-driven and rich in elemental carbon), dust pollution consists of:

Silica, alumina, crustal minerals
Silt particles dislodged from poorly maintained road surfaces
C&D (construction & demolition) residues
Resuspended deposited particles (secondary dust cycle)

These particles originate from ground abrasion, tire friction, building material degradation, and soil exposure.

Dust resuspension is the largest urban PM10 source in many Indian cities:
Road dust alone contributes 20–52% of PM10
It contributes 8–25% of PM2.5 (despite being “coarse”) due to fragmentation of silt during movement
North Indian cities show higher silt load (0.2–111 g/m²) due to aridity, unpaved shoulders, and high congestion

Thus, dust pollution in India is structurally linked to urban design and not only to construction activities.

Dust pollution disproportionately affects peri-urban and low-income areas: These regions typically have:
Kachcha roads
Exposed soil in open plots
Brick kilns and material depots
Informal construction and transport activity

Thus, dust pollution is also a distributional and spatial justice issue, not just an environmental one.

Current Status of Dust Pollution in India:

According to a Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) report (“Tracing the Hazy Air 2025”), 67% of NCAP (National Clean Air Programme) funds have been allocated to road-dust mitigation.
Based on CPCB data, 21 NCAP cities have achieved over 40% reduction in PM10 since 2017–18. But only 18 of the 131 NCAP cities meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM10 (60 µg/m³).
In Kolkata, a source-apportionment study (by KMC / WBPCB) found that “non-energy” sources, especially road-dust resuspension, account for 83% of PM10 and 61% of PM2.5.
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)-led study (2024–25) in Kolkata and Howrah found road dust contributes ~35% of PM10 and ~16% of PM2.5, making it the largest source.
According to a government reply in Parliament, 103 out of 130 NCAP cities showed improvement in PM10 (FY 2024–25 vs baseline) and 64 cities reduced PM10 by more than 20%.

Difference between Dust and Air Pollution:

Parameter	Dust Pollution	Air Pollution
Dominant Nature	Physical pollutant consisting of solid mineral particles (soil, silica, construction debris, tyre–road wear).	Chemical pollutant mixture: gases (ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide) and fine particulate matter.
Primary Source Mechanism	Generated by mechanical disturbance—construction, demolition, mining, unpaved roads, soil erosion, agricultural tilling.	Arises from combustion—vehicles, power plants, industrial furnaces, waste burning, biomass burning.
Particle Size Behaviour	Mostly coarse particles between 10–100 micrometre; settle faster by gravity.	Fine particulate matter below 2.5 micrometre and gases remain suspended for long durations.
Atmospheric Transformation	Does not undergo major chemical transformation; remains mineral in nature.	Undergoes photochemical reactions forming ozone and secondary particulate matter.
Transport Range	Mostly localised; deposition within a few kilometres.	Can travel hundreds of kilometres; contributes to regional pollution episodes.
Seasonal Pattern	Peaks in dry seasons—pre-monsoon high-wind periods, active construction cycles.	Peaks in winter due to temperature inversion, low mixing height, increased fuel use.
Health Impact Pathway	Causes mechanical irritation: throat, eyes, blocked nose; severity depends on mineral type (silica-rich dust is harmful).	Causes chemical and cellular damage: oxidative stress, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Detection Method	Identified through high coarse particulate load using optical detection and crustal dust modelling.	Requires chemical analysers—for sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and fine particulate matter speciation.
Policy Response	Managed through local controls: construction regulation, road vacuuming, soil stabilisation, covering of materials.	Requires regional or national policies: fuel standards, emission norms, industrial controls.
Spatial Signature	Reflects local land use and soil type (granite, limestone, alluvial deposits).	Reflects fuel mix and industrial profile (diesel-heavy transport, coal power plants).
Event Behaviour	Sharp spikes during dust storms, high winds, or construction surges.	Builds gradually during winter stagnation or prolonged combustion sources.
Environmental Impact	Deposits on surfaces, reduces visibility but with limited chemical toxicity unless silica or metals are present.	Alters atmospheric chemistry, reduces oxygen availability, increases greenhouse forcing, acidifies ecosystems.

Challenges in mitigating Dust Pollution:

Dust Re-accumulates faster than cities can remove it: Road silt load in many Indian cities is far above the threshold that mechanical sweeping can handle. Example: Delhi’s average silt load is 14.47 g/m², while effective sweeping capacity reduces drastically beyond 5 g/m². This means dust reforms within 12–24 hours, making daily sweeping almost futile.

Most dust hotspots are outside Municipal jurisdiction: Peri-urban belts — unpaved shoulders, kuccha link roads, village approach roads — continuously feed dust into the city. For example, over 2,000 km of unpaved stretches around Delhi NCR (Ghaziabad, Baghpat, Gurugram fringes) resupply dust during high winds.

Road Geometry Itself Creates Dust Reservoirs: Uneven bitumen layers, pothole depressions, unpaved footpaths, and broken medians trap silt. CAQM’s 2025 pilot found 24% of audited roads in “poor condition”, becoming continuous dust-release zones.

Construction and demolition activities not scientifically managed: Dust control measures at construction sites are either paper compliance or intermittent. The Dwarka Expressway construction corridor recorded PM10 spikes of 600–800 µg/m³ during piling and soil movement events despite regulations.

High seasonal winds and soil type vulnerability: North India has alluvial soil with fine silt that becomes airborne easily. Pre-monsoon high-wind periods (March–June) increase horizontal dispersion. Jaipur recorded PM10 increases of 35–45% during May 2023 dust storms despite no local emissions surge.

Constitutional Provision altered by Dust Pollution

Article 21 – Right to Life (Altered through measurable degradation of breathable air)

· The Supreme Court (M. C. Mehta v. Union of India (Delhi Vehicular Pollution Case), 1996–1998) expanded Article 21 to include “the right to breathe clean air”.

· Dust pollution raises PM10 and coarse particulate levels far above national standards (e.g., PM10 exceeding 500–700 µg/m³ during construction corridors in NCR), thereby directly infringing the “life with dignity” component.

Article 48A – Obligation of the State to Protect and Improve Environment (Altered by non-enforcement): This Directive Principle mandates the State to actively prevent environmental degradation.

Article 243W – Responsibilities of Municipalities for Urban Environmental Health (Altered through jurisdictional fragmentation)

Article 14 – Equality Before Law (Altered through unequal dust exposure)

Dust pollution disproportionately affects:

· Construction workers

· Informal vendors along roads

· Low-income settlements near arterial roads

· Residents along unpaved peri-urban belts

Technological Solution to mitigate Dust Pollution:

Mechanical road dust sweepers (High-efficiency vacuum-based machines): Use suction nozzles, rotating brushes, and HEPA/PM10 filters to capture re-suspended road dust, which contributes up to 56 percent of particulate matter in Indian metro cities. Delhi (2022–2024) introduced 100+ vacuum sweepers reduced roadside particulate matter load by 10–15 percent on arterial roads (Delhi Pollution Control Committee study).

Anti-smog guns and water mist cannons: Spray ultra-fine mist droplets (5–30 microns) that bind with dust particles and settle them. Effective in construction sites, mining belts, and traffic corridors.

Vehicle-Mounted Dust Suppression Systems: Mounted on garbage trucks, road rollers, and municipal vehicles to continuously spray micro-mist while moving. Nagpur Municipal Corporation introduced mobile dust control units in 2023, reduces visible dust on frequently travelled roads by approximately 20 percent.

Bio-enzyme based dust binders (Eco-Friendly Consolidation Agents): Enzymatic solutions form a crust over loose soil, preventing re-suspension for 15–30 days. Mining, barren lands near highways, construction debris storage. Coal India Limited's mining sites adopted bio-binders in 2023 which help in reducing particulate levels up to 40 percent within mine haul roads.

Government initiatives for reducing air pollution:

Initiative	Description
National Clean Air Programme	Provides national targets for reducing particulate pollution, prepares city-specific plans, and strengthens long-term air-quality management systems.
Commission for Air Quality Management	Coordinates pollution-control measures across multiple states, issues binding directions, and ensures uniform implementation of air-quality regulations.
Graded Response Action Plan	Links pollution levels to mandatory actions, allowing real-time restrictions on construction, transport, and industrial activities based on air-quality forecasts.
Cleaner Vehicle Norms	Requires automobile manufacturers to adopt advanced emission-control technologies and cleaner fuel standards to reduce vehicular pollution.
Electric Mobility Promotion Scheme	Encourages transition to electric vehicles through support for charging networks and incentives for cleaner transport alternatives.
Crop Residue Management Programme	Promotes scientific and alternative methods of handling agricultural residue to discourage open-field burning.
Cleaner Fuel and Refinery Upgradation Policy	Ensures nationwide supply of low-sulphur and cleaner fuels through refinery improvements and strict fuel-quality norms.
Expanded Air-Quality Monitoring Network	Establishes comprehensive monitoring stations, digital dashboards, and forecasting models for better regulatory decisions.
Industrial Emission Regulations	Strengthens norms for industrial units, requiring installation of modern pollution-control technologies and better compliance mechanisms.
Smart Cities Pollution-Control Components	Integrates pollution-reduction systems into urban planning, including sensor networks, traffic optimisation, and green infrastructure.
National Green Tribunal Directions	Provides judicially mandated actions compelling authorities to enforce environmental regulations and control major pollution sources.
Urban Dust and Construction Management Rules	Mandates mechanised sweeping, scientific handling of construction waste, roadside greening, and proper disposal of collected dust.

Conclusion:

Dust pollution has emerged as a major environmental and public-health challenge in rapidly urbanizing regions, driven primarily by construction activities, unpaved roads, industrial operations, and natural sources exacerbated by climate variability. Its contribution to PM10 and PM2.5 levels leads to severe respiratory and cardiovascular risks, reduced visibility, ecosystem degradation, and economic losses. Addressing dust pollution requires a combination of strict enforcement, technological interventions, sustainable urban planning, and community participation. Only an integrated and preventive approach can ensure cleaner air and healthier living environments.

Source: The Hindu

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Practice Question

Q. India has introduced multiple regulatory and technological interventions to control air pollution, yet improvements remain uneven across regions. Discuss (250 words)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Dust pollution refers to the presence of fine and coarse particles released from disturbed soil, construction materials, unpaved roads, and other loose surfaces that easily become airborne.

Its main sources include road dust, construction and demolition activities, industrial handling of raw materials, mining operations, and wind erosion from barren land.

Dust pollution comes mainly from physical disturbances of soil and materials, while general air pollution is largely from combustion sources such as vehicles and industries.