Delhi Metropolis Research Articles

The making of a peripheral town in Delhi Metropolis through the displacement of Basti dwellers

This paper reflects upon the aftermath of the eviction of working-class communities from the core locations of Delhi to Narela, over 42 kilometres from Delhi’s centre. The evictees were previously residing in ‘informal settlements’, which are colloquially known as bastis or labelled as ‘slums’ in policy documents. Drawing on interviews and focused group discussions, the paper examines the impact of displacement as experienced by the basti residents. I highlight the struggles that residents faced while making ‘home’ in their new area. Familiarity, repetition, networks, and safety are the few aspects I engage with to explain the process of placemaking in the city. I argue that displacement should be understood beyond the idea of physical dislocation. It should be seen through the lens of ‘place’ and how a place is constructed over a period of time against the larger spatial order that is produced in the cities. The paper contributes to academic understanding of the varying experiences of displacement within the affected communities and the contestations which produce spaces on the margins of cities in the Global South.

Deconstructing Barriers To Access Rapid Public Transportation For Commuters With Visual Impairment: A Study Of Embodied Experiences In Delhi Metro-Train

An inclusive city seeks innovative ways to accommodate diverse interests and practices of people with different needs. It requires that the basic rights of freedom, equality, and condition of justice and dignity of all its citizens (including persons with disabilities) are ensured. Delhi is undoubtedly one of the most diverse urban city centers in India. The Delhi metro train with its many accessibility features seems an archetype of an ideal inclusive and open city for all. Nonetheless, such moves towards disabled-friendliness fail to neutralise all the imperfections in absolute terms. The initiatives oriented to hassle-free travelling could not adequately meet the diverse transport needs of regular commuters with sight disability and do not fully address gaps embedded in metro rail infrastructure. Not with standing these measures to foster seamless journey for the disabled passengers, visually impaired users still come across those barriers which may not be directly apparent in public but are certainly the product of their personally embodied experiences.
 In the wake of Delhi metro assertion for better mobility and accessible transit environment, the present paper pursues deconstructive approach and attempts to figure out the pragmatic challenges encountered by visually impaired commuters that are often left unnoticed. These covert experiential hindrances are normally manifested in the day to day journey of Delhi Metro train. This is an empirical study based on survey findings stemming from Delhi field survey conducted during PhD course (2016-18). It primarily thrives upon qualitative data pertaining to personal narratives of 40 visually impaired respondents belonging to metropolis of Delhi about their everyday perceptions of transit accessibility, while travelling in metro train.

(be)longing: A Search for Home at a railway station

This paper elaborates the psychic processes evoked in migration through the illustration of therapy work with an eleven-year-old boy, whose family had relocated from a village in East India to the metropolis of Delhi, a city that has been home to refugees post-Partition, and numerous migrants seeking jobs and education since. The idea of choice migration is formulated, embedded in modern society and urban aspirations, as different from forced migrations. Drawing from object relations theory, the work of Winnicott and other contemporary thinkers, this boy’s unique use of a railway station as transitional object and its elaboration in therapy work is discussed.

Air quality in the New Delhi metropolis under COVID-19 lockdown

Air pollution has been on continuous rise with increase in industrialization in metropolitan cities of the world. Several measures including strict climate laws and reduction in the number of vehicles were implemented by several nations. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a great opportunity to understand the daily human activities effect on air pollution. Majority nations restricted industrial activities and vehicular traffic to a large extent as a measure to restrict COVID-19 spread. In this paper, we analyzed the impact of such COVID19-induced lockdown on the air quality of the city of New Delhi, India. We analyzed the average concentration of common gaseous pollutants viz. sulfur dioxide (SO), ozone (O), nitrogen dioxide (NO), and carbon monoxide (CO). These concentrations were obtained from the tropospheric column of Sentinel-5P (an earth observation satellite of European Space Agency) data. We observed that the city observed a significant drop in the level of atmospheric pollutant’s concentration for all the major pollutants as a result of strict lockdown measure. Such findings are also validated with pollutant data obtained from ground based monitoring stations. We observed that near-surface pollutant concentration dropped significantly by 50% for PM2.5, 71.9% for NO, and 88% for CO, after the lockdown period. Such studies would pave the path for implementing future air pollution control measures by environmentalists.

Seasonal variation and size distribution in the airborne indoor microbial concentration of residential houses in Delhi and its impact on health.

Exposure of microbial agents in the air of indoor dwellings is associated with effects on respiratory and general health. The current study was conducted in the urban area of Delhi Metropolis for the seasonal quantitative assessment of viable microbial indoor air quality. Bioaerosol measurement was conducted by using Anderson six stage impactor with cut-off diameters of 7.0, 4.7, 3.3, 2.1, 1.1, and 0.65 µm) throughout the all the seasons (April 2019 to March 2020). Meteorological parameters such as temperature and relative humidity were measured to check their effect on microbial survival. Air quality index data of the sampling area were recorded by DPCC air quality monitoring system, Ashok Vihar, Delhi. The highest (1654 ± 876.87 CFU/m3) and lowest (738 ± 443.59 CFU/m3) mean bacterial concentration in houses was recorded in August and December, respectively. Similarly, the highest fungal concentration (1275 ± 645.22 CFU/m3) was found in August and the lowest in (776 ± 462.46 CFU/m3) in January. Bacterial respirable fraction shows an irregular pattern in different seasons. In the case of fungi, the respirable fraction of 2.1 and 1.1 contributes more than 60% of total culturable bioaerosols in all seasons. Bacterial genera including Staphylococcus, Micrococcus, and Streptobacillus were most dominant, and Cladosporium, Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Alternaria were the most dominant fungal genera observed indoors. The results of this study suggest that higher respirable fungal fraction might penetrate deeper into the lungs and cause various health effects. A higher concentration of bioaerosols in outdoor areas than indoor shows that the source of indoor bioaerosols is outdoor air.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10453-021-09718-3.

Reducing conventional generation dependency with solar Pv power: A case of Delhi (India)

ABSTRACT In several Indian cities, the governments is planning to reduce excessive air pollution due to fossil fuel used by traffic and local industries. This is done by encouraging greater use of renewable energy resources. One such city that has come under this observation is the Metropolis of Delhi, the capital of India. The Government of Delhi NCR has initiated corrective policy moves that promote the use of solar photovoltaic energy for minimizing dependency on fossil-fueled generation. However, it is well known that renewable energy has its limitations in relation to steady availability and desired quantity for bulk applications. Thus, at best, renewable energy can partially replace conventional fossil-fueled energy resources. The extent to which solar photovoltaic (SPV) energy can replace conventional-fueled generation is broadly referred to as capacity credit or capacity value of the concerned SPV. This paper is an attempt to compute the sizing of the optimum solar PV installation for a satisfactory level of capacity credit. The analysis employs the state sampling approach. The system adequacy is evaluated in terms of the reliability indices Loss of Energy Expectation (LOEE) and Loss of Load Expectation (LOLE). The Monte Carlo simulation technique is applied for the reliability evaluation, on account of its simplicity and better relative accuracy as compared with other available techniques. It is observed that for a solar penetration level of 30%, the increment in capacity contribution shows dissimilar trends with the increment in installation capacity. The optimum installation is witnessed for the 200 W and 400 W for the reliability criteria of LOLE and LOEE indices, respectively.

Predicting Ground Level PM2.5 Concentration Over Delhi Using Landsat 8 Satellite Data

ABSTRACT Comprehensive monitoring of urban air pollution is paramount to better understand and work towards ameliorating hazardous air quality level in urban centres of India. This study aims at developing a multispectral empirical model useful in estimating the concentration of particulate matter of 2.5 micrometres (μm) or less in diameter (PM2.5) on a city-wide scale using Landsat 8 satellite’s data over the metropolis of Delhi, India. The data pertaining to PM2.5 mass concentration as well as meteorological parameters like relative humidity and temperature were taken from the field observation stations of the Central Pollution Control Board in New Delhi conform to the date of data collection from Landsat 8 satellite. The ambient reflectance in the visible spectrum bands was measured and compared with the in-situ concentration of PM2.5 and the meteorological evidence acquired from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC). The correlation coefficient and root mean square error value were utilized to analyse the feasibility of the algorithm proposed. It can be concluded from the results that the aforementioned multispectral PM2.5 model can predict particulate matter concentrations with an adequate level of accuracy.

‘Waste’ to ‘use’? Making of ‘Narela’ in periphery of Delhi metropolis

This paper studies the process of urban development and expansion by using a theoretical lens of conceptualisation of waste. Applying from the literature on the political economy of land as a resource, urban planning and labour geography, I analyse the ways in which transformation of the value of land from ‘waste’ to ‘use’ or vice versa; as conceived by state agencies and planners; have implications on human lives, particularly working-class. The paper deals with the qualitative question(s) of how the planning policies transform urban landscapes by imagining the potential of space and in turn marginalises people, hence creating a huge pool of labour reserve to achieve greater surplus accumulation. In such conditions, I show that how this marginalised section, particularly working class, built their living environment. The research further reflects upon the labouring practices in the peripheral town of Delhi metropolis, which is largely built by gentrification of labour from the core of the city. The exploratory study is ethnographically inspired and deploys qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews and Focussed Group Discussions to capture nuances of the field.

Relative comparison of standalone renewable energy system battery storage requirements for residential, industrial and commercial loads

The application of renewable energy sources is quite popular nowadays on account of favourable economics of generation and provision of clean green energy. However, renewable energy by itself may not be capable of meeting the load requirements due to a mismatch between generation and demand. Thus, for satisfactory performance backup, energy storage is required with renewable sources. This paper investigates the performance evaluation of renewable energy system configurations for different load profiles like commercial, industrial and residential loads. The analysis has been applied as a case study of typical towns in the neighbourhood of Delhi (India) that mushroom in industrial and commercial activity to meet the growing economic demand pressures on the metropolis of Delhi. Three standalone renewable energy systems, i.e., solar-battery, wind-battery, and solar-wind-battery have been chosen to provide the required generation. The three different systems are modelled individually to examine which option will involve the least battery capacity. Additionally, the system most economical for meeting the load demands is evaluated. The analysis shows that the solar-battery system utilises the minimum battery capacity but is most expensive while the wind-battery system is the cheapest but with the highest battery requirements.

No home for the disabled: The disabling metropolis of Delhi

Delhi is today one of the most diverse urban centers in India. While the Delhi metro, with its many disabled-friendly features, seems an exemplar of the ideal inclusive and open city, other attempts to create more inclusive constructions of habitation there remain fragile. Through an analysis of Shivani Gupta’s autobiography No Looking Back: A True Story, which captures her attempts to negotiate India’s national capital as an orthopedically disabled person, this article examines how the social and architectural construction of public spaces in Delhi privileges particular forms of embodied citizenship associated with a normalized body. It reveals that the development process is characterized by socio-institutional structures and relations which are insensitive to and ignorant of the needs of disabled people. This is symptomatic of an architectural apartheid and a wider set of ableist power geometries. The “reflexive modernization” thesis of Ulrich Beck is applied here to the geographical understanding of disablement.

Sewage-Borne Ammonium at a River Bank Filtration Site in Central Delhi, India: Simplified Flow and Reactive Transport Modeling to Support Decision-Making about Water Management Strategies

In the Indian metropolis of Delhi, the Yamuna River is highly influenced by sewage water, which has led to elevated ammonium (NH4+) concentrations up to 20 mg/L in the river water during 2012–2013. Large drinking water production wells located in the alluvial aquifer draw high shares of bank filtrate. Due to the infiltrating river water, the raw water NH4+ concentrations in some wells exceed the threshold value of 0.5 mg/L ammonia-N of the Indian drinking water specifications, making the water unfit for human consumption without prior treatment. However, to meet the city’s growing water demand, it might be advantageous to consider the long-term use of the well field. This requires the development of an adapted post-treatment unit in concert with an adjusted well field management. To better understand the groundwater dynamics and contamination and decontamination times at the well field, a theoretical modeling study has been conducted. The results of 2D numerical modeling reveal that the groundwater flux beneath the river is negligible because of the aquifer and river geometry, indicating that infiltrating river water is not diluted by the ambient groundwater. Increasing the water abstraction in the wells closest to the river would result in a larger share of bank filtrate and a decreasing groundwater table decline. Simplified 1D reactive transport models set up for a distance of 500 m (transect from the riverbank to the first production well) showed that the NH4+ contamination will prevail for the coming decades. Different lithological units of the aquifer (sand and kankar—a sediment containing calcareous nodules) have a strong influence on the respective contamination and decontamination periods, as the retardation of NH4+ is higher in the kankar than in the sand layer. Although this simplified approach does not allow for a quantification of processes, it can support decision-making about a possible future use of the well field and point to associated research needs.

Empowerment of Women in Semi-Urban/Semi-Rural Regions of Delhi and Haryana

Ensconced within the urbanized environs of the Delhi metropolis and its umbrella towns, there exists several semi-urban semi-rural pockets which are inhabited by communities with agrarian backgrounds who had sold off their lands to merge with the fast developing city spaces. Still holding on to their traditional socio-cultural ethos, these communities have taken to sundry businesses and fringe jobs to fulfill the requirements of surrounding urban settlements. The womenfolk living in these areas are at an interface between the traditional and the progressing worlds. Despite voluminous research on different sections of city-based women, very little attention has been paid to this particular category. This paper analyzes the scope and potential of women empowerment in such areas. We conducted a survey based on a questionnaire targeting representative womenfolk of four such pockets in and around Delhi. Our findings indicate that there is a latent potential among these women which, with due support is waiting to be tapped for the progress of the human populace.

Modeling urban heat islands in heterogeneous land surface and its correlation with impervious surface area by using night-time ASTER satellite data in highly urbanizing city, Delhi-India

The present study is an assessment and identification of urban heat island (UHI) in the environment of one of the fastest urbanizing city of India, Delhi Metropolis, employing satellite image of ASTER and Landsat 7 ETM+ in the thermal infrared region 3–14μm. Temporal (2001 and 2005) ASTER datasets were used to analyze the spatial structure of the thermal urban environment subsequently urban heat island (UHI) in relation to the urban surface characteristics and land use/land cover (LULC). The study involves derivation of parameters governing the surface heat fluxes, constructing statistics of ASTER thermal infrared images along with validation through intensive in situ measurements. The average images reveal spatial and temporal variations of land surface temperature (LST) of night-time and distinct microclimatic patterns. Central Business District (CBD) of Delhi, (Connaught Place, a high density built up area), and commercial/industrial areas display heat islands condition with a temperature greater than 4°C compared to the suburbs. The small increase in surface temperature at city level is mainly attributed to cumulative impact of human activities, changes in LULC pattern and vegetation density. In this study the methodology takes into account spatially-relative surface temperatures and impervious surface fraction value to measure surface UHI intensity between the urban land cover and rural surroundings. Both the spatial and temporal variation in surface temperature associated with impervious surface area (ISA) has been evaluated to assess the effect of urbanization on the local climate.

Evaluation of comparative performance of telecom service providers in India using TOPSIS and AHP

Telecom sector in India has been undergoing a massive expansion for over two decades in the breadth and choice of services and depth of penetration in urban, semi-urban and rural areas. The aim of this study is to comparatively assess the performance of telecom service providers (TSPs) using a scientific and objective approach for identifying the optimal choice from among the various TSPs operating in Delhi metropolis. The combined approach of AHP-TOPSIS is being applied for the first time to assess the relative service quality performance of major telecom players. The proposed methodology utilises the concept of ideal and anti-ideal solutions and relies on the criteria weights obtained by pair-wise comparisons. The findings of the study would be helpful to different TSPs in relating their technical and service performance to the benchmark and take remedial measures to thrive in a highly competitive environment.

Waste pickers and collectors in Delhi: Poverty and environment in an urban informal sector

Waste pickers and collectors constitute the bottom layer of waste recycling in the metropolis of Delhi. Pickers collect waste just by picking them up from public places such as garbage dumps and streets, whereas collectors purchase waste from waste producers such as households and shops for sale to higher-level waste traders. Most pickers have incomes below the poverty line set by the Planning Commission of India, whereas the majority of collectors earn marginally higher than the poverty-line income. The poverty of pickers is not transitory, but chronic as they have no connection to enter the community of collectors and higher-level waste traders within which the community mechanism works effectively to reduce risk and transaction costs. Despite their low economic and social status, pickers and collectors are making important contributions to society. It is found that pickers and collectors are adding more value than their own income to waste producers' income and to the saving of the city government's expenditure for disposing waste. Increased public support not only for social services, but also production services and infrastructure can be justified not only for the purposes of reducing poverty but also for furthering their positive contribution to society.

Private sector hospital response to the 2003 dengue outbreak in the Indian capital metropolis of Delhi

During 2003, the Indian capital metropolis of Delhi was afflicted with an outbreak of dengue. A private-sector tertiary care hospital responded instantly to the sudden influx of 162 patients during an 8-week interval. That was an unusual challenge because, until 1997, the hospital had exclusively managed patients with ophthalmic disorders. Dengue patients received fiscal concessions and several free services. A multidisciplinary cell was commissioned for case management. Apart from a diagnosis of patients with dengue and their clinical management, suspected or confirmed dengue episodes were instantly reported to health authorities. Anti-mosquito measures in the hospital premises including residential areas for the nursing personnel prevented any local virus transmission. The integrated therapeutic and public health response was associated with a 1.23% case fatality rate. The protocol developed during the dengue outbreak would address every locally reportable disease in the future.

Impact of environmental pollution on the eye

To study the effect of environmental toxins on the ocular surface in persons travelling through highly polluted areas of the metropolis of Delhi. A total of 500 apparently healthy volunteers recruited from the metropolis of Delhi were examined to establish the frequency of ocular surface disorders. All subjects underwent a slit-lamp examination, tear break-up time (BUT) test, Rose Bengal test, Schirmer's test and tear lysozyme level test. Subjects in the study group had significantly higher levels of ophthalmic symptoms compared to the control group. In all, 105 (42%) and 125 (50%) subjects in the study group compared to 50 (20%) and 65 (26%) in the control group complained of redness and irritation (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in visual acuity (VA) between the two groups, with best corrected VA being 6/9 or better in 92% of the study group and 96% of the control group. The average (+/-standard deviation) Schirmer's test result was 13.42+/-6.67 mm in the study group compared to 15.95+/-6.14 mm in the control group. This difference was statistically significant. The BUT was also significantly lower in the study group (12.97+/-6.12 seconds) compared to the control group (19.23+/-5.70 seconds) (p < 0.001). The Rose Bengal test and tear lysozyme activity did not show any significant difference between the two groups. According to our study, environmental conditions appear to have a very significant effect on the ocular surface. There were very high levels of subclinical ocular surface changes among persons travelling in highly polluted areas.

Changes in airborne pollen concentrations in Delhi, India

In order to find the qualitative and quantitative changes in airborne pollen concentrations in Delhi metropolis area an aerobiological survey was undertaken from September 1990 to August 1997. Air samples were collected daily using a Rotorod Aeroallergen Sampler at 10 m above the ground level. Ninety-four pollen types were recorded and the major contributors include Morus, Cannabis, Chenopod/Amaranth, Prosopis, Artemisia, and Eucalyptus. Ten pollen types contributed 90% of the total pollen load. Two major pollen seasons were recorded each year (February–April and September–November), although pollen grains in low frequency were recorded throughout the whole year. A significant reduction in pollen concentration was observed in subsequent years. The number of Morus, Cannabis, Prosopis, and Artemisia pollen decreased considerably while the number of Ricinus communis pollen did not show any considerable change during the study period. It is suggested that the reduction in pollen numbers from 1990 to 1997 in Delhi is due to massive clearing of vegetation for developmental activities of the city.

Subclinically Dry Eyes in Urban Delhi: An Impact of Air Pollution?

Purpose: To study the effects of air pollution on the eyes of persons staying in the metropolis of New Delhi. Materials and Methods: 400 healthy volunteers from within and outside the metropolis of Delhi were investigated for the presence of tear film abnormalities. All persons underwent slitlamp examination to rule out any ocular surface disorder. The tear break-up time (BUT) was assessed along with a Schirmer test and the tear lysozyme activity and the tear pH were determined. Results: Of the 210 persons staying in the metropolis, 50 (24%) had an abnormal BUT, 14 (6.6%) had an abnormal Schirmer test, and the tear lysozyme activity was found to be low in 12 (5%). In contrast, of those 190 persons living outside the metropolis, only 10 (5.2%) had an abnormal BUT, 4 (2%) had an abnormal Schirmer test, and none had a low lysozyme activity (p < 0.05). None of the persons in either group had significant eye symptoms. Conclusions: Tear film abnormalities are present in a large number of people staying within the metropolis of New Delhi who have apparently normal eyes. Air pollution over a long period of time could possibly be associated with their causation.

Airborne fungi in the hospitals of metropolitan Delhi

The fungal airspora of a large hospital in Delhi Metropolis was studied from May 1989 – April 1991, using Andersen Six Stage Volumetric Sampler and Burkard Personal Slide Sampler. Simultaneously, samples were also collected from outside the hospital to act as a control. Samplers were operated for 10 min. each time, at 10 - day intervals. Additional samples were also collected from different sections of 3 other hospitals. Some of the dominant forms encountered wereCladosporium spp.,Aspergillus flavus, Smut,Fusarium spp.,Aspergillus niger, Alternaria spp.,Penicillium citrinum, Aspergillus versicolor, andPenicillium oxalicum. Aspergillus flavus showed significantly high concentration inside hospital (n=66, x=53 CFU m−3, p<0.05) as compared to outside air. The peak period for fungi was observed to be from June – September. The spore concentration was much lower in hospital units receiving filtered air as compared to control environment, but in naturally ventilated hospitals the concentration was similar to that of outside air.