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Delhi’s Air Pollution Crisis: Causes, Responses, and Lessons

1. The Scale of the Problem

Global and National Context:

  • 13 of the top 20 most polluted cities in the world are in India (2024 IQ Air Report).
  • Only 17% of cities globally have acceptable air quality.

Regional Disparities in India:

  • North India: Most polluted (Avg PM2.5: 89.9–113 µg/m³)
  • South India: Cleanest region (Karnataka: 32 µg/m³, Kerala: 33.4 µg/m³)
  • Delhi: Avg PM2.5 = 188 µg/m³ (winter 2023–24) — one of the world’s most polluted megacities

Top Polluted States:

  1. Bihar
  2. Haryana
  3. Uttar Pradesh
  4. Rajasthan
  5. Punjab

Cleanest States:

  1. Karnataka
  2. Kerala

2. Timeline of Delhi’s Air Quality Interventions

Year Intervention Impact
1996 Supreme Court orders conversion of public buses to CNG Major reduction in pollution
2001 Full CNG transition in public transport Significant air quality improvement
2015 Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) introduced Seasonal policy measures
2016 Severe smog triggers public outcry Increased media and public attention
2019 Odd-Even scheme, smoke towers, stricter emissions checks Short-term relief
2022 Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) established Coordinated regional approach

3. Sources of Pollution in Delhi

Sectoral Contribution (CSE Data):

Source Contribution
Transport 20–25%
Industry 20–30%
Construction Dust 20–25%
Biomass Burning 10–15%
Residential 10–12%

Key Factors:

  • Local: Vehicles, construction, industrial emissions, waste burning
  • Regional: Stubble burning in Punjab & Haryana (transboundary pollution)
  • Seasonal: Temperature inversion in winter traps pollutants near ground

4. Challenges in Addressing Delhi’s Air Pollution

Structural Issues:

  • Reactive policies: Seasonal measures (e.g., odd-even) lack long-term impact
  • Lack of year-round political priority
  • Weak regulation of industry and construction
  • Urban design and fossil fuel dependence

Social Equity Dimension:

  • Clean air is often a privilege of the elite
  • Poor and marginalized communities suffer the most
  • Need to democratize clean air as a public good

5. Lessons from Delhi’s Journey

  • Strong judicial and policy action can drive change (e.g., CNG transition)
  • Continuous monitoring and public participation are essential
  • Regional cooperation is needed to address transboundary pollution
  • Clean air must be a year-round priority, not a seasonal emergency

6. Way Forward

  • Systemic changes: Sustainable urban planning, green public transport
  • Strengthen regulations: Strict enforcement on industry, construction, waste management
  • Promote clean energy: Shift from biomass, diesel, and coal
  • Public awareness and civic action: Demand clean air as a fundamental right

📘 Exam Tip

Focus on the multi-source nature of Delhi’s pollution (local, regional, seasonal), the timeline of policy responses, and the structural challenges behind perennial pollution. Use data to highlight regional disparities and equity issues. Emphasize the need for sustained, multi-stakeholder action—not just emergency measures—to achieve clean air as a public good.

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