Air pollution in India, especially in Delhi-NCR, has evolved into a chronic public health emergency. It is best described as a “wicked problem”—multi-causal, interdependent, and requiring coordinated long-term governance rather than episodic crisis response.
Delhi’s Air Pollution as a Wicked Problem:
· Geographical & Meteorological Traps: Basin-like topography between the Aravallis and the Indo-Gangetic plain restricts air dispersal. Winter temperature inversion traps pollutants close to the ground, creating a “pollution bowl.”
- Human-Made Sources and behavioural causes:
- Vehicular emissions: Delhi-NCR has 3.3 crore vehicles; diesel trucks, ageing buses contribute heavy NOx & PM2.5.
- Construction & road dust: Contributes to 27% of PM2.5 (NITI Aayog).
- Industrial emissions: Outdated fuel use in NCR towns and weak enforcement of stack monitoring.
- Agricultural residue burning: 15–20 million tonnes burnt annually in Punjab-Haryana region carries over into Delhi.
- Waste burning & landfills: Delhi’s landfills emit methane and toxic fumes.
- Firecrackers cause episodic spikes despite judicial bans.
- Governance Fragmentation: Overlapping jurisdictions of Delhi Govt, Centre, three neighbouring States, MCD, NHAI, CPCB, DPCC. Limited municipal capacity and weak enforcement of construction, waste, and transport norms.
Multi-Pronged Approach required:
· Transport Reforms: Expand integrated public transport (metro + 11,000 buses). Congestion pricing, low-emission zones (London model). Accelerate EV adoption through charging infrastructure.
- Industrial & Energy Transition: Relocate polluting industries outside NCR; enforce CEMS for real-time monitoring. Phase out coal-based industries; adopt clean fuels like PNG.
- Construction and Dust Control: Mandatory mechanised sweeping; dust barriers; strict penalties for violation. Paving unpaved roads in NCR and satellite towns.
- Tackling Stubble Burning: Subsidise Happy Seeder, Pusa bio-decomposer, and MSP reforms for crop diversification. Replicate Punjab’s pilot where decomposer reduced burning by 30% in test blocks.
- Institutional Reforms: Strengthen Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) with binding inter-state powers. Real-time public dashboards for emissions accountability.
‘+1’ Value Addtion:
- India ranked 5th most polluted country and Delhi remains world’s most polluted capital (IQAir 2024).
- India recorded 2.1 million premature deaths attributed to air pollution in 2021 (State of Global Air Report 2024).
- PM2.5 levels exceed WHO standards by 20–30 times during winter.
- Pollution leads to economic loss of 1.36% of India’s GDP annually (World Bank, 2021).
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