By Inderjit Badhwar
In this week’s (December 2, 2024 issue) cover story of India Legal magazine, Digital Editor Vikram Kilpady focuses on Delhi’s status as the world’s most polluted capital underscoring both a severe environmental crisis and a governance failure. The city’s toxic air, heavily laden with particulate matter from industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, construction dust, and seasonal crop burning, has led to alarming health issues, including respiratory ailments, cardiovascular diseases, and compromised immune systems. This environmental disaster, often described as an “airpocalypse,” is responsible for thousands of premature deaths each year and a sharp rise in hospitalizations, especially among children and the elderly.
The crisis points to a disturbing breakdown in governance. Despite decades of awareness and numerous policy proposals, authorities have struggled to implement or enforce regulations robustly. The lack of inter-state coordination exacerbates the problem, with crop burning in neighbouring states contributing significantly to Delhi’s pollution load every winter. Initiatives such as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), aimed at curbing pollution spikes, have seen limited success, often hindered by political inertia, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and insufficient public awareness campaigns.
Addressing this crisis requires urgent, collective action from both the government and the public. Solutions could include stricter emissions regulations, investment in cleaner transportation, incentivizing sustainable agricultural practices, and bolstering urban green spaces. However, without accountability and proactive governance, Delhi’s struggle with pollution will continue, jeopardizing the health and well-being of its residents.