Budget Misses The Bus To Slash Air Pollution

AS new BJP government presented its first Budget on Tuesday, there was scarcely any hint that India's capital city has repeatedly ranked as the one with the highest air pollution—six times in the last eight years.

- Chetan Bhattacharji Climate journalist and communications consultant

The most recent ranking, by an IQAir report, was just a fortnight ago.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, who presented the budget as finance minister, mentions the menace of air pollution. However, there's little or no aggressive push to cut pollution at source. It does not consider some key studies, particularly transport, by experts, within or outside the government.

While a fair part of Delhi's pollution, depending on factors like climate and other sources, can be from outside the capital's jurisdiction, the Budget could do far more to cut pollution sources inside Delhi.