Clearing the air on Delhi’s pollution crisis

Since 1984, when M.C. Mehta filed a public interest litigation petition, there has been a flurry of activity to combat air pollution beginning in October and then a long lull.

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A lot has been achieved, but the growing economy and population have outpaced these measures. This is not unique to Delhi. Los Angeles established its air pollution control programme in 1947 and currently remains among the worst in the U.S., both for PM 2.5 and ozone. The lesson is that urban toxicity is a ‘wicked problem’ where the problem itself is debated and requires long-term measures. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) began the process of taking a new look at an old problem by asking the government to list the causes of air pollution. However, the National Clean Air Programme, launched in 2019 with its “collaborative and participatory approach,” focus on monitoring, set targets, emergency measures, and inclusion of international organisations, has made minimal impact.