Delhi pollution surge: Long-term solutions for lasting relief

Delhi’s battle with air pollution has intensified in recent weeks, with the Air Quality Index climbing to severe levels across the National Capital Region. On 27 November, some localities recorded an AQI of 485 in the early morning, while even the lowest reading of 182 the previous afternoon remained far above the safe limit of 50. Key pollutant levels tell their own story: PM2.5 at 184 g/m3, PM10 at 239 g/m3, carbon monoxide at 697 ppb, nitrogen dioxide at 56 ppb, and ozone at 6 ppb. Medical bodies have described conditions as a public health emergency, citing the risk of irreversible lung damage in children.

While pollution spikes each winter because of weather patterns, the underlying problem is structural. Multiple sectors contribute to Delhi’s toxic air, from transport and industry to stubble burning and dust. Effective mitigation requires coordinated implementation instead of episodic measures under emergency frameworks like GRAP. The following section outlines a set of realistic, evidence-based interventions that could reduce pollution levels substantially if pursued consistently.

Vehicular emissions control

Vehicular activity remains one of the largest sources of urban pollution, contributing roughly one-fifth to one-third of Delhi’s particulate load, depending on the season and locality. The expansion of electric mobility offers one of the most direct paths to reducing this burden. The city has already deployed electric buses, and a larger shift to electric fleets supported by dense charging infrastructure would cut emissions sharply. Subsidies for private EVs, restrictions on older diesel vehicles, and tighter enforcement under the Commission for Air Quality Management can further accelerate the transition.

Traffic congestion also magnifies vehicular emissions. Delhi contains over sixty prominent bottlenecks where idling contributes significantly to pollution. Redesigning these junctions, increasing dedicated bus lanes, and deploying intelligent traffic systems could reduce traffic-related pollution by ten to fifteen per cent. These solutions require upfront investment but provide durable benefits for public health.

Stubble burning mitigation

Crop residue burning in neighbouring states remains a major contributor during winter, at times adding up to forty per cent of Delhi’s PM2.5 levels. Mechanical alternatives such as happy seeders, mulchers, and balers allow farmers to manage stubble without burning. Government subsidies, rental schemes, and direct cash incentives can ease adoption. Purchasing crop residue at the minimum support price for use in biomass plants or composting would create economic value rather than waste.

Regulation alone has shown limited success. District-level pilots combining penalties with community residue-collection programmes have performed more effectively and provide a template for interstate cooperation. Coordinated efforts with Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh are essential, as pollution does not respect administrative boundaries.

Construction, dust control

Construction activity contributes roughly ten to fifteen per cent of particulate pollution. Existing rules require measures such as green netting, water sprinkling, and mechanised sweeping, but enforcement gaps weaken their impact. Real-time monitoring, digital compliance logs, and automatic penalties for violations would make regulation more effective.

Blanket construction bans trigger economic losses and often fail to achieve proportional environmental benefits. A targeted pause under specific GRAP stages, combined with better enforcement and the promotion of green building practices, offers a more balanced approach.

Industrial, power sector reform

Industrial emissions, including those from power plants in the NCR, remain another major source of air pollution. Many units have missed deadlines to install flue-gas desulfurisation systems or switch to cleaner fuels. Strict implementation of emission norms, combined with incentives for technology upgrades, is both feasible and necessary. Public sector plants and private companies can be held to timelines already prescribed by the CAQM.

Encouraging industries to adopt low-emission processes, shifting smaller polluting units outside dense urban clusters, and continuous monitoring through digital dashboards would reduce the ambient load.

Green, nature-based initiatives

Expanding Delhi’s green cover can provide measurable long-term benefits. Native species with strong pollution-resistance—such as neem, pilkhan, jamun, and arjuna—can filter particulates and reduce urban heat. The city’s mitigation plan aims to improve green cover, and sustained public participation could increase this by five to ten per cent over the next few years.

Nature-based solutions also apply to water bodies. Reviving the Yamuna floodplains, restoring wetlands, and creating green corridors could help regulate temperature and trap pollutants. Academic institutions, including IIT Delhi, have highlighted the scalability of such interventions.

On 27 November, The Squirrels and Breaking Tube jointly discussed the issue on a live show on YouTube, which appears above, on top of this page.

Technological systems, policy reforms

Delhi needs stronger decision-support systems that combine air quality forecasting with actionable steps for administrators. Real-time dissemination of GRAP restrictions through public apps and targeted alerts can enable proactive implementation rather than reactive bans. Research and development partnerships with IITs and other institutions can advance cleaner technologies for vehicles, industry, and municipal waste.

Unproven interventions like artificial rain have repeatedly failed to deliver results in field trials. Policymakers must avoid symbolic measures and prioritise evidence-based strategies. Public participation remains vital, whether through carpooling, remote working during high-pollution days, or adopting N95 masks and indoor purifiers.

Implementation, political coordination

Long-term success depends on coordination between Delhi and neighbouring states. The Supreme Court has emphasised the need for expert-led planning rather than political disputes. With AQI readings frequently above 300 even in late November, phased interventions—beginning with vehicular reforms, better traffic flow, and large-scale stubble alternatives—could reduce pollution by twenty to thirty per cent over the next few years, according to estimates by regulatory bodies.

Public pressure, especially from youth groups and resident welfare associations, is already prompting governments to act more decisively. The challenge is to convert short-term emergency responses into sustained structural reforms, ensuring cleaner air for the region’s residents.