India’s Air Pollution Crisis: Political Inaction Amid Toxic Skies
India is facing a severe air pollution crisis, with 14 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities located within its borders, according to the 2024 World Air Quality Report by IQAir. Despite repeated interventions by the Supreme Court and alarming health statistics, the issue has not been treated as a national emergency by either the central or state governments.
Air pollution in India is not just a seasonal inconvenience—it’s a daily health hazard. According to Berkeley Earth and Stanford Air Quality models, breathing Delhi’s winter air is equivalent to smoking 14–23 cigarettes a day. Even cities like Mumbai, Patna, Kolkata, Lucknow, Kanpur, Meerut, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad regularly record AQI levels in the “very poor” or “severe” category, far exceeding safe limits.
The World Health Organization recommends PM2.5 levels below 5 µg/m³, but Indian cities often experience 10 to 20 times higher concentrations year-round, exposing millions to chronic respiratory and cardiovascular risks.
Since 1998, the Supreme Court has issued multiple directives targeting diesel vehicles, construction dust, garbage burning, and stubble fires. Yet, implementation remains weak, and political prioritization is absent. Justice (Retd.) Madan B. Lokur remarked in 2023 that India lacks the political will to combat pollution, despite constitutional obligations to ensure clean air.
Economist and environmental policy expert Dr. Raghav Chaturvedi noted that pollution only becomes a talking point during Delhi elections, and is quickly forgotten afterward. Parliamentary and legislative debates on air pollution remain negligible, despite its deadly toll.
Countries like the United States, Japan, South Korea, and the EU have successfully reduced pollution through strong political commitment, industrial reform, cleaner energy, and transport overhauls. India, however, has yet to replicate such integrated efforts.
According to the Global Burden of Disease Study, air pollution causes over 1.2 million premature deaths annually in India. This silent epidemic continues unchecked, with citizens inhaling toxic air equivalent to multiple cigarettes daily, often without awareness or recourse.
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