Delhi's Air: A 40-Year Fight, 11 Years of Inaction?

Delhi is implementing a multi-pronged strategy to tackle its persistent air pollution issues, with a target of reducing pollution levels by 10-15% annually. Officials acknowledge that achieving clean air is a complex, long-term endeavor, drawing parallels to China's 11-year effort and London's 45-year journey. Past pollution control measures, such as the odd-even scheme and 'red light on, vehicles off' campaigns, are deemed ineffective and questioned for their impact.

Significant environmental initiatives are underway, including the closure of over 800 red-category polluting industrial units operating without adequate monitoring. The city is also focusing on critical infrastructure improvements like end-to-end road carpeting to control dust and expanding electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, including more e-buses. Efforts are also being made to reclaim land from landfill sites, with plans to develop them for public use like bus terminals.

Addressing other environmental concerns, the administration is working on reviving ponds and lakes, managing waste generation, and improving water quality in the Yamuna River. Cloud seeding trials are continuing as a potential emergency solution, though not a permanent fix. The focus is on sustained progress rather than immediate, simplistic solutions, aiming to manage the pollution challenges of a megacity with over 30 million residents.