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Air pollution in India is a severe challenge, with 84 of the world’s 100 most polluted cities located in the country. The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) reports that PM 2.5 pollution reduces life expectancy by over 5.3 years in India. Beyond environmental damage, this crisis underscores urban planning failures, industrial mismanagement, and socio-economic disparities, demanding systemic reforms.

Deeper Structural Issues Beyond Environmental Degradation

• Governance Capacity Deficit: Air pollution is often seen as a technical issue rather than a multi-sectoral governance challenge, limiting effective policy making and enforcement.
  For example: Many municipal bodies lack funds and autonomy to implement pollution control measures, leading to poor enforcement of construction dust regulations in Delhi NCR.
• Economic Growth vs. Sustainability: Rapid industrialization and urbanization drive pollution, but stringent air quality laws may hinder economic growth, leading to policy dilution.
• Urban-Rural Divide in Pollution Control: Most air quality monitoring and mitigation efforts focus on urban centers, while rural areas remain neglected despite their contributions from biomass burning.
  For example: In Punjab and Haryana, stubble burning persists due to a lack of viable alternative disposal incentives for farmers, worsening winter smog.
• Institutional Misalignment: Multiple agencies, municipal bodies, state pollution boards, and central ministries, work in silos, causing inefficiencies in policy execution.
  For example: The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) struggles with fund utilization, with only 60% of allocated funds used between 2019-2023 due to bureaucratic hurdles.
• Technological Over-Reliance: India increasingly depends on AI dashboards and smog towers, but basic pollution sources like old vehicles and biomass burning remain unaddressed.
  For example: The Delhi government installed smog towers, but studies found they had negligible impact on air quality compared to vehicle restrictions and waste management.

Socio-economic Challenges in Addressing Air Pollution

• High Cost of Pollution Control: Transitioning to cleaner energy and transport demands significant investment, which is unaffordable for many small businesses and industries.
  For example: Upgrading to Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) fuel cost oil companies over ₹35,000 crore, making it harder for small transporters to switch to compliant vehicles.
• Informal Economy’s Role: A large part of India’s economy, brick kilns, roadside vendors, and small-scale manufacturing, operates outside environmental regulations, worsening pollution.
  For example: Tanneries in Kanpur discharge pollutants into the Ganga and burn leather scraps, but strict enforcement is difficult due to their economic significance.
• Lack of Public Awareness and Behavior Change: Many individuals still rely on solid fuels for cooking and open burning of waste due to lack of awareness or alternatives.
  For example: Despite Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) distributing over 9.6 crore LPG connections, many families continue using firewood due to refill costs
• Health Burden and Economic Productivity: Pollution-related respiratory diseases increase healthcare costs, reduce workforce efficiency, and impact GDP.
  For example: India loses nearly 1.36% of its GDP annually due to pollution-related health costs, affecting productivity and economic output.

Governance-related Challenges in Addressing Air Pollution

• Weak Policy Enforcement: Existing pollution laws are rarely implemented strictly, leading to recurring violations in industrial zones and vehicular emissions.
  For example: Delhi’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is often reactive rather than preventive, failing to prevent severe smog episodes.
• Fragmented Institutional Responsibilities: Multiple agencies, MoEFCC, CPCB, State Pollution Control Boards, and Urban Local Bodies, work with unclear jurisdiction, leading to poor execution.
  For example: The Delhi-Gurugram-Faridabad pollution crisis requires cross-state coordination, but states often blame each other instead of implementing joint solutions
• Underutilization of Clean Air Funds: Air quality programs like NCAP suffer from low fund utilization due to bureaucratic hurdles and weak local administration capacity.
• Political and Industrial Resistance: Strict air pollution policies face pushback from industrial lobbies and political groups prioritizing economic growth over environmental concerns.
  For example: Despite dire air quality, coal-fired thermal plants in Singrauli continue operations due to political and industrial pressure.

Way Ahead

• Strengthen Local Governance and Funding: Municipal bodies should get direct control over clean air funds and decision-making power for local air quality measures.
  For example: Cities like Ahmedabad have set up Air Information & Response (AIR) Plans, improving localized response and fund allocation.
• Adopt Targeted Emission-Reduction Metrics: Shift from monitoring air pollution levels to tracking actual emission reductions from industries, transport, and household sectors.
  For example: California’s cap-and-trade system reduced industrial pollution by linking emission limits to economic incentives for compliance.
• Integrate Rural and Urban Strategies: Air pollution mitigation must extend beyond metros, including rural biomass alternatives and agricultural waste management.
  For example: Brazil’s community-led waste systems helped reduce open burning, showing the importance of grassroots participation.
• Encourage Public-Private Partnerships: Governments must collaborate with industries, NGOs, and research institutions to develop cost-effective clean technologies.
  For example: FAME II policy supports electric vehicles by providing subsidies, increasing adoption among public transport operators.
• Enhance Behavioral Change: Comprehensive air pollution literacy campaigns can encourage eco-friendly habits, like carpooling and waste segregation.
  For example: The Swachh Bharat Mission succeeded by changing public attitudes towards cleanliness through nationwide engagement efforts.

Addressing India’s air pollution crisis requires robust policy enforcement, technological innovation, and community-driven solutions. Strengthening governance frameworks, promoting sustainable urbanization, and accelerating clean energy adoption can create lasting change. A coordinated effort between the government, industries, and citizens is essential to ensure cleaner air and a healthier future for all.

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