Delhi has now overtaken Beijing as the most polluted city in the world and over Diwali the air quality deteriorated to new lows. In this article, Payal Dey discusses how serious the problem has become, highlights the Delhi government’s lethargic response to the current crisis and outlines policy suggestions for controlling smog in the Indian capital.
The World Health Organisation in 2014 rated Delhi as the most polluted of 1600 cities in the world. On Diwali – the festival of lights celebrated by close to 82 percent of the population of Delhi – the air quality deteriorated to its worst. It is of concern that despite warning of unfavourable weather conditions leading to smog by the government’s forecasting body (SAFAR), fireworks and firecrackers were used without restraint on the festive night of October 30. The blanket of smog over Delhi continues to put health of nearly 19 million people at risk, resulting in road accidents due to poor visibility and unaccounted damage to flora and fauna. This article captures the need for paying immediate attention for curbing air pollution, builds a case for a complete ban on firecrackers, fireworks and open fires, and recommends policy suggestions for controlling smog in the Indian capital.