Background Context
- India faces a severe air pollution crisis, with metros ranking among the most polluted globally.
- Seasonal smog episodes (especially in winter) worsen health impacts, increasing respiratory diseases and hospitalizations.
- Government initiatives like the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Bharat VI norms, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), and efforts to curb coal-burning industries have made some progress.
- Despite these efforts, pollution control remains fragmented, underfunded, and slow-moving, requiring better alignment and ground-level execution.
Relevance : GS 3(Environment and Ecology , Pollution)
Key Issues in India’s Air Pollution Crisis
Understanding Pollution Beyond a Technical Issue
- Often seen as a technical challenge, but air pollution is deeply rooted in governance, socio-economic disparities, behavioral habits, and infrastructure gaps.
- Scientists diagnose pollution levels, but real change depends on local actors—municipal officers, planners, engineers, and community leaders.
- Limited budgets, outdated infrastructure, and competing priorities hinder effective action.
Weak Implementation of Air Quality Targets
- India aims to reduce PM2.5 levels by 40% (2017 baseline) by 2026—an ambitious but challenging goal.
- Lack of detailed sector-wise breakdown (e.g., vehicle type, fuel use, congestion levels) makes it hard to craft localized, practical action plans.
- Air pollution governance lacks coordination between national and local authorities, leading to delayed and ineffective measures.
Budget and Funding Constraints
- India’s NCAP budget is under 1% of what China spent to control urban air pollution (~₹22 lakh crore over five years).
- Key allied programs and budgets:
- PMUY: ₹18,128 crore (reducing indoor air pollution)
- FAME II: ₹10,795 crore (electric vehicle adoption)
- Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban): ₹1.4 lakh crore (waste management)
- NCAP: ₹11,542 crore (direct air pollution control)
- Issue: Despite funding, 60% of allocated funds remain unused (2019-2023) due to institutional misalignment and inefficient spending mechanisms.
Measuring the Wrong Indicators
- NCAP progress depends on ambient air quality data, but weather and geography distort short-term improvements.
- Example:
- PMUY and waste-burning controls reduced emissions in certain regions, but pollution readings still appear stagnant due to external factors.
- Solution: Activity-based tracking (e.g., stoves replaced, diesel buses phased out) can show real impact and ensure accountability.
The “Western Trap” – Overreliance on Digital Solutions
- AI dashboards, smog towers, and high-tech monitoring look impressive but do not directly address primary pollution sources.
- Countries like London and Los Angeles introduced structural reforms first, then used advanced monitoring tools.
- Risk: India may focus on urban, high-tech solutions while neglecting rural pollution sources like biomass burning and outdated industrial processes.
Global Best Practices and Lessons for India
- China: Shut down coal plants with massive state investment.
- Brazil: Used community-led waste management to reduce emissions.
- California: Reinvested pollution revenue into marginalized communities.
- London: Banned coal first, then adopted real-time sensors.
- Key Lesson: India must develop a federalism–friendly, subsidy-driven, and informal economy-oriented approach rather than copying Western models.
The Way Forward: A Phased, Data-Driven Approach
Phase 1: Identify Local Emissions Sources
- Develop detailed, open-source emissions data to track major pollution sources.
- Pinpoint high-pollution activities (waste burning, outdated fuel usage, congested roads).
Phase 2: Link Funding to Targeted Actions
- Redirect unused funds toward specific, measurable interventions (e.g., phasing out diesel vehicles, subsidizing cleaner fuels).
- Strengthen local government capacity with structured incentives for pollution control.
