Delhi-NCR Pollution Crisis: Environmentalist Questions Government Inaction Despite Available Technology

New Delhi: The pollution crisis in Delhi and the NCR is once again taking a heavy toll on people's breathing. The air is becoming increasingly toxic, the cost of breathing is rising, and queues of patients in hospitals are getting longer. However, surprisingly, no one appears ready to take responsibility for addressing the crisis. Pollution does not discriminate on the basis of position or prestige. The same toxic air is reaching everyone's lungs, yet the pace of administrative action remains extremely slow. There is no separate route for VIPs in the Air Quality Index (AQI), but the question is: when everyone is facing the same threat, who is ultimately responsible for finding a solution?

Government Indecision Behind the Pollution Crisis

Environmental expert Omkar Tiwari has raised serious questions about pollution in Delhi-NCR, stating that the problem lies less in the lack of resources and technology and more in the indecisiveness of the government machinery. According to him, pollution increases every year with the arrival of winter, and the number of patients suffering from respiratory illnesses in hospitals rises. However, government action remains trapped in a maze of files, meetings and tendering processes.

Six Years On, Vehicle Emission Monitoring Remains Stuck in Files

According to Tiwari, vehicles account for approximately 30 per cent of Delhi's pollution. Technologies such as Remote Sensing Devices are available to identify vehicles emitting the highest levels of smoke. Installed along roadsides, these devices can examine the emissions of moving vehicles and identify those causing excessive pollution. The Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal have also issued directions to strengthen monitoring mechanisms in this regard. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways released a draft of the AIS-170 standard on October 26, 2020. However, questions are being raised over why it had not been formally notified even by November 2026. As a result, despite the availability of technology, the process of implementing it on a wider scale remains stalled.

Rs 44 Crore Spent on Smog Towers, But Where Is the Relief?

In 2021, two smog towers were installed in Delhi at a cost of approximately Rs 22 crore each. One was established at Connaught Place by the Delhi Government and the other at Anand Vihar by the Central Pollution Control Board. Omkar Tiwari questions why these facilities are not being used effectively despite crores of rupees having been spent on them. According to him, the smog tower at Connaught Place remains shut, while approximately Rs 11 lakh to Rs 12 lakh is reportedly being spent every month on the maintenance of the Anand Vihar tower. In its response to a Right to Information (RTI) query, the Central Pollution Control Board claimed that the tower had reduced pollution within a limited area. This raises the question: if the technology can provide even partial relief, why is its regular operation not being ensured?

Rs 104 Crore Tender, But Winter Has Already Arrived

On September 17, 2026, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee issued a tender worth Rs 104 crore for pilot testing new pollution-control technologies at 40 locations. The tender, which was scheduled to open on October 6, was postponed to November 11 following a revision. In other words, the winter season for which the plan was prepared has already arrived, while results on the ground are still awaited. Tiwari believes that an emergency situation like pollution cannot be left dependent on routine government procurement procedures. New technologies should be given an opportunity through pilot projects of limited duration, and their results should be evaluated transparently.

Time for Decisions, Not Speeches

According to Omkar Tiwari, immediate decisions are necessary, considering the health of nearly four crore citizens of Delhi-NCR, children's lungs, hospital expenses and the impact of pollution on daily activities and work. The government must take effective action against vehicle emissions, construction dust, road debris, open waste burning and other sources of pollution.

He also appealed to citizens not to burn garbage and other waste, avoid leaving construction materials exposed in the open and refrain from using highly polluting vehicles. At the same time, officials are responsible for taking immediate decisions on pending standards, tenders and non-operational machines. The issue is not just about clean air but also about the lives of future generations. If those responsible continue to avoid making decisions even now, future debates on pollution will take place not in government auditoriums but in hospital corridors. The air belongs to everyone, and therefore, protecting it is everyone's responsibility.