Winter Smog Looms Over Delhi, Action Plan Faces Ground Test

New Delhi: As winter begins to set in, the air quality in the national capital is once again becoming a cause for concern. The rise in pollution levels in Delhi from October to February is nothing new. Every year, during the winter season, toxic air, dust, smoke and rising air pollution add to the difficulties faced by Delhi residents. This year too, the government has prepared an action plan to curb pollution, preparations are underway to implement the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), and claims are being made about controlling different sources of pollution. But the big question is: How much of the plan prepared on paper will actually be visible on the streets and in the lanes of the capital?

To understand the gap between the government's preparations and the ground reality, the Janbhavna Times team visited different parts of Delhi. Speaking about the government's preparations, environmentalist Onkar Tiwari acknowledged that the government's plan is good, but said the real challenge lies in its effective implementation on the ground. In other words, preparing a plan is one thing, while implementing it effectively is another.

Ghazipur's Garbage Mountain Becomes a Major Concern

During the ground report, the team first visited the Ghazipur area of Delhi. A huge garbage mountain here has long been a source of concern for local residents. Dust generated during waste disposal and processing, along with garbage scattered around the area, raises concerns about air quality.

Local residents say that for them, pollution is not merely a winter problem. They face difficulties throughout the year because of the garbage mountain and the dust and dirt associated with it. When the wind blows, the impact of dust and foul odour becomes even more noticeable in nearby areas.

Residents say that although pollution in Delhi reaches its peak during winter, areas such as Ghazipur continue to face pollution-related problems throughout the year.

Dust From Debris Raises Concerns

While the government is talking about controlling road dust and construction materials to reduce pollution, scenes of debris being openly transported and dumped on the capital's roads tell a different story.

During the ground report, vehicles carrying debris in trucks and tractor-trolleys were seen at several locations. Dumping debris along roadsides causes dust to rise and affects the surrounding environment. At several places, piles of debris could be seen spread along the roadside.

Local resident Devendra Singh said that if pollution is to be genuinely controlled, paperwork and issuing challans alone will not be enough. Effective action is needed against dust rising from roads and construction debris lying in the open.

Crowds Increase at PUC Centres

To control pollution, the government has emphasised making Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates mandatory for vehicles. As a result, crowds of vehicle owners can currently be seen at PUC centres, with people waiting in queues to obtain their certificates.

However, several vehicle owners are questioning how much cleaner Delhi's air will become simply by making PUC certificates mandatory and refusing fuel to vehicles without valid PUC certificates.

People say that emissions from vehicles are one source of pollution, but equal attention is also needed to dust from construction work, openly dumped debris, road dust, waste disposal and other polluting activities.

Parking Fees to Double, Decision Raises Questions

As part of efforts to control pollution, the government has also proposed increasing parking charges during the winter season. According to the proposal, the objective of increasing parking fees is to discourage the use of private vehicles and promote public transport.

However, the proposal has also raised questions among the public.

People say that if pollution is to be reduced, public transport should be strengthened, traffic management should be improved, and strict action should also be taken against other major sources of pollution. They are questioning how much impact higher parking charges will actually have on pollution and who will bear the resulting financial burden.

All Eyes on GRAP

During winter, different stages of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are implemented when air pollution rises in Delhi. As the pollution situation worsens, restrictions are imposed at different levels on construction activities, vehicles and other pollution-causing activities.

The government's preparations are once again visible this year.

But for Delhi residents, the real question is not about announcements, but about their impact.

Will action be taken against debris lying in the open?

Will dust generated from garbage mountains be effectively controlled?

Will road dust be reduced?

Will equal action be taken against polluting vehicles and activities?

And the biggest question—will GRAP restrictions move beyond paper and actually be visible on the ground?

Delhi's Air Faces Another Test

Every winter, major claims and plans emerge regarding Delhi's air quality. For a few days, strict measures are visible on the roads, inspections increase and pollution-control efforts are intensified. But once the season changes, many of these systems appear to return to their old ways.

This year, the government has prepared an action plan to tackle pollution. The coming days and the data will reveal how effective the plan is. However, the ground reality visible from Ghazipur to the roads across the capital certainly raises the question: Is merely having rules enough to clean Delhi's air, or is their strict and sustained implementation equally necessary.