Air Pollution in India: From Planning to Practice – A Roadmap for Clean Air in Cities
- Shivani Thakur
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
Air pollution in India has reached a tipping point. For decades, cities—especially Delhi—have relied on emergency, seasonal “quick-fix” measures to manage toxic air. School closures, construction bans, and vehicle restrictions appear every winter, only to fade away once pollution levels temporarily drop.
As highlighted by Anumita Roychowdhury , Executive Director, Research & Advocacy, of the Centre for Science and Environment, India’s air pollution crisis is no longer a planning challenge—it is an implementation failure.
To meet clean air standards, Indian cities need nearly a 600% further reduction in pollution levels, something that cannot be achieved through short-term or reactive approaches.
This blog distills key insights from the discussion and presents a structured roadmap offered by Anumita for shifting from planning to practice in tackling air pollution in India.
Why Air Pollution in India Persists Despite Repeated Action Plans
India has not been inactive. Coal power plants have shut down in major cities, cleaner fuels have been introduced, and public transport has transitioned to CNG and electric options.
Yet air pollution levels remain critical.
The reason is simple: progress is being overwhelmed by structural gaps in urban development, governance, and investment priorities.
Without systemic reform, clean air gains are repeatedly “swamped.”
The Three Pillars Needed to Reduce Air Pollution in India
Meaningful and sustained reduction in air pollution requires coordinated action across three major transitions.
1. Massive Energy Transition
Cleaning India’s air starts with eliminating toxic fuels.
Transition vehicles toward electric, zero-emission mobility
Shift industries from coal, furnace oil, and diesel to clean electricity
Reduce household dependence on biomass and kerosene
This energy shift directly cuts pollution at source and delivers immediate public health benefits.
2. Mobility Transition Beyond Private Vehicles
Improving engine standards alone cannot solve air pollution in India.
Cities must:
Rapidly scale integrated public transport systems
Invest in safe walking and cycling infrastructure
Actively restrain excessive private vehicle use
Despite national policy intent, a large share of urban funding still goes into flyovers and road widening—projects that encourage car use and increase pollution over time.
3. Circular Economy and Waste Management
Open waste burning remains one of the most under-acknowledged contributors to air pollution.
Key priorities include:
100% waste segregation at source
Scientific remediation of landfills
Strict management of construction and demolition waste
Indian cities already demonstrate feasibility. Indore has achieved near-total waste segregation and uses compressed bio-gas from kitchen waste to run its city buses.
Why Current Air Pollution Efforts Are Being “Swamped”
Despite cleaner technologies and policy intent, three factors continue to undermine progress.
1. The Volume Problem
Cleaner vehicles cannot offset unchecked growth. Delhi alone adds around 7.2 lakh vehicles every year to a fleet exceeding 1.5 crore vehicles.
2. Misaligned Urban Spending
While policies promote sustainable mobility, budgets still favor:
Road widening
Flyovers
Car-centric infrastructure
Footpaths, cycling lanes, and buses remain underfunded despite their proven clean air benefits.
3. The Formal–Informal Divide
Nearly 30% of Delhi’s population lives in informal settlements excluded from municipal waste collection. When waste is not collected, it gets burned—directly worsening local air pollution.
What India Can Learn from Global South Clean Air Innovations
Solutions to air pollution are emerging from countries facing challenges similar to India’s.
Ethiopia has banned the import of petrol and diesel vehicles
Senegal operates electric Bus Rapid Transit corridors
Indore shows Indian cities can lead through consistent execution
These examples underline that bold clean air action is possible even with limited resources.
From Action Plans to Accountability: The Governance Shift Needed
A recurring theme in air pollution governance is the exhaustion with endless planning cycles.
1. Move Beyond the Action Plan Obsession
Cities already have plans. What is missing is proof of delivery.
2. Annual Clean Air Report Cards
Instead of new plans every year, governments must publish annual implementation report cards that clearly show:
Actions completed
Budgets spent
Pollution reduction achieved
These report cards can align departments and drive accountability.
Institutionalizing Implementation Through SOPs and Data Systems
Effective air pollution control requires institutional clarity.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs): Every intervention—from dust control to EV deployment—must follow clearly defined execution protocols
Management Information Systems (MIS): Real-time data tracking is essential to monitor departmental performance and compliance
Compliance Mechanisms: Strong monitoring and reporting frameworks ensure agencies meet air quality mandates
Fixing the Budget–Clean Air Disconnect
Air pollution cannot be reduced if clean air goals are absent from budgets.
Annual departmental budgets must reflect clean air priorities
Funds currently locked into road expansion should shift toward public transport, buses, and footpaths
The challenge is often not lack of money, but misdirected spending that works against clean air outcomes
Regulatory Mandates for the Private Sector
Voluntary action alone will not reduce air pollution at scale.
Governments must:
Set mandatory electrification targets for taxi and delivery aggregators
Mandate zero-emission procurement for public fleets
Clearly define “no-go” practices, such as roads built without footpaths or dust control
Clear regulation provides certainty and accelerates clean investment.
The Role of Citizens in Addressing Air Pollution in India
Policy change follows public pressure.
Citizens can:
Report waste burning and uncovered construction sites
Walk or cycle for short-distance trips
Compost household waste
Demand reliable public transport and clean neighborhoods
As emphasized in the discussion, politics changes only when public demand becomes “shrill and loud.”
The Opportunity Ahead
Unlike many developed countries, much of India’s urban infrastructure is yet to be built. This presents a rare opportunity to:
Redesign cities around people, not cars
Lock in low-pollution mobility systems
Prevent future air pollution instead of retrofitting later
Air pollution in India is not inevitable. It is the result of choices.
And different choices can still be made.
Comments