More than Commission to Check Air Pollution

Context: The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas has the potential to address this problem, but an institution by itself is not a solution.

Impediments to Good Quality Air:

• Reactive rather than proactive attitude: The inability and unwillingness of the authorities, particularly state governments, to address the issues outside of emergency situations or seasonal spikes.

• False solutions: The focus is on immediate relief from ways such as a smog tower, switching off engines at red lights and cloud seeding.

• Uncommitted Public: People are reluctant to accept that they have to modify their conduct for sustainable solutions.

Way forward for India:

• The Commission for Air Quality Management to serve as a platform for:

• Concerted efforts: Bringing together the stakeholders, including state governments, relevant institutions, public representatives and civil society.
• Consistent efforts: Prepare society for sustained effort to change the way they live and work.

• Providing science- and evidence-based solutions.