Towards Cleaner Air in Delhi

Context: Controlling emissions, reducing private vehicles, and increasing electric vehicles could help reduce air pollution in the Delhi-National Capital Region.

Anti-Pollution Campaign launched by the Delhi Administration: It could cut air pollution from all sources combined by 25%-33% by 2025; It is focussed on  - 

• Cutting deadly smoke from thermal plants and brick kiln in the NCR.
• Introducing chemical treatment of stubble burning from nearby States.

• Abating emissions from transportation: Tackling vehicle emissions would be one part of the agenda, as in comparable situations in Bangkok, Beijing, and Mexico City. 

• Vehicles, including trucks and two-wheelers, contribute 20% - 40% of the PM2.5 concentrations.
• The Delhi government’s three-year policy aims to make EVs account for a quarter of the new vehicles registered in the capital by 2024. 

A three-part action:

• Controlling Emissions:  It is about stricter enforcement of emission controls and willing ness to impose tougher penalties. ( Emission testing of vehicles in Delhi was only 25%).

• • • For, E.g. Bangkok ramped up inspection and maintenance to cut emissions. 

• Encouraging Public Transport: 

• Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in Mexico City, Bogota, Istanbul, and Johannesburg show how the sizeable investment cost is more than o?set by the bene?ts.
• The Supreme Court’s ruling to increase Delhi’s bus ?eet and align it with the Metro network must be carried out. 
• The ‘odd-even’ number plate policy can help, but the system should reduce exemptions, allow a longer implementation period, and complement it with other measures. 

• Promotion of Electric Vehicles (EVs): Through subsidies and investment to ensure EVS are used to a meaning full scale like purchase incentives, scrappage bene?ts on older vehicles, loans at favourable interest, and a waiver of road taxes. 

Conclusion: Technical solution needs the collaboration of governments at all the tiers and citizen’s participation along with media is vital for sharing the message on pollution and health.