India: Delhi government studies measures to curb air pollution

The Delhi government is studying a series of micro-level interventions to reduce air pollution. On Saturday, April 5, a meeting on the issue was held at the Delhi secretariat between Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and representatives from several institutions, including IIT-Delhi and Clean Air Collective. During the meeting, experts called for the development of sustainable urban mobility, the control of construction dust, and the removal of polluting vehicles from the city streets. There were also discussions about the expansion of the Delhi metro network to have a metro station within 400 metres of every citizen’s house. It would strengthen public transport infrastructure and limit dependence on private cars, reducing significantly air pollution. Experts also supported using electric vehicles (EVs), especially in public transportation, and stringent action against aging vehicles that contribute heavily to the deterioration of air quality levels. Other recommendations included upgrading air quality monitoring systems and a comprehensive overhaul of parking policies to reduce urban congestion and related pollution.
At the micro-level, the meeting discussed actions such as strict dust control measures at construction sites, regular cleaning of trees to prevent dust resuspension, and the use of small mechanized road sweepers for cleaning roads and lanes. Minister Sirsa said that many of the proposals presented at the meeting are already part of the city government’s plans, and their implementation would begin soon. He added that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) is working on measures to curb construction dust, which accounts for around 30% of particulate pollution in the city. He concluded by saying that the Delhi Government will work closely with scientific institutions, civil society, and citizens to develop sector-specific action plans with real-time monitoring systems to win the “war against pollution.”