Delhi-NCR Air Pollution: Parliament’s Silence on a Public Health Emergency Is Unforgivable

 

Air pollution must be viewed not as a seasonal problem or a political weapon, but as a national health emergency. The winter session of Parliament, which began amid noise and mutual accusations, ended in the same frustrating manner. Slogans echoed in the temple of democracy, placards were waved, and the House was repeatedly adjourned. Amidst this din, several crucial issues remained undiscussed. Most tragically, a life-and-death issue like air pollution in Delhi-NCR could not be debated substantively, despite a verbal agreement between the ruling party and the opposition. This is not merely a parliamentary failure, it is proof of our collective insensitivity towards the health and future of millions of citizens.

Last week, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, termed air pollution a health emergency and demanded a systematic and serious discussion. Other opposition leaders echoed this demand, and positive signals were reportedly given by the government. However, on Thursday, when the discussion was scheduled, uproar over the introduction of the ‘Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural)’ in place of MNREGA brought House proceedings to a standstill. As a result, the debate on the suffocating pollution in Delhi-NCR was postponed yet again.

Now, the government claims it was ready for a discussion, while the Congress questions why the debate did not take place despite an apparent consensus. Amid this political tug-of-war, the real issue—people’s health—has once again been pushed to the margins.

The irony is stark. While Parliament was paralysed by protests, the Air Quality Index in several parts of Delhi was hovering around 400, indicating a severely critical situation. The capital’s air has remained almost continuously toxic since November. Last month alone, the AQI stayed above 300 for 24 days, and the situation worsened further in December. Despite the implementation of stringent restrictions such as GRAP-4, pollution levels have continued to remain between 350 and 400. This clearly indicates that current strategies are inadequate. We are reacting to the symptoms, not addressing the root causes.

Air pollution in Delhi-NCR is not a political issue to be viewed through a partisan lens. It is neither a Congress issue, nor a BJP issue, nor an Aam Aadmi Party issue. It is a question that concerns millions of people who are forced to breathe toxic air every morning, regardless of whom they vote for or what ideology they follow.

Air pollution does not discriminate between rich and poor, Hindu and Muslim, ruling party and opposition. Its impact is felt equally on the lungs of children, the hearts of the elderly, pregnant women, and daily wage labourers. According to estimates by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, air pollution alone claimed approximately 17,200 lives in Delhi in 2023. This figure exceeds deaths caused by road accidents, criminal incidents, and several serious diseases combined. In other words, pollution has become Delhi’s biggest silent killer—shortening lives every day without sirens, headlines, or public outrage.

Yet, politically, air pollution continues to be treated as a seasonal inconvenience. Every winter, as smog descends in November and December, emergency measures are rolled out—GRAP is enforced, schools are shut, construction work is halted, and vehicles are restricted. Once the air marginally improves, the crisis is forgotten until the next winter.

This firefighting approach is neither scientific nor sustainable. The Graded Response Action Plan is, by design, reactive. It comes into play only after the damage has begun. The real question is: why are we repeatedly pushed to the brink where emergency measures like GRAP-4 become inevitable? Why is there no year-round, long-term, and multi-sectoral strategy?

The causes of pollution in Delhi-NCR are complex and interconnected—vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction dust, waste and crop residue burning, coal-based power plants, along with geographical and seasonal factors. Such a multifaceted problem cannot be solved by a single order, a temporary ban, or one level of government.

A major challenge lies in governance. Delhi-NCR extends beyond the administrative control of the Delhi government and includes large areas of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. Pollution respects no state boundaries, but our policies and politics do. When air quality deteriorates, blame is passed around—Punjab and Haryana are accused of stubble burning, Uttar Pradesh of industrial pollution, and Delhi of vehicular emissions. In this blame game, accountability disappears.

What is urgently needed is a robust institutional framework that brings all NCR states onto a single platform with clearly defined responsibilities. Meetings and declarations are not enough. There must be concrete targets, time-bound action plans, and strict enforcement mechanisms.

Reducing dependence on private vehicles, for instance, is impossible without strengthening public transport. Electric vehicles are frequently promoted, but without adequate charging infrastructure, affordability, and a stable supply chain, this transition remains aspirational. Construction norms exist, yet dust-control measures are rarely enforced on the ground. Industries are subject to emission standards, but monitoring remains weak and penalties insufficient. Until violating environmental norms becomes politically costly and economically unviable, meaningful change will remain elusive.

Public participation is equally critical. Placing the entire burden on governments reflects only a partial understanding of the problem. Citizens must also contribute—by limiting private vehicle use, avoiding waste burning, conserving energy, and adopting cleaner alternatives. For this to happen, governments must engage the public through transparent data, credible communication, and continuous dialogue, rather than issuing ad-hoc orders during emergencies.

Above all, tackling air pollution demands strong political will. Not the kind demonstrated through speeches or social media posts, but through difficult decisions—decisions that may be unpopular in the short term but essential for long-term public health.

Are we prepared to impose strict controls on private vehicles? Can we take firm action against polluting industries? Can states rise above political rivalries and cooperate meaningfully? The answers to these questions will determine whether Delhi-NCR remains habitable in the decades to come.

The winter session of Parliament was a missed opportunity. When the country’s highest democratic institution fails to discuss an issue as grave as air pollution—even with broad political consensus—it reflects not just a failure of procedure, but a failure of priorities. If the deaths of more than 17,000 people cannot compel us to rise above politics, then one must ask: what will?

There is still time to stop treating air pollution as a seasonal inconvenience or a political tool and recognise it for what it truly is—a national health emergency. This demands a serious, fact-based, and solution-oriented debate in Parliament, one that goes beyond a single session or season and translates into sustained, year-round policy action. The air in Delhi-NCR is not merely poisoning statistics—it is poisoning lives. This reality cannot be allowed to be drowned out by the noise of politics.