By Anuj Guglani
Delhi’s air pollution crisis demands urgent, decisive and practical interventions. Based on data, global best practices, and on-ground realities, we would like to submit the following low-hanging yet high-impact measures that can significantly reduce pollution levels in a short timeframe:
1. Fast-track Electrification of Two-Wheelers
- Nearly two-thirds of petrol consumption is by two-wheelers, making them the single largest contributor to petrol-based emissions.
- An urgent electrification roadmap for 2-wheelers in Delhi-NCR is critical.
- Introduce:
- Attractive exchange and scrappage incentives
- Higher taxation on new petrol 2-wheelers to make them economically unviable
- Set a clear one-year transition deadline for shifting to electric two-wheelers.
2. Automatic Pollution Emergency Protocol
- Enforce Sunday lockdowns and Odd-Even schemes , Schools, Colleges, Private and Govt Offices to WFH automatically when AQI crosses 300.
- Ensure strict compliance and enforcement, else such measures remain symbolic and ineffective.
3. Relocation of High-Emission Industries
- High-polluting industries must be shifted outside the NCR region.
- Beijing successfully implemented this strategy—Delhi can and should replicate it.
4. Real-Time Emission Monitoring via IoT
- Install IoT-based emission sensors on:
- DG sets
- Commercial & Private vehicles
- Enable real-time remote monitoring.
- Vehicles or DG sets violating norms should:
- Receive mandatory service notices
- Face automated fines for non-compliance.
5. Drone Surveillance for Waste Burning
- Deploy drones for real-time detection and monitoring of waste burning hotspots.
- Enable rapid enforcement action.
6. Phase-out of Old Vehicles
- Old vehicles are a proven pollution multiplier.
- There is no justification for leniency.
- If one can afford to maintain an old vehicle, taxis are viable alternatives.
- Enforce strict end-of-life vehicle policies.
7. Reinstate and Strictly Enforce Firecracker Ban
- The ban on crackers has shown clear positive impact on air quality.
- Reinstate the ban with zero tolerance enforcement.
- Those wishing to burst crackers may do so outside Delhi-NCR limits.
8. Ban New Private Diesel Cars
- Diesel vehicles emit significantly higher particulate matter, even after proper servicing.
- This is a technology limitation, not a maintenance issue.
- Impose an immediate ban on new private diesel cars in Delhi-NCR.
