Delhi’s Pollution War: Lessons from Beijing’s $100 Billion Success?

Aakhir Tak – In Shorts

• Approximately 12,000 people die annually in Delhi due to air pollution.
• Beijing launched a $100 billion mission in 2013 to combat its air pollution.
• Beijing’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has significantly improved, while Delhi’s remains high.
• Pollution control measures in Delhi are largely reactive, not proactive.
• Delhi’s pollution crisis requires strong political will and a comprehensive plan.

Aakhir Tak – In Depth

Suffocating pollution, smoggy skies, days without sunlight, school closures, and people suffering from wheezing and burning throats – this could describe Delhi in 2024 or Beijing in 2013. For over a decade, two Asian powerhouses – India and China – faced the challenge of hazardous pollution. While one saved its residents, the other helplessly watches people choke to death.

Beijing launched an all-out war on pollution in 2013 with a $100 billion mission. This involved shutting down 100 factories, upgrading others, implementing stricter emission standards, scrapping 20 million old vehicles, upgrading 200,000 industrial boilers, and switching six million households from coal to natural gas for electricity. Today, Beijing is no longer among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities.

Delhi’s situation is different. The sources of pollution are similar: vehicular emissions, dirty coal-fired power plants, and industrial smoke. Additionally, smoke from stubble burning in neighboring agricultural states of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan contributes significantly. Delhi’s AQI frequently exceeds 750, 15 times the level considered satisfactory by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Pollution control measures in Delhi are largely reactive, such as restricting vehicles and halting construction. These measures are temporary and insufficient. A lack of political will is also a major issue. While the Delhi Metro network has expanded, last-mile connectivity remains a problem. Buses are infrequent and unreliable. Stubble burning remains a political football. Waste-to-energy plants have ironically increased pollution.

Delhi’s population growth, unplanned urbanization, and the city’s response to it have exacerbated the situation. In a country aiming for demographic dividends, people cannot be left to fend for themselves, especially when a concerted pan-Indian action plan is needed.

Key Takeaways to Remember

Delhi’s rising air pollution is a serious problem demanding strong political will and a comprehensive, coordinated plan. Learning from Beijing’s experience, Delhi must take concrete steps to reduce its air pollution. This includes improving public transport, preventing stubble burning, and controlling polluting industries.

Aakhir Tak Editor-in-Chief

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