Air Pollution and Governance Challenges

In India, pollution levels in Delhi and across northern regions reach hazardous levels every year, yet this issue never becomes a significant electoral agenda, nor is it meaningfully discussed. In the 1950s, London’s Air Quality Index (AQI) was worse than Delhi’s today. However, London has now reduced its AQI to an average of 20, whereas Delhi’s AQI often reaches 150, soaring past 400 in October and November. In 2013, Beijing and Singapore had AQI levels of 600 and 400, respectively, but both cities have since successfully controlled their pollution levels. Blaming Diwali fireworks alone for pollution is a narrow perspective—solid policies must be implemented to curb air pollution and combat climate change effectively.