From odd-even to cloud seeding: Why Delhi's pollution battle remains unfinished

NewsIndia NewsFrom odd-even to cloud seeding: Why Delhi's pollution battle remains unfinished From odd-even to cloud seeding: Why Delhi's pollution battle remains unfinished Priyanka Jaiswal / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Nov 14, 2026, 20:08 IST Every winter, Delhi's air turns toxic.Governments change, action plans get revamped and new solutions are announced.Yet, the capital continues to battle hazardous air, with residents bearing the health costs of a crisis that refuses to go away.At the time of publishing this article on Saturday (7pm IST), Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 367, in the ‘very poor’ category, which had breached the ‘severe’ level on Friday.The latest spike came days after Delhi recorded its most polluted Diwali in five years.Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments introduced separate action plans and announced a range of measures to tackle Delhi's recurring air pollution crisis during their respective tenures.

Both failed.So are successive governments fighting pollution at its source, or merely trying to manage the smog after it sets in?<div data-pos="0" class="id-r-component iIpbx undefined 2024 vs 2026: What changed in strategy?Rules under AAPWhen AAP was in power in Delhi, its 2024 Winter Action Plan focused on a combination of emergency interventions, dust suppression and monitoring of pollution sources.The 21-point plan, announced in September 2024, included drone surveillance of pollution hotspots, a special task force, anti-dust campaigns at construction sites and the deployment of mechanical road sweepers, water sprinklers and mobile anti-smog guns.

The odd-even vehicle scheme was another emergency option used by AAP govt to reduce vehicular emissions if air quality deteriorated further.The AAP government&#x27;s plan also targeted industrial pollution, open waste burning and stubble burning.

It called for stricter monitoring of construction sites, action against polluting industrial units and enforcement of pollution-control norms.A ban on firecrackers was announced ahead of Diwali to prevent a seasonal spike in emissions.<div data-pos="0" class="id-r-component iIpbx undefined Highlighting the wider health implications, Dr Vikas Mittal, Director – Pulmonology, CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, says PM2.5 particles can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, triggering inflammation across the body.

Repeated exposure can worsen asthma and COPD, impair lung function and increase cardiovascular risks, including hypertension, heart attacks and strokes. He also warns that prolonged exposure can cause lasting changes to lung tissue, even among otherwise healthy individuals."Some changes may improve when exposure is reduced, but prolonged injury and remodelling of lung tissue may not be completely reversible," he says.The doctors also highlight the potential consequences of continued exposure over the next five to ten years.

Dr Rajvanshi warns that an entire generation of children growing up in highly polluted environments could face reduced peak lung function, increased asthma prevalence and greater susceptibility to respiratory infections in adulthood.Dr Mittal cautions that the consequences would not be limited to people with existing illnesses, as otherwise healthy individuals are also vulnerable to the cumulative effects of prolonged exposure.Seasonal firefighting or lasting solutionsWith the crisis extending beyond Delhi&#x27;s borders, responsibility cannot rest with one government or one agency alone.

It requires coordination between the Centre, Delhi and neighbouring states, along with measurable targets and accountability for missed deadlines.As political parties trade claims over who is responsible for the city&#x27;s deteriorating air, residents continue to breathe the consequences.

Ultimately, the success of any government&#x27;s pollution plan will not be measured by the number of announcements or anti-smog guns deployed, but by whether Delhi can finally breathe easier, not just in winter, but throughout the year.The scale of the challenge, Dahiya said, cannot be understood by looking at Delhi&#x27;s borders or the winter stubble-burning season alone.<div data-pos="0" class="id-r-component iIpbx undefined He said stubble burning accounts for less than 5% of Delhi&#x27;s PM2.5 over a full year, while only around 30% of the city&#x27;s pollution originates within its boundaries.

This makes a regional approach essential, rather than one that focuses only on Delhi or relies on measures activated when AQI levels spike.Join conversation InsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig Development He called for a regional airshed plan covering the NCR and the Indo-Gangetic plain, with year-round emission-reduction targets for vehicles, industries, power plants, waste, household fuel and dust.

"We need targets for how many tonnes each source and each geography must cut, and by when," he said.Dr Mittal says the priority must be controlling pollution at its source through stricter checks on vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, construction dust and crop-residue burning."Clean air is a public health necessity, and controlling pollution at its source remains the most effective long-term solution," he says.So, until action moves beyond seasonal restrictions and visible interventions to measurable reductions in emissions, the capital risks returning to the same cycle of toxic air every winter.

Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app. Priyanka Jaiswal has four years of experience in digital journalism, news agency reporting and video production. Currently with The Times of India, she covers public policy, politics and global affairs.

She is particularly drawn to human-interest stories that put people at the heart of an issue, spark awareness , and contribute to meaningful conversations. ‘India No Longer a Democracy’: Rahul Gandhi&#x27;s All-Out...