Air quality in Delhi has risen alarmingly in the last week. 12 out of 35 air quality monitoring stations had reached critical levels and called on the government to take action. This has been a known problem in Delhi for some time, but experts say it may already be “too late”. As the air in the city is still “very poor”, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Air Quality Index, the BJP and Congress accused the AAP-led government in Delhi of inaction. A mix of stubble burning, vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, uncontrolled construction activities and open burning are the causes of such exceedances.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a tree-planting policy aimed at increasing green space and better controlling construction agencies. Controlling vehicle emissions is also crucial in a city where over 10 million vehicles are registered. To this end, the government launched the “Red light on, Gaadi off” campaign to encourage drivers to turn off the ignition at idling traffic lights. More than 2,500 volunteers were deployed at over 100 traffic lights to make the campaign a success. In addition, the government wants to see smog towers erected in Connaught Place in 10 months. A smog tower sucks in the polluted air, which is cleaned through several layers of filters before being recirculated. However, the effectiveness of such structures in open spaces has been questioned by experts.