Winter has arrived in Delhi, bringing with it a familiar feeling of despair. The sky is overcast, and a thick layer of smog hangs heavily in the air. If you spend more than a few minutes outside, the taste of ash lingers, and attempting to run or even walk briskly quickly leaves you breathless. Newspapers are once again using alarming terms like “toxic,” “deadly,” and “poisonous” in their headlines.
Schools have largely been closed, and residents are encouraged to stay indoors, although those whose jobs require them to work outside often can’t afford to do so. The air quality in Delhi peaked between 1,200 and 1,500 this week, far exceeding the acceptable limit of under 100. These alarming figures indicate the concentration of particulate matter—referred to as PM 2.5 and PM 10—in the atmosphere, which poses significant health risks.
On social media, many are expressing their shock, frustration, and sorrow as this issue recurs yet again, evoking a strong sense of déjà vu after having experienced similar conditions over the past 15 years. A video I recorded back in 2017 captures a drive to work obscured by smog that limited visibility to less than 2 meters. This week’s drive felt even worse.
We’ve thoroughly documented the many facets of this ongoing crisis over the past two decades. Our reports highlight how pollution adversely affects health and shortens life expectancy. We’ve covered the Supreme Court of India demanding urgent governmental action to combat pollution—a plea made once again this year.
We’ve illuminated the particular dangers pollution poses to children and how politicians routinely shift blame for the issue. While we’ve discussed its root causes and various solutions—some effective, others not—every year feels like a repeat of a dystopian narrative where nothing changes. Parks are deserted again, and vulnerable groups, especially children and the elderly, are advised to stay indoors.
Those who have no choice but to work, like daily wage laborers, rickshaw pullers, and delivery riders, venture out despite coughing spells. Hospitals are reporting rising cases of respiratory issues. Once again, we find ourselves facing the question: why does nothing improve? The straightforward answer is that addressing Delhi’s air quality problem demands significant coordination and effort.
The causes are multifaceted, including farmers’ practice of burning crop residue to clear land quickly, particularly in neighboring states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. The smoke from these fires blankets Delhi during winter as wind speeds drop. However, farmers can’t bear the full blame since this method is the most cost-effective way to prepare fields. Although past governments have discussed providing better equipment and financial incentives to curtail crop burning, little has changed in practice.
Delhi itself is a major contributor to pollution from vehicles, construction, and industrial emissions. Each winter, the pattern repeats: public anger surges, journalists produce reports, politicians trade accusations, and the courts express frustration, only for the cycle to start anew. In other democracies, a public health crisis of this magnitude might trigger widespread protests, yet in Delhi, discontent seems limited to social media. Activists argue this is due to the slow-impact nature of pollution; high levels of PM2.5 gradually harm health, as indicated by a Lancet study that linked pollution to over 2.3 million premature deaths in India in 2019.
There’s also a socioeconomic divide; those who can afford to leave the city or purchase air purifiers tend to do so, while the majority who cannot are left to cope with the situation. The collective dissatisfaction has yet to lead to significant protests, as politicians often deflect responsibility, waiting until the season passes.
Experts suggest that governmental leaders at both federal and state levels need to set aside political differences and collaborate on long-term solutions. Citizens must also hold politicians accountable, and courts ought to issue decisive orders well before pollution levels escalate. This year, temporary measures like halting construction have been introduced, but history does not inspire much optimism that these measures will restore Delhi’s once-clear skies.
