India's War on Air Pollution

India's struggle with air pollution is characterized by a cycle of inaction and unfulfilled promises. A parliamentary panel recently highlighted the underutilization of funds allocated for pollution control.

Fund Utilization Issues

• The environment ministry used less than 1% of the ₹858 crore allocation for a crucial pollution control scheme by the end of FY25.
• This scheme aims to monitor air quality, water quality, and noise pollution.
• The persistent delay in approval for the scheme's continuation until FY26 hindered fund usage.
• The panel criticized the ministry for its chronic underutilization of funds, pointing out that 27% of the annual allocation remained unspent.

Air Pollution Challenges

• India has 131 'non-attainment cities' that have not met the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for five consecutive years.
• Unallocated funds could enhance air quality monitoring, enforcement, and public awareness campaigns.

Noise and Water Pollution

• Noise pollution regulations have been in place since 2000, yet monitoring remains inadequate across states.
• Urbanization is leading to toxic water bodies, with estimates indicating 70% of surface water is unfit for consumption.
• Despite ambitious targets for water quality improvement, progress is sluggish.

Governance and Funding

• The pollution crisis is not solely a funding issue but also a governance failure.
• States need to develop actionable plans and expedite fund releases.
• The central government should ensure funds are available when necessary.
• Collaborative ownership among stakeholders is crucial to breaking the cycle of inaction.