Delhi ambitious Air Pollution Mitigation Plan 2025 launched by the BJP-led government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, is drawing criticism from environmental experts for lacking long-term impact and critical technological components. Despite notable measures like banning refueling of petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel ones over 10 years, experts say the plan may fall short in truly cleaning the capital toxic air.
Vehicle Ban Not Enough Without Emission Upgrades
Environmental activist Shambhavi Shukla of the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) argues that phasing out vehicles based purely on age is misguided. Instead, she recommends improving fuel and emission standards, noting India’s journey from BS-0 in the 1990s to BS-VI in 2020 as a more effective approach. “CSE never advocated for age-based bans. What’s needed is robust emission control, not just vehicle elimination,” she said.
The Delhi government, however, maintains that by November 1, 2025, only BS-VI, CNG, and electric vehicles will be allowed into the city. The policy excludes vehicles already registered in Delhi but covers incoming commercial traffic.
No Unified Transport System, No Real Impact
A major flaw, according to Shukla, is the lack of a multi-modal integrated transport system across the Delhi-NCR region. Cities like Gurugram, Noida, and Faridabad are interconnected with Delhi, and pollution doesn’t stop at municipal borders. “A city-centric plan will never succeed in isolation,” she stressed.
Experts also flagged the plan’s failure to include remote-sensing technology to detect high-emission vehicles in real time. Pilot studies using this method have shown significant promise in transforming on-road emission enforcement, but the plan overlooks this advancement.
Short-Term Fixes vs Long-Term Strategy
The government’s rollout of 2,000 electric buses by 2027, 18,000 EV charging stations, and 2,299 e-autos under Delhi Metro is commendable, but critics warn it’s not enough. The plan lacks public advisory systems and Chemical Transport Models (CTMs) to analyze and communicate pollution risks accurately.
Artificial Rain and Mist Sprayers Symbolic or Substantive?
Recent efforts such as cloud seeding, anti-smog guns, and mist sprayers on electric poles at pollution hotspots like Rani Jhansi Road are being criticized as temporary, cosmetic fixes. Shukla warns that cloud seeding only works under specific weather conditions, and such techniques cannot substitute systemic change.
Shukla also stressed the need to address year-round pollution sources beyond seasonal stubble burning. She emphasized transboundary pollution and called for regional cooperation instead of isolated city-level solutions.