Missing from AAP, BJP and Congress discussion — Delhi’s pollution crisis

In the BJP and Congress manifestos, the only specific mention of air pollution is a reference to the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). Both manifestos, however, refer to renewable energy — the Congress manifesto includes a promise to provide clean cooking fuel at affordable prices, while the BJP one includes a mention of electric buses and “ethanol and bio-fuel promotion”.

NCAP was launched by the Union government in January 2019, with a target of reducing PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels by 20% to 30% by 2024, compared to 2017 levels, and achieving national ambient air quality standards by 2025-26.

BJP: The section in its manifesto on ‘improving air quality’ states: “We have initiated the NCAP framework, aimed at reducing air pollution across 131 cities. Further, we will ensure NCAP effectively achieves and maintains the designated annual average ambient air quality standards in all regions of the nation, especially achieving National Air Quality Standards in 60 Cities by 2029.”

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed his first campaign rally in Delhi Saturday, he made one reference to the environment — “to deal with environment-related problems, the Indian government took an important step… (it) is giving e-buses to big cities, including Delhi, both for convenience of Delhi’s people and to protect the environment”.

The issue does not seem to be a priority of the party’s candidates and is largely missing from poll campaigns. On Tuesday, it found a mention in Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s address in Northeast Delhi. He said, “If you continue to live in Delhi, your life will be cut short by 10 years… In five years, all buses will be electric… and Delhi will be free from pollution.”

Congress: The party’s manifesto also referred to NCAP. “We will strengthen the National Clean Air Programme in order to urgently tackle the problem of air pollution,” it says. Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh did talk about the “pollution problem” while addressing the media last week, focusing on the Centre’s inability to address the issue.

“In the election in Delhi, environment holds a special place… air pollution is at such dangerous levels… compare it to other major cities worldwide and you will find Delhi is in first or second place. Where Delhi is situated, its administrative system places the responsibility primarily on the Union government. If the Union government does not fulfil this responsibility, then Delhi’s environmental problems can’t be resolved just by the Delhi government,’’ he said.

AAP: Chief Minister and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal has not brought up air pollution in his speeches over the past week. Kejriwal’s ‘10 guarantees’ also did not include it.

As for candidates, videos of speeches made at ‘jan sabhas’ over the past week, up on their social media feeds, have no mention of air pollution.

Experts who have researched the causes and implications of rising air pollution, particularly in Delhi, however, see even the mere mention of air pollution in manifestos as a positive sign.

“It means they know it’s not something they can ignore. This is a change from the past where we never even saw a mention,” said Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director, Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). “Where the conversation now needs to go is from promise to action.”

Dipankar Saha, former head of the Central Pollution Control Board’s air laboratory, said though governments have policies and action plans, “quantitative information on the extent to which emissions have changed over the years remains missing”. “(Like) an election is seasonal… air pollution is only seen as a winter phenomenon”.