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Snapshot 5:Mon, Nov 18, 2024 5:35:38 PM GMT last edited by Vandita

India: New Delhi Chokes as Pollution Hits 50 Times WHO Limit

India: New Delhi Chokes as Pollution Hits 50 Times WHO Limit

India: New Delhi Chokes as Pollution Hits 50 Times WHO Limit
Above: A cyclist with his face covered in cloth rides along a street on a cold smoggy morning in New Delhi on Nov. 18, 2024. Image copyright: MONEY SHARMA/Contributor/AFP via Getty images

The Spin

TheThis Delhiannual smogcatastrophe crisis underscores the failure of both state and central governments to tackle this annual catastrophe. While political blame games rage on, government inaction has left the majority of sanctioned bio-compressed gas plants non-functional. Short-term measures like vehicle rationing offer scant relief. Sustainable solutions, such as processing farm waste, are essential. However, a broader inability to prioritize long-term action over rhetoric and political expediency mars progress.

BlamingThe farmers for Delhi's smog iscrisis underscores the failure of both simplisticstate and unfair.central Studiesgovernments showto stubbletackle burningthis contributesannual onlycatastrophe. aWhile fractionpolitical ofblame thegames city'srage pollutionon, whilegovernment vehicularinaction emissions,has mainlyleft fromthe gasmajority of sanctioned bio-guzzlingcompressed SUVs,gas constructionplants dust,non-functional. andShort-term industrialmeasures wastelike arevehicle farrationing greateroffer culpritsscant relief. YetSustainable solutions, punitivesuch measuresas disproportionatelyprocessing targetfarm farmerswaste, ignoringare theiressential. lackHowever, ofa viablebroader alternativesinability andto theprioritize systemiclong-term failuresaction toover addressrhetoric theirand concernspolitical expediency mars progress.

Blaming farmers for Delhi's persistent smog crisis is aboth glaringsimplistic indictmentand of systemic governmental apathyunfair. InsteadStudies ofshow addressingstubble rootburning issuescontributes only sucha asfraction economicof barriersthe forcity's farmerspollution, fragmentedwhile governancevehicular emissions, andmainly inadequatefrom yeargas-roundguzzling pollutionSUVs, controlsconstruction dust, politiciansand deflectindustrial blame,waste prioritizingare agendasfar overgreater public healthculprits. UnlikeYet, Beijing'spunitive coordinatedmeasures anddisproportionately sustainedtarget action against pollutionfarmers, Delhi'signoring responsetheir remainslack miredof inviable inactionalternatives and politicalthe infighting,systemic leavingfailures millions to sufferaddress avoidabletheir harmconcerns.

ThereDelhi's persistent smog crisis is a 50%glaring chanceindictment thatof ansystemic anthropogenicgovernmental disasterapathy. willInstead happenof inaddressing Chinaroot beforeissues one happenssuch as economic barriers for farmers, fragmented governance, and inadequate year-round pollution controls — politicians deflect blame, prioritizing agendas over public health. Unlike Beijing's coordinated and sustained action against pollution, Delhi's response remains mired in Indiainaction and political infighting, accordingleaving millions to thesuffer Metaculusavoidable prediction communityharm.

Delhi's persistent smog crisis is a glaring indictment of systemic governmental apathy. Instead of addressing root issues — including fragmented governance and inadequate year-round pollution controls — politicians deflect blame, prioritizing agendas over public health. Unlike Beijing's coordinated and sustained action against pollution, Delhi's response remains mired in inaction and political infighting, leaving millions to suffer avoidable harm.

Metaculus Prediction

There's a 50% chance that an anthropogenic disaster will happen in China before one happens in India, according to the Metaculus prediction community.


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© 2025 Improve the News Foundation.

All rights reserved.

Version 6.17.0