Air Pollution: How to Report It and to Whom
India is home to 14 of the world's 20 most polluted cities, according to the IQAir World Air Quality Report 2024. Delhi's PM2.5 levels regularly reach 300-500 micrograms per cubic metre in winter — 10-20 times the WHO safe limit of 15 micrograms. Air pollution causes an estimated 1.6 million premature deaths in India annually.
Your Legal Right to Clean Air
The Supreme Court of India has held in multiple judgments — including M.C. Mehta v. Union of India — that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution includes the right to a clean environment and clean air. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 establishes State Pollution Control Boards as the enforcement authorities.
Who to Complain To
- Construction dust: Municipal Corporation enforcement wing + State PCB
- Industrial emissions: State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)
- Vehicular pollution: State Transport Authority / Traffic Police
- Stubble burning (Delhi NCR): Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM)
- General ambient air quality: CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) online complaint portal
The National Clean Air Programme
The NCAP targets a 40% reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in 131 cities by 2026 from 2017 baseline levels. Progress is measured through the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQM) network. Citizens can access real-time AQI data on the CPCB's AQI India app.
How Your MP Can Help
MPs can ask questions in Parliament about NCAP progress in their constituency. They can demand that the State PCB take action against specific polluters. They can raise the issue of stubble burning compensation — a policy question that directly affects winter air quality in North India.
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