Delhi's Killer Air: Ministers Deny, SC Ignored, Long-Term Fixes Urgently Needed

• Union Ministers offer contradictory views on Delhi's air pollution, with some acknowledging its severity and others denying a direct link to health issues, despite expert consensus and personal accounts.
• The Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed the right to clean air under Article 21 since 1991, issuing directives for pollution control that have been largely ignored by successive governments.
• Air pollution, particularly PM2.5, causes severe health problems like COPD, lung cancer, and developmental delays, leading to 2.3 million annual deaths in India, contrary to ministerial claims.
• Delhi remains the world's most polluted capital city for the seventh consecutive year, with PM2.5 levels significantly exceeding WHO guidelines, making its residents suffer "Capital Punishment."
• The current GRAP framework is deemed an "ineffective band-aid." Long-term solutions proposed include an airshed approach, unifying Delhi-NCR, closing polluting industries, NMT-friendly roads, and massive public transport upgrades.

Why It Matters: Delhi's severe air pollution demands urgent, systemic long-term solutions, not just temporary fixes or denial.