Former IPS officer and former Puducherry governor Kiran Bedi has called for a comprehensive “white paper” to address the worsening state of air pollution in Delhi – one that not only explains how the capital reached this stage but also sets out a time-bound recovery plan.
Bedi shared a detailed design for X and broke her design down into two key parts. The first, she said, must fix past responsibility: What is causing the crisis? Who and what disappointed us? What did Delhi inherit over the years that led to this decline? The second should outline the way forward – listing immediate, short-term and long-term measures, clearly assigned to the responsible department and to citizens.
She emphasized that everyone is “both a contributor and a solution.” Apart from strict enforcement, Bedi has pushed for extensive awareness campaigns through media and educational platforms to ensure collective accountability.
It calls for stronger governance on the ground
Bedi argued that Delhi needed less paperwork and more action at the ground level. She urged the police and civic authorities to go out daily, check trouble spots like dusty roads and construction zones and act in real time on violations instead of waiting for reports. Only then, she says, can coordination across agencies really improve.
Direct appeal to PM Modi for regular review
Bedi also addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and recalled how his virtual reviews during her tenure in Puducherry increased efficiency across departments. She said recurring meetings between the prime minister, Delhi and neighboring states – even monthly – could avoid seasonal fluctuations and fragmented responses.
Institutional responsibility
She outlined that the Environment Ministries and the Air Quality Management Commission must ensure consistent compliance across the NCR, while state governments, municipal authorities and district municipalities must enforce daily checks on industrial emissions, building codes, road dust and traffic congestion.
She criticized the heavy use of air purifiers in government offices and official vehicles and questioned how isolated officials could understand the “suffocating and gasping” reality faced by residents outside.
Delhi continues to struggle with toxic air
The capital has seen several days of unsafe air this season, with pollution levels remaining in the “very bad” category for weeks. Experts warn that long-term exposure to particulate pollution poses serious health risks – especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory problems.
