Delhi implements stricter measures to combat winter air pollution

To discourage private vehicle use, parking fees at authorized sites have doubled until February 28th, with the exception of Delhi Metro Rail Corporation car parks. Additionally, half of the staff at both government and private offices are required to work from home, utilizing staggered office hours, until January 31st.

Vehicles registered outside of Delhi that do not meet the BS-VI emissions standard are prohibited from entering the city between November 1st and January 31st. A rule implemented on October 1st prevents vehicles without a valid pollution certificate from receiving fuel.

A ban on construction and demolition activities, which generate dust, will be enforced from December 10th to January 20th. Rekha Gupta, Delhi’s chief minister, previously noted that construction continued at some sites despite last year’s restrictions.

The city has also prohibited the burning of rubbish and restricted food stalls using coal or firewood. Previous attempts to mitigate the annual smog have yielded limited success.

According to India’s environment ministry, vehicles contribute 23 percent to Delhi’s winter pollution, while the burning of biomass, including crop stubble from neighboring states, accounts for 20 percent. Industry, including coal-fired power plants, contributes approximately 9 percent.

Levels of PM2.5, a particularly harmful pollutant, frequently exceed 300 micrograms per cubic meter during peak winter, significantly surpassing the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit of 15. Last year, readings reached a concerning 846, or 56 times the limit. Sunday’s readings were 201, over 13 times the limit, likely influenced by recent intermittent rainfall.

A Lancet Planetary Health study published in 2024 estimated that air pollution was linked to 3.8 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019.