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India Today and the Delhi government launched the 'Pollution Ka Solution' initiative, receiving nearly 1,500 entries containing public ideas to tackle air pollution. An expert jury is currently reviewing these submissions to present viable solutions to the government. Experts highlighted that combating air pollution requires a year-round, long-term strategy rather than seasonal focus. In Delhi, the transport sector contributes over 40 per cent to PM 2.5 emissions. A tailored electric vehicle transition targeting heavy commercial vehicles and addressing two-wheeler congestion and dust emissions is vital rather than solely copying European models. Scientific mitigation and shared accountability are critical to tackling public health and climate impacts.

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00:01In August of this year, India Today and Delhi government launched one of the biggest fights against pollution.
00:05It's called Pollution Gas Solution.
00:07We asked you to send in your ideas, your solutions to a problem that continues to flake the capital.
00:13And you did show up. We are happy to tell you that we received over almost 1,500 entries so
00:18far.
00:18And now the lines are closed, but our expert jury is on the job.
00:22They're looking at these ideas, seeing what can make real difference in the world,
00:26and then scanning through. And we'll be bringing you an update very soon,
00:30also over the weekend, on what exactly is it that we have found.
00:34Remember, Delhi Aapki, Solution Aapka, but here we are, taking your solutions to the government,
00:39to the experts, to ensure that they are not missed.
00:43So what exactly is it that is happening in this series?
00:46And importantly, why does it matter? Here's one look.
00:51Normally talk about air pollution extensively in media and everywhere,
00:55only during winter time, but then problem of winter will automatically be solved
01:01if you will have a solution which is throughout the years.
01:06So every, all, even in now winter sea will see, in summer sea will see,
01:10there is a dust storm coming, climate change is happening.
01:13So as the climate change is happening, many other things are happening,
01:16things are becoming complicated.
01:18The another thing is that in India, different cities, urban, rural population
01:23have a different kind of a sources. If you talk about Delhi, then transport sector
01:27is about 40 plus, you know, contribution in the emission and PM 2.5.
01:33But then EV transition has to be very fast.
01:36Again, when we talk about EV transition, we should not copy the European model.
01:41Here the problem for us is mainly the heavy commercial vehicle,
01:46which has a population was less than 1% in most of the metro cities,
01:50but give rise to the emissions of PM 2.5, more than 25 to 30%.
01:55We should target first for the EV, not that we should run after cars only,
02:00which is a European model.
02:02So similarly, two-wheeler population in most of the cities are about ranging from 50 to 70%.
02:08That does not burn the petrol so fast because their consumption is very less,
02:16but then they help or they deteriorate the congestion problems.
02:22And then dust, resuspended dust.
02:25So indirectly, they are not only contributing to the fossil fuel emission,
02:30but indirectly to another secondary sources like dust emissions, congestion,
02:36which will slow down the traffic and hence the petrol will burn.
02:41So all those things we need to take.
02:43At this stage of time, I think our long-term strategy and medium-term strategy
02:48need to be strengthened.
02:49We, specifically in Delhi, CAQM is taking care of short-term measures,
02:56which are more or less in place.
02:59But I think unless we go for airshed approach,
03:03strengthening the mitigation and implementation strategies
03:06and accounting the responsibility to a kind of a body like air pollution manager
03:12or pollution in charge,
03:13I think the problem is going to persist.
03:18And as the time will go,
03:20climate change, extreme weather events,
03:22everything combining together,
03:25going to discover,
03:27going to give new, new surprises for us
03:30that how it is not only creating a problem for our health,
03:34but also for the food security like ozone.
03:37You know, it deteriorates the yield.
03:40So, so many problems will come.
03:41I hope that all those scientific-backed policy and mitigation strategies,
03:49if it is followed,
03:51there is no reason that the air pollution means cannot be cut.
03:57And I think, but we need to work together in tandem.
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