In this week’s Hafta episode, Newslaundry’s panel spoke with journalist Arati Jerath and Sunil Dahiya, founder of EnviroCatalysts. Arati said Nitish Kumar remains central to Bihar politics, while Rahul Gandhi faces limits within his party. On Delhi’s air crisis, Sunil noted that pollution keeps rising despite awareness, with more vehicles, fuel use, and coal power. He also questioned the effectiveness and high cost of the artificial rain project.
Why is Delhi’s air still so toxic? Every year, governments make big promises - from smog towers and cloud seeding to green crackers and fog guns. Yet, even in 2025, Delhi’s Air Quality Index remains in the “Severe” category. Is stubble burning really the main reason behind this pollution, or is there a deeper truth that has been hidden all along?
महानगरों में वायु प्रदूषण बढ़ना शुरू हो गया है। ये न सिर्फ फेफड़ों और दिल को नुकसान पहुंचाता है, बल्कि दिमाग पर भी बुरा असर डालता है। कई अध्ययनों ने लंबे समय तक प्रदूषित हवा में रहने से अवसाद, चिंता और सोचने-समझने की ताकत कम होने की बात की है।
After Diwali, Delhi’s air quality has turned toxic again, with AQI in many areas between 300–400 (“very poor”). In Ashok Vihar and Bawana, it crossed 400, while Ashok Vihar Phase‑2 reached over 700, a dangerous level. Despite CM Rekha Gupta claiming pollution has reduced under the BJP government, ground reports show AQI above 400 in several areas, posing extreme health risks.
Green fire-crackers are being permitted in Delhi-NCR from October 18 to 21 under strict guidelines. But experts warn: even these ‘eco-friendly’ crackers are less harmful, not safe, and alone cannot solve the city’s pollution challenge.
Recent rain has improved Delhi's air quality to a "moderate" level. However, this break from bad air is unlikely to last. Experts warn that Delhi faces the same old pollution problems this winter, with little changing from previous years.
Smoke from farm fires in Punjab and Haryana travels with the wind, turning the skies over Delhi and the NCR into a toxic blanket. This annual stubble burning season swiftly plunges the region's air quality from bad to hazardous.
Are green crackers really safe? Sunil Dahiyal explains why even eco-friendly firecrackers harm air quality and urges eco-friendly celebrations.
Our Founder @Sunil_S_Dahiya spoke to @kittybehal10 at @ndtv on the Delhi government's move to ban fuel for older vehicles. "It is a good step in the right direction, but just this one step won't solve the air pollution crisis. We needed systematic decisive actions across sectors and geographies."
Newslaundry’s Abhinandan Sekhri, Manisha Pande, Jayashree Arunachalam, and Raman Kirpal are joined by environment and air pollution expert Sunil Dahiya. Abhinandan remarks that “the most important news of the week is the north Indian smog”.
As Delhi recorded an AQI of 494 on Monday, ThePrint speaks to Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Envirocatalysts, environmental think tank, and Dr Sumit Ray, medical director and critical care specialist at Holy Family Hospital, to understand the debilitating health impacts of air pollution and the failure of the government to manage Delhi's annual pollution
सर्दियों की दस्तक के साथ ही दिल्ली-एनसीआर समेत समूचा उत्तर भारत वायु प्रदूषण की ज़द में आ जाता है. हर साल सरकारें क़दम उठाने की बात कहती हैं लेकिन कुछ ख़ास नहीं बदलता. समाधान क्या है? इस बारे में पर्यावरण पर काम करने वाली स्वतंत्र संस्था 'एनवायरोकैटलिस्ट' के संस्थापक और लीड एनालिस्ट सुनील दहिया और द वायर की हेल्थ रिपोर्टर बनजोत कौर के साथ चर्चा कर रही हैं मीनाक्षी तिवारी.
“जिस गति से काम हो रहा है हमें लगता है कि सरकार उदासीन है, कुछ काम नहीं हो रहा है, उसका एक मुख्य कारण यह है कि हमारे प्रशासन को लगता है कि यदि हम प्रदूषण पर नियंत्रण की कोशिश करेंगे तो जो हमारा आर्थिक विकास, जो फैक्ट्रियों, कारखानों से हो रहा है वह रुक जाएगा जबकि यह सही नहीं है.”
Delhi’s annual air crisis has once again reared its ugly head in 2024 with this year marking a decade of killer pollution. The Delhi government has deployed several measures for curbing pollution such as smog towers and smoke guns.