Year-round pollution strategy needed across Indo-Gangetic Plain: Experts

Air quality specialists have stressed that addressing Delhi's persistent pollution problem demands continuous efforts across the entire Indo-Gangetic Plain, moving beyond the typical focus on winter months when smog peaks.

The Indo-Gangetic Plain, spanning multiple states from Punjab to West Bengal, serves as a major source of airborne pollutants that affect the national capital and surrounding regions. Experts argue that current mitigation strategies, often concentrated during winter when air quality deteriorates sharply, prove insufficient without year-round intervention.

A comprehensive approach would address multiple pollution sources across the region simultaneously, including agricultural burning, vehicular emissions, industrial activity, and construction dust. Specialists note that seasonal campaigns alone cannot reverse the accumulated environmental damage or prevent the formation of pollution episodes that extend beyond traditional winter months.

Effective air quality management in the Delhi region therefore requires sustained coordination among state governments, environmental agencies, and local authorities throughout the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Experts recommend implementing long-term strategies that target pollution at its source while simultaneously improving air quality monitoring and enforcement mechanisms across the broader region.

The emphasis on year-round action reflects growing scientific consensus that India's air pollution crisis, particularly in North India, cannot be resolved through temporary measures but demands structural changes in energy use, agricultural practices, and industrial operations.