States, step up in pollution mitigation

India's war on air pollution is a masterclass in inertia - plenty of handwringing over funds that vanish when needed, seasonal outrage, and policies that go nowhere. Last week, a parliamentary panel flagged that the environment ministry had utilised less than 1% of the ₹858 cr allocation for its key pollution control scheme till the final stretch of FY25. The scheme's objective is to monitor air quality, and track water quality and noise pollution. The funds could not be used because the approval for the scheme's continuation till FY26 was still pending.

The panel was understandably unimpressed, urging the ministry to take serious note of its chronic underutilisation of funds. This unspent amount constitutes 27% of the annual allocation. Consider just air pollution. India has 131 'non-attainment cities' that have failed to meet National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for five consecutive years. Unspent funds could have been used for better air quality monitoring, stricter enforcement or even public awareness campaigns. Noise pollution regulations have existed since 2000. Yet, not many state pollution control boards monitor noise levels. As India urbanises, its water bodies are turning toxic. Estimates suggest that around 70% of surface water is unfit for consumption. But as GoI sets ambitious targets for water quality improvement, progress remains elusive.

Challenges are immense. But it isn't just a funding problem - it's also a governance failure. States must step up, devise actionable plans and push for timely release of funds. New Delhi, in turn, must loosen its purse strings when required. Unless all stakeholders take ownership, India's pollution crisis will remain stuck in its familiar, unending loop.