Poison in the Air, Silence in Power: The Shame of India’s Pollution Crisis

– Lalit Garg

India’s air has turned poisonous. A recent study published in a medical journal concluded that between 2010 and 2022, the level of deadly PM2.5 particles in the air increased by 38 percent. The result of this rise is horrifying — more than 1.7 million premature deaths in India have been caused by air pollution. This figure is not just a number; it represents the measure of humanity’s very breath being stolen every day from our cities, villages, and lives. Pollution is no longer just a matter of health; it is deeply wounding our development, economy, and the very structure of social justice. It is evident that air pollution has become even more lethal compared to 2022, as no substantial steps have been taken in the past three years to address this crisis. Proof of this is visible today — Delhi and several other Indian cities are choking under severe pollution. This is not only a shameful failure of governments but a horrifying and tragic situation.

The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2025 report is not merely data — it is a grave warning. Not only this report, but several studies over the years by various institutions have presented equally alarming statistics. India’s large population may make the numbers seem bigger, but the problem demands serious reflection and immediate remedial action. Pollution in India is not caused solely by industrial output or the rising number of vehicles; it is also the product of our lifestyle, unbalanced urbanization, and unplanned construction. Every city is layered with dust, smoke, and disorder. Dust from construction sites, the burning of crop residue, rampant use of household fuels, and increasing traffic congestion — all of these combine to make our air suffocating and deadly. Our cities have turned into enemies of breath.

The agony of growing pollution should be asked not from policymakers but from those who cough themselves breathless and eventually lose the support of their lungs and hearts. The tragedy is that most of them are condemned to suffer for a mistake they never made. The microscopic particles suspended in the air have now turned into poison entering every breath we take. The biggest cause of this pollution is our dependence on fossil fuels. Coal, petrol, and diesel have not only poisoned the air but also weakened the very foundation of our existence. Emissions from these sources are claiming millions of lives prematurely, yet reforms in energy policy are painfully slow. Governments repeatedly talk about clean energy, make plans, and announce targets — but implementation is almost nonexistent.

The most distressing fact is that those who suffer the most from this pollution are not the ones who create it. Poor laborers, slum dwellers, children, and the elderly — all are enduring the punishment for the comfort of the rich. According to a recent international report, the contribution of the wealthy class to pollution is disproportionately high. The Climate Inequality Report 2025 from the Paris School of Economics reveals that the world’s richest individuals, through their wealth and investments, are worsening the climate crisis. Private capital accounts for 41 percent of global carbon emissions. This means the real producers of pollution are the affluent, while the poor pay the price with their breath and lives. This inequality is not just of income, but also of environmental justice. The rich own large vehicles, vast buildings, luxurious lifestyles, and invest in fossil-fuel-dependent industries. Meanwhile, the poor lack access to clean energy and pure air. Those who travel in private jets and live extravagantly cause hundreds of times more pollution than an average citizen. This imbalance is pushing society toward greater inequality and injustice.

The policy failures of governments form the second major cause of this tragedy. Plans to control pollution do exist, but they lack permanence and seriousness. Pollution control boards suffer from a shortage of resources, monitoring systems are weak, and action against polluting industries is negligible. The division of responsibility between central and state governments is unclear. Every winter, as the air in Delhi and northern India turns toxic, “emergency measures” are imposed for a few days — but as soon as the smog lifts, everything returns to business as usual. A lack of transparency in policy and the pressure of industrial lobbies make the problem worse. Coal-based industries, petroleum companies, and construction lobbies exert such influence on governments that taking strict action becomes politically inconvenient. Transition to clean energy is always portrayed as a “costly alternative,” whereas in reality, it is an investment in the safety of human life and the environment.

The crisis of air pollution is not just about dust and smoke in the atmosphere — it symbolizes economic injustice, political insensitivity, and social apathy. Governments that promise to improve people’s lives have failed to improve the quality of air they breathe. Data shows that air pollution costs India almost 10 percent of its GDP every year. This loss is not only financial but also manifests in human resource depletion, increased health burdens, and a decline in quality of life. It is time to view this crisis not merely as an environmental issue but as a moral and social challenge. The right to breathe clean air is every citizen’s fundamental right, but it is slowly being stolen away.

The wealthy must exercise restraint in their lifestyles, redirect their investments toward clean energy, and distance themselves from polluting industries. Governments must enforce strict policies that not only penalize polluters but also reward those adopting clean technologies. Citizens too must take responsibility. Until the public accepts this problem as part of their daily life and raises their voice, political willpower will not awaken. Everyone must realize that protecting ourselves from pollution is not about wearing masks — it’s about changing our thinking and our way of life. Air pollution has become a collective crime in which there are few culprits but countless victims.

Now is the time to redefine development so that clean air and a safe environment stand at the top. If governments truly wish for national prosperity and dream of building a “New India – a Developed India,” they must prioritize the protection of every breath. The affluent must also realize that the air they are polluting through their investments will ultimately choke the next generations of their own families. What India needs today is a national awakening that proclaims — air does not belong to any one class; it is the common property of all life. Until this consciousness arises, every statistic, every report, and every plan will remain mere paperwork — and India’s air will continue to turn into poison. Indifference toward air and water pollution will be nothing less than an injustice to the nation and to humanity itself.