Oddity of Managing Air Pollution in Delhi: Public Policy Myopia

Abstract

Recent decision of the Government of Delhi to introduce odd-even formula entailing restrictive mobility for curbing vehicular pollution in the city has attracted phenomenal public outcry. From day one of 2016, citizens can drive their cars of odd or even numbers only three times a week. Such an extreme move of the Government aimed at improving air quality of the city is likely to cause tremendous inconvenience to the people who are forced to take private vehicles to their workplaces due to constantly overcrowded public transport. Executive decision of the government is majorly inspired by judicial activism on environmental issues. However, the government has failed to discharge its role of working out public policy on the matter under pressure from the courts to undertake urgent measures to reduce level of air pollution which has crossed all limits for safe breathing. Unfortunately, odd-even formula, presented by the government as panacea, appears to be half-hearted and thoughtless intervention which at best reflects public policy myopia. This discussion paper tries to examine the root causes of the deteriorating air quality in the city and explore appropriate public policy options to let Delhi breathe without causing much trouble to the citizens.

Keywords: Air Pollution, Vehicular Pollution, Delhi, Public Policy

JEL Classification: H0, H8, K3