New Delhi, November 29, 2025 – Former Lieutenant Governor and senior police officer Kiran Bedi on Friday made a heartfelt appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to personally intervene in addressing the rapidly deteriorating air quality in Delhi. Her appeal came at a time when several areas in the national capital recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 369, placing the city firmly in the ‘very poor’ category, a level of pollution that poses serious health risks to residents across all age groups.

Bedi, who has actively voiced environmental and governance concerns on social media, took to X to appeal directly to the Prime Minister, referencing his previous approach of holding “effective” Zoom sessions with officials during her tenure as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry. She highlighted the efficiency and accountability these sessions brought to administration, urging similar measures to tackle the urgent pollution crisis in Delhi.

“Sir, please forgive me for pleading again. But I have seen your very effective Zoom sessions during my time in Puducherry,” Bedi tweeted. “How you got everybody to deliver and perform in a time-bound manner on several national challenges. How everyone was inspired to meet the deadlines and the goals.” Through these words, Bedi sought to underscore both her respect for the Prime Minister’s administrative style and the urgency of replicating such an approach to confront the public health emergency caused by worsening air quality.

Bedi proposed that PM Modi hold regular virtual meetings with the Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of Delhi’s neighboring states to monitor progress on pollution control. She suggested these meetings should occur every month, ensuring sustained attention and accountability. “It will give us hope because we will know it’s under your oversight. People can heave a sense of relief,” she wrote. Her appeal indicated that pollution management, particularly in the National Capital Region (NCR), requires inter-state cooperation and continuous high-level monitoring to yield tangible results.

Additionally, Bedi called on the Prime Minister to address the issue during his monthly radio programme, Mann Ki Baat, to raise public awareness. She emphasized the importance of communicating to citizens of all age groups about the steps they could take to reduce pollution. “Delhi was waiting for a ‘double engine’ in this respect too, to undo the damage done over the last ten years,” she said, alluding to the dual government setup where both the central and state administrations work in tandem. Her appeal sought to mobilize public participation while stressing accountability at the administrative level.

The former officer has consistently used her X account to amplify messages about air quality, cooperation between governments, and citizen responsibility. In her posts, Bedi repeatedly highlighted that Delhi’s pollution crisis is not accidental but the “outcome of decades without true coordination in governance.” She has stressed the need for cooperative practices between states, officials, and the central government to address a problem that has evolved over decades. Her calls reflect both a concern for immediate public health and a broader push for systemic reforms in environmental governance.

Air pollution in Delhi has reached alarming levels over the past fortnight, with AQI readings fluctuating between the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories. Despite government interventions, such as restrictions on construction, vehicle movement controls, and emergency anti-smog measures, the air quality has remained hazardous for residents, prompting health advisories and warnings for vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and people with respiratory ailments.

Meteorological forecasts suggest that Delhi’s air quality is likely to remain in the ‘very poor’ category over the coming week, highlighting the urgency of sustained action. Environmental experts and health authorities have repeatedly warned that prolonged exposure to such pollution can lead to serious respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The crisis underscores the challenges faced by a megacity grappling with industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, crop burning in neighboring states, and construction dust, all compounded by seasonal weather patterns that trap pollutants in the city.

Bedi’s appeal is notable for its focus on governance solutions rather than merely raising public awareness. By urging high-level oversight and inter-state coordination, she highlighted the structural and administrative challenges that contribute to Delhi’s pollution crisis. Her call for monthly virtual meetings mirrors her earlier experience in Puducherry, where she reportedly witnessed the effectiveness of direct oversight and structured accountability in achieving administrative goals. By proposing this model for Delhi, Bedi stressed that leadership and proactive monitoring are essential for meaningful improvements.

Environmental activists have welcomed such suggestions, noting that while policy measures and regulations exist, enforcement and inter-state coordination remain significant hurdles. Many point out that pollution control requires simultaneous action from Delhi and neighboring states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Punjab, where industrial emissions and stubble burning contribute to the worsening AQI in the NCR. Bedi’s advocacy for a high-level platform to track progress monthly addresses this persistent gap in governance and oversight.

In addition to administrative measures, Bedi highlighted the role of public engagement in mitigating pollution. By suggesting that the Prime Minister discuss the issue in Mann Ki Baat, she aimed to reach a wide audience, including young citizens, thereby fostering awareness and participation in pollution control efforts. Her appeal underscores the dual approach necessary for environmental management: top-down governance interventions combined with bottom-up citizen participation.

Bedi’s approach also reflects her broader philosophy of accountability and proactive governance. Known for her tenure as India’s first female Director General of Police in Delhi and her administrative tenure in Puducherry, Bedi has consistently advocated for transparency, efficiency, and direct oversight in government functioning. Applying these principles to the air pollution crisis in Delhi, she argued that leadership attention at the highest level is critical for coordinating multiple agencies, enforcing regulations, and ensuring measurable results.

As Delhi faces an escalating environmental and public health challenge, the urgency of Bedi’s appeal resonates widely. Residents have expressed growing concern over the sustained exposure to toxic air, with schools, offices, and public health authorities issuing advisories for outdoor activities. Experts warn that without systemic interventions and sustained inter-state cooperation, the air quality in Delhi could continue to deteriorate, leading to long-term health consequences for millions of residents.

In conclusion, Kiran Bedi’s appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi serves as a clarion call for immediate and structured action to address Delhi’s worsening air pollution. By advocating for regular virtual oversight meetings, inter-state coordination, and public awareness campaigns through Mann Ki Baat, she has outlined a comprehensive approach that combines administrative accountability with citizen participation. Her messages also reflect a deeper critique of decades of uncoordinated governance, highlighting the need for structural reform, proactive leadership, and continuous monitoring to combat one of Delhi’s most persistent and dangerous challenges.

With pollution levels remaining hazardous and public anxiety rising, the city awaits concrete action from both the central and state governments. Bedi’s appeal underscores that while measures have been initiated, strong leadership, coordinated policy implementation, and public engagement are essential to bring Delhi’s air quality back to safe and sustainable levels.

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