Social activist and retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi has once again urged the government to take concrete action on Delhi’s worsening air quality, calling for the release of a comprehensive White Paper that would assess past failures and chart a clear path forward. Her appeal comes after raising concerns on X, highlighting the city’s persistent struggle with hazardous air pollution levels.

Proposal for a Two-Part White Paper

In a detailed post, Bedi outlined a two-part framework for the White Paper. The first part, she said, should investigate the current crisis and fix past accountability. It should answer critical questions: what caused the current air quality emergency, who or what failed the city over the years, and how the inherited challenges contributed to the problem. Bedi emphasized the need to identify institutional failures across departments that have hindered effective pollution management.

The second part of the document, she suggested, should focus on solutions and the way forward. This section would outline immediate, short-term, and long-term measures, specifying responsibilities for different government departments and citizens alike, along with proposed timelines for implementation. She stressed that the White Paper should also propose mass dissemination of public education and media awareness campaigns, paired with relentless enforcement, to ensure accountability at all levels.

Bedi’s Concerns About Delhi’s Air Quality

Bedi’s call follows her earlier expressions of distress over the city’s declining air quality. She shared that she could not bear to watch Delhi “suffer,” noting that the capital, where she has spent much of her life serving the public, is now “choking and gasping” due to pollution. She highlighted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi has consistently hovered between ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories over the past two weeks, despite measures put in place to curb pollution. Forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi indicate that the air quality is likely to remain ‘very poor’ over the coming week.

Steps Proposed by Bedi

In her posts, Bedi suggested concrete actions to tackle the problem. She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to conduct monthly virtual meetings with the Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of Delhi’s neighbouring states. According to her, such oversight would help track the progress of anti-pollution measures and provide citizens with a sense of relief that the issue is being actively managed.

She also emphasized that officials must focus on on-ground inspections rather than paperwork, stressing that the effectiveness of anti-pollution measures depends on rigorous implementation rather than administrative formalities.

Earlier Advocacy by Bedi

Bedi has a history of advocating for proactive governance. In her post, she referred to her experiences during her tenure in Puducherry, praising PM Modi’s approach of time-bound targets and accountability during national initiatives. She called for a similar approach to manage Delhi’s air quality, stressing that structured oversight and disciplined follow-upcould ensure meaningful results.

The Urgency of Action

Delhi’s air pollution remains a critical public health issue, affecting millions of residents and particularly vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory illnesses. Bedi’s call for a White Paper seeks to combine diagnostic assessment with actionable solutions, ensuring that both past failures are addressed and future strategies are effectively implemented.

By proposing a comprehensive, multi-departmental, and citizen-inclusive approach, Bedi aims to transform the city’s response to air pollution from fragmented measures to a coordinated, accountable, and transparent system.

The social activist concluded by stressing the importance of public awareness, enforcement, and accountability, urging policymakers to prioritize immediate interventions to protect Delhi’s residents and reverse the deterioration of the capital’s air quality.