Dr. Arvind Kumar*
Delhi’s new government has taken charge with much fanfare, but now the real work begins. Every administration has promised a “Viksit Delhi,” yet the ground reality tells a different story. With the same party ruling both state and centre, there are no excuses—only expectations. Pollution still chokes the city, despite years of efforts and crores spent. The Yamuna remains a toxic drain. Unauthorized colonies expand, deepening the housing crisis. Governance remains tangled in inefficiencies, overlapping jurisdictions, and bureaucratic deadlocks. The big question: will this government break the cycle of half-baked policies, or will Delhi remain stuck in a loop of promises and poor execution? It’s time for action, not optics. Providing freebies may offer temporary relief to the poor, but it does not create long-term solutions for poverty alleviation. These are not just theoretical concerns but urgent matters affecting the daily lives of over 34 million people.
Delhi is a pretty huge city with a huge population of 34.67 million and is growing at an alarming rate of 2.54% annually. Subsequently, the city is faced with housing problems. Migration from Uttar Pradesh (40%) and Bihar (23%) has stoked demand for cheap housing, yet more than half of them reside in unauthorized colonies and slum areas. Price range of property is unreachable by middle- and lower-income groups. Meanwhile, illegal settlements mushroom and multiply without control. Houses promised for all by successive governments do not appear on the ground, for urban planning in Delhi remains inadequate. The much publicly touted affordable housing programme of the government have had mixed results in its execution. While thousands of homes were constructed, it was a billion-dollar dream dashed by petty bureaucratic red tape, exorbitant land acquisition costs, and rampant corruption.
The Never-Ending Pollution Crisis
Delhi’s air quality still remains one of the worst in the world. Clean air is a luxury these days. Recent reports show that the city had an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 357, taking it to the “severe” category. Alarmingly, in 2024, Delhi witnessed just one day of “clean” air, with an annual mean AQI of 169. For a better perspective, Delhi’s air would be equivalent to smoking about 1,500 cigarettes a year. IIT Kanpur and IIT Delhi have conducted an exhaustive analysis which indicates that external causes like stubble burning, but Delhi itself contributes to over 50% of PM2.5 levels; for example, as per the analysis, vehicles alone contribute to about 58%. This means that the only solution is a large-scale change from private vehicles to clean transport- public transport, which is a really bold change essential.
Delhi’s bus network has seen significant improvements with the introduction of new low-floor and electric buses, but the lack of proper maintenance has led to deteriorating conditions. Despite being modern and designed for comfort, many buses quickly become dirty due to inadequate cleaning and poor upkeep. Passengers often encounter littered floors, broken seats, malfunctioning air conditioning, and unpleasant odours, making the commuting experience unpleasant. This is not world class public transport. Delhi generates over 14,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, with nearly 3,000 tonnes left untreated. The city’s three primary landfill sites—Ghazipur, Bhalswa, and Okhla—have turned into towering mountains of waste, collectively holding 321 lakh metric tons of legacy waste.
Similarly, the potability of tap water in Delhi varies across different areas. The Delhi Jal Board (DJB) asserts that the city’s water supply is generally safe for consumption. However, studies and reports indicate inconsistencies in water quality. For instance, a 2024 report highlighted that out of 629 water samples collected from various locations, approximately 3% were found unsatisfactory. The deteriorating health of the Yamuna has direct repercussions on the water supply in Delhi. Close to 70% drinking water of the national capital is dependent on the river, the contamination is, however, alarmingly high. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ammonia levels in the river exceeded safe limits quite often leading to a shutdown of water treatment plants at different intervals. Such industrial effluents, untreated sewage, and encroachments against the backdrop of court-ordered clean-up drives continue to choke the tributary.
The Dying Yamuna: A River of Waste
The small Yamuna once constituted the life line of Delhi, now it rests softening into an open drain. Statistics reveal a dismal state of affairs-58% of Delhi waste is dumped into the river, where over 800 million litres of sewage flow untreated, in addition to 44 million litres of industrial effluents being released every day. It emerges that heavy metals, such as iron, exceed permissible limits as phosphates have reached a record high, which, in the words of chemists, creates toxic foam. Despite over three decades and three phases of the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP I, II and III) (1993, 2004, and 2008), a whopping ₹1,500 crore has been spent with negligible results. Under the Namami Gange Programme itself, ₹460 crore was earmarked for the Yamuna specifically, but the levels of pollution have in fact risen. And the High-Level Committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2023 suggested a structured roadmap; slow execution, however, still afflicts the efforts. There is still promise in the new Sharda-Yamuna Link Project, but clearly reliant on multi-state cooperation and environmental impact assessments.
Is there a Blueprint for a Sustainable Viksit Delhi?
The governance of Delhi is characterized by fragmentation; multiple agencies are poorly coordinated, which has resulted in inefficiency and redundancy. Arguably, some of the real obstacles are jurisdictional conflicts, weak policy implementation, lack of political consensus, public apathy with low levels of civic engagement, and ineffective law enforcement. Blame-shifting rather than problem-solving frequently results from overlapping jurisdictions of the Delhi Government, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and other central agencies such as the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. With some very ambitious policies in place, poor ground-level implementation remains a major barrier to progress. Corruption, delays in fund disbursement, and bureaucratic bottlenecks slow the delivery of vital infrastructure projects. Constant tussling between the state and central governments obstructs decision-making processes. Projects and policies get stuck more often from political bargain factors than practical considerations.
Air pollution control measures should be paid more attention to, with a pertinent policy commitment. Development of public transportation as well as e-mobility and last-mile connectivity will encourage disengagement of private vehicle usage. Putting greater focus on controlling industrial emissions, minimizing dust emissions from construction projects, and enforcing a ban on waste burning is imperative. A strong multi-platform integrated air quality monitoring system must be set up to provide enforcement with near real-time data and AI-supported analytical insights for intelligent decision-making. A strict enforcement of wastewater management laws with zero tolerance against industrial discharge will create a stream to revive the Yamuna River. Last but not least, expand and modernize sewage treatment facilities with state-of-the-art treatment technology and ensure that all waste water is treated before discharge. The Delhi government needs to partner with the neighboring states to effectively tackle pollution sources operating across borders.
Resolving the housing crisis requires strategic urban planning and inclusive housing policies. The government has to encourage affordable housing projects by streamlining land acquisition processes and removing bureaucratic hurdles lingering legal housing development. Slum rehabilitation should be prioritized, with the focus on giving dignified housing and not on forced eviction through resettlement. Waste management reforms must take center stage in the development agenda of Delhi. The city’s landfills are over capacity and urgent action must be taken towards the establishment of decentralized waste processing options. The expansion of waste-to-energy plants, strengthening source segregation policies, and incentivizing circular economy models through recycling programs would immensely help improve waste disposal. The success of the “Zero Waste” paradigm in other cities can provide an inspiration for Delhi.
Conclusion: Hope for a Better Tomorrow
Alignment of economic growth with environmental sustainability should be encouraged. Sustainable development requires investments in education, skill development, and employment opportunities that empower people to earn a stable livelihood. Strengthening public infrastructure, improving healthcare, and supporting small businesses can uplift the underprivileged far more effectively than short-term giveaways. A balanced approach, where essential subsidies are combined with opportunities for growth, will help create a self-sufficient and economically resilient society. Despite the overwhelming challenges, Delhi’s transformation into smart city is not an unattainable dream. However, it requires a paradigm shift in governance, execution, and citizen participation. The new government has the opportunity to make a historic impact—one that prioritizes clean air, water security, housing for all, efficient waste management, and sustainable economic growth. The path ahead is difficult, but with strong political will, Multi-stakeholder collaboration, and active public involvement, the vision of a Viksit Delhi can be turned into reality.
*Editor, Focus Global Reporter
