India, April 3 -- "History is a vast early warning system," wrote Norman Cousins, author of Human Options. For the national Capital, Delhi - known for its historical significance - it appears condemned to relive history when it comes to combating air and water pollution, despite persistent warnings from environmental experts and scientific data.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) data on November 19, 2024, in Delhi NCR peaked to 795, the highest ever recorded in the region's history. Few months later, in January, the AQI breached 270, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to re-invoke all actions under Stage 3 of the much-discussed Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Since past seven years, Delhi's annual average AQI has c...