India, Dec. 16 -- Amid rapidly deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government recently announced a series of emergency measures, including the formation of a high-level committee tasked with finalising an air-pollution control plan for 2026. A serious health hazard, toxic air is also choking India's economic potential - reducing labour productivity, impacting businesses and driving up health care expenditure.

Air pollution does not respect administrative boundaries. The formation of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which looks at Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas, was a step in the right direction. This approach needs to be augmented with coordinated action across different departments - transport, urban development, agricu...