New Delhi: Delhi woke up once again under a blanket of toxic grey, with the city’s Air Quality Index shooting up to a deadly 404 – a level that puts it among the most polluted cities on the planet.
The poisonous cocktail of vehicular fumes, stubble smoke drifting in from neighbouring states, and unchecked construction dust has pushed pollution to extremes. PM2.5 levels, now more than 120 times higher than what the World Health Organization deems safe, are choking the city’s lungs and its people.
While Delhi gasps, the system meant to protect its air seems to be collapsing. For years, authorities have promised strict action, new mechanisms, and technological fixes. But the ground reality is painfully clear: not only has the pollution remained unstoppable, the very platforms created for public grievance redressal appear to be failing.
Government records reveal a startling picture. Out of 3,26,045 pollution-related complaints registered across various platforms, a staggering 2,24,476 remain unattended. The numbers raise uncomfortable questions about the seriousness of the agencies responsible for keeping the air clean.
Rajeev Verma, Chief Secretary
During a recent review, the Delhi Chief Secretary, Rajeev Verma, pulled up departments for their dismal performance, pointing out that several core agencies had failed to act on complaints routed through platforms such as the Green Delhi App, the MCD 311 App, the CPCB’s Sameer App, and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Data from CAQM showed that in October 2024 and 2025, 1,453 complaints were tagged to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi – but only 435, roughly 30 percent, were resolved. The Delhi Development Authority recorded a 92 percent pendency rate, DSIDC 67 percent, and the Delhi Jal Board 89 percent, marking them among the worst performers.
In sharp contrast, agencies such as the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Traffic Police, and Delhi Transport Corporation resolved close to 90 percent of the complaints assigned to them.
A senior Delhi Government official pointed out that poor drainage systems, dust from construction sites, and outdated infrastructure continue to fuel pollution, while some departments haven’t even uploaded complete data to the CAQM dashboard.
Sandeep Mishra, a member of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), defended the agencies, claiming that many complaints may have been duplicated by dissatisfied citizens, inflating the figures. However, he admitted that the system needs to tighten its response mechanisms and ensure more accountability.
The Green Delhi App, launched in 2020 with the promise of real-time intervention, appears to be struggling. DPCC data shows more than 85,000 complaints remain unaddressed. As of October 16, 2025, MCD had 11,850 unresolved complaints out of 61,795 filed. The Public Works Department recorded a pendency of over 20 percent, while the DDA and the Flood and Irrigation Departments saw pendency rates of 4.64 percent and 10.77 percent respectively. Officials also confirmed that nearly 11,800 complaints in the MCD system had crossed their resolution deadlines.
On the CPCB’s Sameer App, between October 2021 and October 2025, 8,480 complaints were filed, with 2,981- about 35 percent – left unattended. MCD’s record was particularly poor, with only 54 percent of 5,974 complaints resolved. The Delhi Jal Board failed to close 44 percent of its complaints, and the Flood and Irrigation Department left 39 percent unresolved. In contrast, the NDMC and the Delhi Cantonment Board reported a 100 percent resolution rate.
The worsening crisis has exposed a gaping hole in the governance ecosystem meant to fight Delhi’s deadly pollution. With winter smog tightening its grip each day, the city stands at a critical crossroads. Delhi’s air – and its future – now depend on whether the authorities finally wake up from inertia and act before breathing itself becomes a daily hazard.
