Editorial 1 : Perpetual Emergency
Context: Delhi’s pollution crisis
Introduction: NCR residents have been breathing very poor-quality air for the past four days.
Supreme Court’s Action
- Supreme Court has said that the Right to Clean Air is essential to the Right to Life.
- The court criticized the Central Government, Delhi, and neighbouring states for failing to ensure clean air in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Problems Highlighted by the Supreme Court
- Lack of resolve from both the Centre and state governments.
- Failure to Implement the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) Act.
- CAQM has failed its mandate of driving change in the post-harvest practices of farmers in Delhi’s neighbourhood.
- The agency has scarcely taken a meaningful step to bring all parties to the negotiating table.
- It functioned as an emergency resolution body, when the problem at hand requires round-the-year vigilance.
- Political Disagreements: Delhi, Haryana and Punjab governments used to be at loggerheads on the issue of stubble burning.
- Even after the AAP government took office in Punjab in 2022, there has been little progress in coordinating with Delhi. Instead, political blame games have continued.
- Now, the Delhi government is accusing Haryana and Uttar Pradesh, but all three states are responsible for the pollution.
Key Challenges
- Stubble Burning and Farmers
- Stubble burning remains a significant issue despite repeated efforts.
- The court suggests that relying on punitive measures post-harvest has not worked effectively, and a new approach is needed to discourage the practice before it becomes a crisis.
- The court identified Delhi’s baseline pollution load as the major challenge. It consists of:
- Vehicular emissions
- Industrial emissions
- Construction dust
Way Forward: Solution
- Cleaning Delhi’s baseline pollution load will require:
- Technological interventions
- More investments in public transport
- Nudging people to make behavioural changes.
Conclusion: Supreme Court has reaffirmed the Right to Clean Air as part of the Right to Life. Relying solely on emergency measures will not be enough. Long-term, systematic efforts are needed to tackle the deep-rooted causes of pollution in the region.
Editorial 2 : Indian Ocean Churn
Context: UK’s handover of Chagos to Mauritius
Chagos Sovereignty Transfer
- Watershed Moment in International Relations
- The transfer of Chagos is seen as a crucial moment in resolving colonial legacies, especially as India has advocated for Mauritius' claims in international forums.
- India played a behind-the-scenes role in facilitating the transfer, with Delhi’s diplomatic efforts aiming to support the regional order and Mauritius' leadership in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Strategic Implications for India
- The transfer reshapes the power dynamics in the Indian Ocean, impacting maritime security and regional influence.
- Diego Garcia base, located on Chagos and under US military control, serves strategic purposes for naval operations and anti-piracy missions in the Indian Ocean.
India’s Response
- Balancing US-UK Alignment
- India views continued US presence in Diego Garcia as beneficial, especially to counter China's increasing naval activities in the region.
- India will likely temper its support to avoid being seen as too aligned with the US-UK axis, maintaining a balanced stance in its broader foreign policy.
- Concerns over Autonomy
- US presence raises concerns about India’s strategic autonomy. Questions arise about India’s ability to independently secure its maritime interests.
- India's position in the IOR requires it to collaborate with multiple partners, including Russia, Iran, and other non-Western states, while managing its close ties with the US.
Broader Geopolitical Context
- Growing Chinese Influence: China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean, particularly through initiatives like the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), presents a direct challenge to India’s strategic interests.
- India’s Role in Maritime Security
- India’s maritime security efforts include protecting its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), securing trade routes, and safeguarding interests in fisheries and regional stability.
- The Indian Ocean plays a critical role in India's foreign policy, particularly as other regional players grow closer to China.
Conclusion and Way Forward
- India views the handover of Chagos to Mauritius as a positive development, aligning with its broader strategic goals in the region.
- The key for India would be to protect its interests and maintaining its image as an independent regional power.