By Shishir Prashant 
PrashantNews
Tackling dust pollution will require stronger grassroots participation, with local bodies playing a crucial role in keeping roads, construction sites and open spaces free of dust, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has said.
Yadav was speaking at a dialogue initiated by the Union Ministry of Environment on Monday in News Delhi where Forest and Climate Change, mayors and representatives of local bodies from 63 cities in the National Capital Region (NCR) came together to take a Clean Air Pledge.
Across Indian cities like Delhi and Dehradun, road dust has been estimated to contribute roughly 30–70% of PM10 emissions in source-apportionment studies.
Yadav urged local bodies to increase green cover by planting local and drought-resistant grass species along roads, saying such measures could help stabilise exposed soil and contain road dust.
Road dust, construction activity, uncovered soil and debris, unpaved shoulders and transportation of loose construction material are among the major sources of particulate pollution. Instead of trying to clean the vast volume of outdoor air through smog towers, experts increasingly favour controlling dust at its source, experts said.
The minister called for greater avenues for public participation in ensuring effective cleaning, preventing plastic use and biomass burning, and checking pollution caused by non-conforming industries and vehicles.
Cities can also reduce dust through vacuum-assisted mechanical sweeping, paving or stabilising road shoulders, covering construction material and using environmentally safe soil-binding measures at construction and mining sites, experts said. While water sprinkling can provide temporary relief, it is not a long-term solution and can consume substantial quantities of water, they said.
The participation of 63 NCR cities signals a broader recognition that clean air cannot be achieved by central or state governments alone. Effective action on roads, construction sites and neighbourhoods ultimately depends on local bodies and citizens working together.
The emerging message is clear: the most effective way to remove dust pollution from the air is to prevent it from becoming airborne in the first place.