Some months ago Prime Minister, Narendra Modi launched the air quality index at a two-day conference that included the environment and forest ministers from all Indian states. Officials at the conference are considering measures to strengthen environmental laws. Over the next two years, the index will be expanded to about 66 cities with a population of more than one million. The new air pollution index will measure eight pollutants. The index will use color coding to describe the air’s impact on human health. That will make it easy for citizens in big cities like New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and other townships as well to know their city’s air quality. Prime Minister Modi said that in launching the index the country is trying to change the world’s opinion that India does not care about the environment or about climate change. The high levels of air pollution in Indian cities are a major concern for residents. The World Health Organization says that 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are in India of which the worst is Delhi. While Indian officials do not agree with the WHO’s findings, experts say that the pollutants in Delhi’s air in winter months can reach up to three times the safety limits on some days. Citizens have a right to know the pollution levels in their city. In Delhi and other metros the pollution levels on a particular day are put up at different public places so that citizens are alerted as to how much of suspended particulate matter (SPM) they are ingesting. Shillong has of late become choc-a-bloc with vehicles. Some very old and polluting vehicles are still allowed to operate and spew out poisonous fumes. There is absolutely no action taken by the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board to give the citizens information on pollution levels in Shillong city. It appears that the onus of the MSPCB is only to give clearances to industries and other such activities but not to monitor the pollution levels in the city. Regular checks for vehicular pollution is not happening and there is a sort of buck-passing between the MSPCB and the Transport Department on this matter. The Deputy Commissioner who is the link person between the two institutions has not done much either. Meanwhile, citizens continue to inhale and ingest polluted air, drink polluted water and eat pesticide-laden food. Is the Government not supposed to take the citizens’ right to a healthy environment seriously? Or do the courts have to push the Government to carry out these basic responsibilities?