India, Oct. 18 -- The beginning of pollution follows a similar pattern in Gurugram. As air quality deteriorates, civic officials call meetings, departments are asked to intensify inspections and enforcement drives gather pace. For a few days, the focus is on cleaning up the city. But the same problems return each year. So a question rises, "Why does Gurugram still lack a lasting solution to pollution?"

The causes are visible on the roads. Broken surfaces, potholes and unpaved shoulders leave loose soil exposed to traffic. Construction debris is often left along streets, while many construction sites I pass during reporting have no green curtains to contain dust.

On October 14, a Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) inspection co...