Govt Readies Plan To Clean Delhi's Air, Focus Not On Vehicles - The government is designing a plan to fight smog in Delhi, one of the world's most polluted cities, two senior officials said.

The plan will call for enforcing bans on minor sources of pollution, including burning of garbage and construction dust but is stopping short of targeting the powerful transport industry.

Last year, the World Health Organisation said that 13 of the world's 20 most polluted cities were in India, with New Delhi being the worst among them.

Environmental activists said the moves were superficial. B. Sengupta, a pollution campaigner and former government scientist, when he was told of the plan said, "It's a piecemeal approach. It will not drastically improve the air."

According to experts the city needed a permanent ban on diesel cars, which are seen as polluting, and other measures to combat vehicle emissions. Campaigners are in favour of steps like a parking cess and an annual tax on all cars.

China, which faces a similar smog problem in Beijing and other cities, has issued "red alerts" for pollution twice in the capital, ordering to stop all outdoor construction work and urging to close the schools.

A similar alert system is being thought for Delhi, but first the city needs to develop its network of air monitoring stations, from 29 at present, the officials said.