“Rising Concerns: Should Property Prices Factor in Local Pollution Levels?”

Amid growing pollution concerns in Delhi-NCR, Zerodha co-founder Nithin Kamath has suggested linking property prices to air and water quality, proposing a “property price discount” for areas with higher pollution levels. He believes this could incentivize cleaner environments. However, real estate experts argue that property prices are primarily determined by factors such as land scarcity, demand and supply, infrastructure, population density, and connectivity to key areas like workplaces, rather than environmental conditions like pollution levels.

Others argue that the idea of charging a premium for properties with views of greenery or water bodies is not a new concept. Historically, property prices in a given area have been influenced by the quality of amenities and the environment it offers to residents. Real estate developers have long applied location-based premiums for apartments with views of forests or lakes, and some local authorities have charged higher prices for plots situated near parks and green belts.