Delhi air pollution: Every 3rd child in city asthmatic, authorities must keep AQI in check, says HC

NEW DELHI: Every third child in the city is asthmatic, and it is the responsibility of the authorities to ensure that the air quality index (AQI) comes down, an alarmed Delhi High Court observed on Wednesday.

The court made the remark while taking stock of various facets of improving the green cover of Delhi, such as deconcretising trees to give them breathing space, removing encroachments from Southern Ridge, and earmarking a dedicated new forest

"According to a research, every third child has asthma in Delhi; we cannot keep waiting for trees to be taken care of for years," Justice Jasmeet Singh said, taking note of a TOI report of 2021. It had cited the research of Dr Arvind Kumar, chairman of Institute of Chest Surgery, Medanta, who found that nearly one out of every three schoolchildren in Delhi had asthma and airflow obstruction.

The court made it clear to the principal secretary of Public Works Department, who appeared in response to earlier directions, that the agency must ensure all trees are deconcretised or face contempt proceedings.

During a separate-but-related hearing on the removal of encroachments from the Ridge, the court underlined that "every citizen has a fundamental right to breathe clean air". Making its concerns known to the principal secretary of the forest department who was present on videoconferencing, the court sought immediate action regarding the encroachment of almost 300 hectares of the department's land.

"What is happening in Southern Ridge? This is shocking. Three hundred hectares of land, all encroached... This is not acceptable. People of Delhi are wanting trees, that is one thing which is under your control. Remove encroachments and plant trees. Look at the level of pollution, the air quality," Justice Singh said.

"Construction is happening right under your nose and you are oblivious? Please remember, the department is responsible for the quality of air we breathe. It is your obligation to ensure AQI levels come down. We can't have people being forced to leave Delhi every December-January due to rising pollution. Every kid is having breathing problems," the judge lamented, warning the authorities of contempt action.

The judge said the court would not allow movement of motor vehicles through a road inside Central Ridge, which houses an Indian Space Research Organisation station, and asked the Centre for a "viable solution" to access it.

Giving one week's time to the department, the court said, "Show what action is taken (to remove encroachment)... Otherwise we will frame contempt... In place of forest, there is concrete jungle." It sought a report before the next hearing.

The court acted after hearing lawyers Gautam Narayan and Aditya N Prasad, appointed as amicus earlier.

Meanwhile, the forest department said it had identified 136 acre in Isapur to develop a forest and would eco-restore it on a war footing. The court ordered that the land be fenced and eco-restoration start in two weeks.