Rising air pollution triggers protest at India Gate; residents demand action

Over a hundred citizens, including students, activists, and volunteers, gathered at India Gate on Sunday to protest against the deteriorating air quality and demanded that the government step up efforts to combat rising pollution in the national capital.

Chanting slogans and holding handmade placards reading ‘Saaf hawa sabka haq hai (clean air is everyone’s right)’ and ‘Delhi is injurious to health’, the protesters stood in small groups across the lawns, many wearing masks and carrying air quality monitors to highlight the crisis. “We have been seeing the air quality worsening in the city despite the change of regimes. The governments don’t care about the people. What was the point of allowing firecrackers during Deepavali?” said Pihu, a protester from Noida.

The protest continued for nearly two hours despite repeated warnings from the police to disperse. Around four buses carrying Delhi Police personnel and the CRPF’s Rapid Action Force were stationed at the site.  “The government talks about development. Air pollution raises the question of whose development are you talking about when the air quality has been deteriorating consistently? This model of development is anti-people,” said Ilakya, a student and member of Bhagat Singh Chhatra Ekta Manch.

‘Whisked away’

 Around 55 protesters, including 15 women, were taken away in police buses. “We were pushed, our clothes were pulled, and we were dropped off in distant areas like Narela and Bawana,” said Kranti, one of the detainees. 

Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) met on Sunday evening to review Delhi’s pollution levels. Despite the air quality index (AQI) touching 391 in the morning, at the higher end of the ‘very poor’ category, the commission decided not to invoke Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The CAQM noted that the hourly AQI had improved to 370 by 4 p.m., showing a “consistent declining trend”.

It said the current Stage I and II measures, including bans on open burning and enhanced road cleaning, would continue. An AQI between 301 and 400 is classified as ‘very poor’, while anything above 400 is ‘severe’.

After holding the protest over pollution, many stayed back to stage a demonstration against the apex court’s order on the relocation of street dogs.

They raised concern over lack of shelters, funding, and poor implementation of the animal birth control rules by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.