Delhi High Court Takes Action to Improve Capital's Air Quality and Fights Childhood Asthma

In a significant development, the Delhi High Court issued a directive on Wednesday, placing the onus of improving the capital's air quality on the forest department. Justice Jasmeet Singh, presiding over matters related to the establishment of an alternative forest in Delhi and the need to fill vacancies within the department, voiced concerns about the increasing prevalence of childhood asthma caused by the city's polluted air. The court expressed dismay over encroachments in the ridge area, which is considered the lungs of the national capital.

Addressing the principal secretary of the forest department, Justice Jasmeet Singh urged swift action in filling vacancies and emphasized, "You are responsible for the quality of the air we breathe. It is your duty to ensure the Air Quality Index (AQI) improves."

The court underlined the urgency of the situation, remarking that "Every kid is having breathing problems." The court further highlighted the necessity for citizens of Delhi to have a fundamental right to clean air and asserted that greenery plays a pivotal role in achieving this goal.

The deterioration in air quality has been particularly concerning as several areas within the city, including Nehru Nagar, Sonia Vihar, Rohini, Wazirpur, Bawana, Mundka, Anand Vihar, and New Moti Bagh, experienced a severe decline in air quality, with AQI levels exceeding 400, categorizing them as 'severe.'

Delhi's grim air quality also gained international attention as it topped a real-time list of the world's most polluted cities, compiled by the Swiss group IQAir. Lahore in Pakistan followed closely in second place. The list further included Mumbai and Kolkata, positioning Delhi as the most polluted city globally.

Air pollution concerns have extended to the cricket World Cup, as fans attend matches in various Indian cities. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) recently banned fireworks displays during the remaining matches of the tournament as a measure to combat pollution. Players have also expressed apprehension about the toxic air, with England's Joe Root experiencing breathing difficulties during a game and India's captain Rohit Sharma advocating for change for the sake of "future generations."