Citizens, activists and environmentalists come together demanding action against Air Pollution in Delhi
On 6th November, citizens of Delhi gathered at the Press Club of India demanding action from the double engine government of Delhi to fight the hazardous Air Pollution in Delhi. While the government is busy fudging the data, Delhi’s air continues to dengirate to dangerous levels. Moderating the meeting, AISA leader Anjali said, “the crisis of pollution is a crisis of political will. Our subsequent governments have shown that they have no will to act on pollution which results in deaths of mainly working class and poor families.” Bhavreen Khandari, environment activist said, “while the state policy completely ignored de-sulfurization of thermal plants and emissions of waste to energy plants, they continue to police citizens because big business is interested in these commercial units. We have continued to work throughout the year demanding accountability but to no avail.”
AISA President Neha said, “the pollution crisis is a crisis of equity and crisis of public health. In 2022, 17 lakh common people lost their lives to air pollutants. And when we put this alarming data out, three state governments begin a blame game on each other, despite the double-triple engine! When thousands came to the streets last year, Rekha Gupta realised that lip sevice must be paid year round. However, all that lip service is paid for by sick children and dying workers.”Soutrik Goswami, environment researcher and activist told the meeting, “vehicular and industrial pollution are the biggest cause of Delhi’s pathetic air quality. However we see that governments continue to shift the blame on farmers from neighbouring states. We must say out loud: stop lying.”
K Gopika Babu, JNUSU Vice President, “the most basic question we have to ask is that whether breathing clean air will become a luxury in our city. Air purifiers, work from home and online teaching are all luxuries that save some while refraining from the broader question of justice and humanity.” The press conference ended with a call to fight the criminal negligence and shameful complicity of the double engine government in proliferating the health crisis.
