With Delhi’s air quality index reaching lethal levels, alarmed residents thronged the India Gate on Sunday to protest against rising air pollution that has made living in the capital city difficult.
Many among the protestors were parents and environmental activists, who sought to question their elected officials on the worsening pollution levels that have led to a rise in lung-related ailments, especially among children.
Many said they had sought an appointment with the Delhi chief minister, Rekha Gupta, to demand urgent government action to ensure the AQI can be brought down, but were refused a meeting.
“We want to meet our elected officials. We had sought an appointment with the chief minister but were refused. So many parents are here because their children are suffering,” said Bhavreen Khandari, an environmentalist.
“Every third child already has damaged lungs; they will live nearly 10 years less than those growing up in cleaner air,” she said.
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Another protester, Abhishek, said the government had failed to provide citizens with a clean environment to breathe in – which is a basic human right.
“During (former chief minister) Sheila Dikshit’s term, Delhi was known as a green capital. Today, it ranks among the most polluted cities in the world. Politicians keep blaming each other instead of taking responsibility,” he lamented.
However, several protesters were detained for assembling without permission, said the police.
“There was no permission to hold a protest at the India Gate. To maintain law and order and ensure there is no obstruction in security arrangements, some people were detained,” a police officer said.
DCP (New Delhi) Devesh Kumar Mahla said the detentions were preventive in nature.
“Only Jantar Mantar is the designated protest site where permission can be sought to stage a protest by following the due procedure,” he said.
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