Tag: Delhi Air Quality Index

Delhiites Have Given Up On Right To Breathe

‘Delhiites Have Given Up On Right To Breathe; And Govts Couldn’t Care Less’

By LokMarg

Charanjeet Singh, a resident of New Delhi, narrates how he shifts base to Nodia every year during the October–January period as Capital AQI keeps worsening. His views:

I came to Delhi about 20 years ago in search for bread & butter and since then, I have been living in the national capital. However, for the past few years (about eight to 10 years), things are constantly getting worse and none of the corrective or preventive measures (both visible and claimed) taken by the government brings any relief. Name a thing – air, water, river etc, every resource is deteriorating at a dangerous pace and Delhi has literally transformed into a gas chamber, especially between October and January.

The situation during the rest of the year is also not very pleasant or commendable, but with the onset of winters, it becomes literally impossible, especially for aged persons and those with any kind of respiratory or chronic ailment, to breathe. Living in one of the most polluted cities of the world, Delhi, silently or boastingly, takes a toll on each and every of its citizens round the year and it intensifies during this period.

All government schemes like odd–even formula, traffic signal on car off, etc., fall flat on its face every year while the two smog towers are dysfunctional till date as against the claims of the MCD. Apart from this, every mechanical unit has a capacity after which it exhausts its potential and things are back to square one. I think the people of Delhi have made the situation a part and parcel of their lives and have, in a way, adapted to it just for the sake of earning a livelihood. If you want to survive, you need to get out of your house and face the adversities or remain indoors as much as you can if you don’t need to go out to earn money. That’s it!

ALSO READ: ‘How To Create A Safe Air Haven Indoors In Delhi’

Leaving behind air, the quality and quantity of water has also become a major concern. Most of the densely populated areas of Delhi face this problem throughout the year and arranging for at least drinking water has also added up in the day to day itinerary. I would also like to point out the situation of river Yamuna which is, on the records, the life line of Delhi.

Last year I happened to go to the banks of the river along with my friend and his mother who are from Bihar for the celebration of Chath. It was nearly impossible to stand there because of the stink and when my friend’s mother came out of the river after performing the Pooja, her Saari was full of filth and oil. How is one supposed to drink this water even if it is being treated before reaching our houses?

As a citizen of Delhi, this is absolutely disgraceful. The Delhi government is like paper tigers – very progressive in terms of policies but there is no political will and zero implementation. People are getting aware – usage of masks is visibly increased, people avoiding going out without work (even on weekends), etc. but for many, there has been no hiding from this poisonous smog. Most people like us, who have the option to shift out of Delhi during this period without hampering their work, are doing so but this is not the solution and the end of it. It is also a fact that a change of government cannot improve things drastically but positive steps need to be taken to save Delhi and its people.

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As told to Rajat Rai

I Left Delhi To Save My Family From Chronic Pollution

‘I Left Delhi To Protect My Family From Chronic Pollution Sickness’

By LokMarg

Nida Fatima Siddiqui, a media professional, made the tough decision to leave Delhi’s smog behind, seeking cleaner air and a healthier future for her family. She shares her story:

Delhi is in the news again for pollution, and as a former resident of Delhi-NCR, I feel quite relieved that I no longer live there. My husband, daughter and I decided to move to Bangalore in October 2022, and pollution was a major factor in our decision, though there were other considerations too.

Personally, I suffered a lot during the smog months from October to January. While I thankfully don’t have any health or lung issues, I coughed throughout these months every year. Leaving Delhi-NCR was bittersweet because my parents still live there, and for four years, I stayed in the same housing society as them. It was a tough decision. 

Before 2022, I had lived in Delhi for 18 years, and pollution was never a significant issue until 2014. I remember traveling across the city without ever experiencing any respiratory problems. But from 2015 onwards, it became a persistent issue. In late 2016, my office shift in Noida ended around 6.30 pm and I used to travel during peak rush hour in October. That was the first time that I developed bronchitis, which lingered for a month. The cough returned every year after that, in the same month. My daughter was born in February, and in the months leading up to her birth, I had a chronic cough—it was a difficult time.

I realised that it was more than just pollution from cars or construction in Delhi-NCR—the smog crisis was also caused by stubble-burning in neighbouring states. Farmers in Haryana and Punjab burn rice stubble in October because, under a law to conserve water in these states, the crop cycle was shifted. After harvesting paddy, the farmers thus have little time to prepare their fields for the next crop, wheat. With just about three weeks available, they resort to burning stubble to clean the fields fast.

ALSO READ: ‘I’m A Pollution Refugee, Forced To Migrate From Delhi’

I do not see this issue getting resolved anytime soon, even if all the three governments came together to address it. The problem is worsened by traffic pollution, construction activities, weather/wind pattern and firecrackers—the last of these fuel the crisis but only for a short while. It’s the larger issue of multiple factors causing the persistent smog. Moreover, Delhi’s weather is either too hot or too humid, barring the short winter. The autumn months, when you want to enjoy the outdoors, are plagued by pollution, which keeps you inside. That leaves only February and March as months when it’s comfortable to step outside. Being an outdoorsy person, I found myself confined to the house either with an air conditioner or an air purifier.

In 2022, we decided we didn’t want our child to grow up facing the same trauma. I also believe our move was well-timed. It’s easier to relocate when you’re younger and have a small family. It’s sad, though, to leave behind a place you once called home for something as man-made as pollution. Some might say that Bangalore has its own share of problems, like traffic and pollution, but compared to Delhi, it’s much better. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is far superior, and most of the year, Bangalore stays in the green zone. In fact, I haven’t coughed in the past two years, which reassures me that our decision to move was the right one. 

I am also trying to persuade my parents to leave Delhi-NCR and move south, given their age and the escalating pollution crisis. I don’t mean to be blunt for those still living there, including my parents, but I don’t see this pollution issue being resolved anytime soon. It’s going to take a coordinated effort from the governments involved, and that doesn’t seem to be on the horizon.

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As told to Mamta Sharma

I Wish To Visit Delhi For Diwali But Fear Of Smog Holds Me Back

‘I So Wish To Visit Delhi For Diwali, But Fear Of Smog Hangs Heavy’

By LokMarg

Tripti Sharma feels torn between her desire to be home for Diwali and being exposed to the polluting haze that engulfs Delhi every festive season. Her story:

As I sit in Indianapolis, thinking about the approaching Diwali, my heart aches with a familiar pull. Every year, this festival is supposed to be a time for joy, family, and celebration. It’s the one time I wish to fly back to India, leave behind the business of life here in the US, and immerse myself in the warmth of home. But this year, that excitement is overshadowed by a growing sense of fear—the fear of breathing the air that’s slowly suffocating my hometown.

I keep reading the news about how bad the air quality is going to be around Diwali, with stubble burning already in full swing in Punjab and Haryana. Delhi, where my family lives, is predicted to be blanketed in smog. The idea of walking through the streets, the smell of crackers mixed with the smoky haze, doesn’t fill me with nostalgia anymore; it fills me with dread. What’s worse is that I don’t just worry for myself, I am concerned about my ageing parents, my little nieces and nephews. The idea of exposing them to this level of pollution weighs heavy on my mind.

It’s strange. Here in Indianapolis, as fall turns to winter, I look outside at the crisp, cold air and think about how different things are in North India. I should be packing my bags, thinking about all the sweets I’ll eat, the diyas we’ll light together, but instead, I’m glued to the air quality index, checking it like some sort of doomsday countdown.

ALSO READ: ‘I Celebrate My Diwali With A Nebulizer And Meds’

A part of me feels so torn. I’ve lived in the US long enough to get used to clean air and clear skies. Breathing is something I don’t have to think about here. But going back to India, to Delhi especially, around Diwali? It’s like walking into a cloud of invisible danger. The smog settles into every corner of the city, thick and suffocating. You can’t escape it, even indoors. Air purifiers can only do so much.

I feel this gnawing guilt too. Diwali is about family. My parents miss me, and I miss them. My mother’s been sending pictures of the preparations—the rangoli they’ve made, the sweets they’re preparing, her hopeful messages saying, “It’s not that bad this year.” But I know she’s just trying to reassure me, and it breaks my heart. She doesn’t want me to worry, but how can I not?

The worst part is how helpless it all feels. Stubble burning is something that happens every year, and every year, we all watch as the pollution levels spike, and people start choking on the air. It’s not like this is a new problem, but it feels like nothing ever changes. I feel angry and frustrated, knowing this could be fixed if only there were stricter regulations or better solutions for farmers. But instead, it’s the people, my family, who pay the price.

I want to go home. I want to light diyas with my family, laugh over old memories, and feel the magic of Diwali like I did when I was a kid. But now, it feels like a choice between celebrating and protecting my health. I never thought something as basic as the air we breathe would make me reconsider going home.

For now, I’m stuck in this painful limbo. Should I go and risk it? Should I stay here, safe but homesick? Every year, the decision gets harder. Diwali is supposed to be about light and hope, but right now, all I feel is a cloud of uncertainty hanging over everything.

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As told to Deepti Sharma