Delhi's air pollution crisis is transforming the lives of its residents, with many families fleeing the capital to escape the ever-thickening smog. Take Saurabh Bhasin, for example. A corporate lawyer who once cherished the vibrant life of Delhi, Bhasin's perception shifted dramatically when his daughter was diagnosed with asthma. "We know bringing her to Goa doesn’t mean her asthma will go away, but we’re sure her condition would worsen if we stayed here," he reckons, reflecting the fears of many who are watching their city’s air quality crumble.
Over recent years, the capital's air quality has dipped dangerously low, particularly during the winter months from October to January. It has frequently plunged to levels categorized by the World Health Organization as hazardous to health. The Indian health ministry has advised the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions to limit outdoor activities when air quality hits these alarming levels.
But let’s face it—advice can feel like putting a band-aid on a gaping wound. Bhasin himself filed petitions back in 2015 against firecrackers, cited as significant contributors to the city's deteriorated air. Yet, even with some restrictions and regulations imposed by the Supreme Court, the air continues to poison the lungs of its residents.
Another individual, Rekha Mathur, echoing similar sentiments, has opted to relocate every winter to the quieter outskirts of Dehradun, where the air is presumably fresher. "I never thought I’d have to leave Delhi, but the pollution has forced my hand," she explains. Yet, she grapples with the burden of her husband remaining behind for work, and the damage pollution is causing to her child during their brief visits home.
The fallout of this crisis does not only make headlines. It carves deep anxieties among those who can’t afford to escape the pollution; like Sarita Devi, who cannot leave her work as she toils outdoors under hazardous conditions. "Even if I could return home, it wouldn't change much, as many other places are now facing pollution as well," she shares, underlining the grim scenario facing many laborers today.
For every heart-wrenching individual story, there's also the question of governance. The Indian government has been quick to impose measures like halting non-essential construction and restricting vehicular traffic as the smog settles over the region. But the residents feel these efforts are just temporary fixes rather than permanent solutions. Journalist Om Thanvi, who spent years living amid the smog and eventually left for Rajasthan, captures the hearts of those who remain, declaring, "There’s simply no magic wand to wave; the government needs to treat this as the public health emergency it is." His experience resonates with those who once took pride in the cultural life of Delhi, now overshadowed by the survival instinct sparked by unyielding air quality losses.
This year, Delhi has faced the grim reality of not experiencing even one good air day since 2018—a stark reminder of the air quality struggles over the years. Climate data trends point to increasing difficulty for residents as summer gives way to winter’s lethal air, trapping toxins with cold air. The city has also gained digital notoriety as the most polluted globally, leading some to advocate controversial suggestions like relocating the national capital altogether.
Recently, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor sent waves through social media by questioning whether Delhi could still function as India's capital under such dire circumstances. “Should it even remain the nation’s capital?” he queried, sparking public discourse on whether moving the capital might be the solution. His predecessors are not the only ones to find Delhi's air quality unlivable. The persistent questions linger: If air quality is the deciding factor for choosing the national capital, which city deserves the designation?
Cities such as Mumbai and Kolkata are discussed as potential capitals, but they struggle to meet air quality standards themselves. Meanwhile, tier-two cities increasingly find themselves caught up in this pollution crisis. Geographical effects and industrial operations send air quality spiraling down across the Indo-Gangetic plains, leaving many questioning if any region can withstand the scale of air pollution plaguing the sub-continent.
Delving back to history for reference, Delhi was chosen as the capital due to its strategic location, reinforced by its historical significance. It is entrenched as the political and financial heart of India, often seen as easier to govern from its northern territory compared to coastal Calcutta. With insights and urging for change from thought leaders, residents might wonder if shifting the capital could really catalyze change for cleaner air or just be another political suggestion without decisive action.
Years of governmental cleaner air initiatives have been exhausting, and many are losing faith. Shifting capital cities may bring fresh air, but will the social dynamics of life outside Delhi translate? The human cost remains high, with many staying put. Sarita Devi remains bound by economic necessity, showcasing the plight faced by daily wage workers who absorb the effects of air pollution more acutely and without the luxury to escape. The disparity between those who can leave and those tethered to their hometowns continues to grow, creating stark contrasts amid the fog of Delhi's air.
With the air thickening and resentment growing, it becomes clearest to many: to tackle Delhi's air pollution crisis, we’ll need more than words; we've got to see real change paving the way through policies and practices aimed at safeguarding the health of the future generations before the skirmish against smog becomes futile.
