Saurabh Bhasin deeply loved Delhi, the city of his birth.
During his childhood, he yearned for the winter season, which provided a reprieve from the prolonged and intense summers of the Indian capital.
However, as time passed, his longing for winter transformed into apprehension. Between October and January, air pollution reached alarming levels, resulting in a hazy skyline and dangerously toxic air in the city. Everyday activities, such as walking outside or engaging in playtime with his child at home, began to evoke feelings of stress and danger.
In 2015, Mr. Bhasin, a corporate lawyer, took a significant step by filing a petition in the Supreme Court. He represented his toddler, alongside the fathers of two six-month-olds, in a bid to impose a ban on using firecrackers, commonly set off during festivals and weddings.
“The petition highlights the concerning decline in air quality in Delhi, attributing it to various factors including traffic congestion, dust from extensive construction activities, industrial emissions, and the seasonal use of firecrackers,” it stated.
Despite the court’s issuance of guidelines aimed at regulating the use of crackers, the air quality in Delhi continued to worsen.
In November 2022, the daughter of Mr. Bhasin received a diagnosis of asthma. Earlier this year, he and his family relocated to the coastal state of Goa, situated approximately 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) from their previous home, where they currently reside.
For millions in Delhi, escaping the suffocating smog is simply not feasible. Many are compelled to endure the hazardous air quality as they cannot abandon their livelihoods.
A select group of individuals with financial resources opt to relocate, whether long-term or temporary, during winter.
Mr. Bhasin stands out among them.”We understand that taking [his daughter] to Goa will not eliminate her asthma.” “However, we are confident that if we had kept her in Delhi, the likelihood of her condition deteriorating would have significantly increased,” he states.
His concerns are valid and warrant attention. In recent years, the period from October to January has seen a significant decline in Delhi’s air quality, often reaching levels deemed hazardous to health by the World Health Organization.
The Indian health ministry has issued recommendations indicating that poor to severe air quality could result in heightened morbidity and mortality rates among vulnerable populations, including children, older people, and individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
A recent recommendation urges individuals to avoid outdoor physical activities, particularly advising vulnerable populations to stay indoors and minimise their activity levels when air quality reaches “severe” classifications.
Mr. Bhasin describes these measures as superficial. “You have the option to invest in a solution today or continue applying temporary fixes, which will ultimately come at a cost for future generations,” he states.
A study conducted in 2022 by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago revealed that air pollution could potentially reduce the lifespan of individuals in Delhi by nearly a decade.
Rekha Mathur is one of the individuals who opt to take a temporary leave each year. During the winter months, she moves to the outskirts of Dehradun, close to the foothills of the Himalayas.
Following the recent birth of her child, she is now seeking to extend her time away from Delhi, a city notorious for its persistent air quality issues year-round. However, due to work commitments, Ms. Mathur’s husband must remain behind, leaving her as the child’s primary carer for several months. Consequently, their son has limited opportunities to see his father, who is only present on rare occasions.
“Our entire existence revolves around Delhi.” “I would have never left the city without the worsening air pollution,” she states.
Ms. Mathur expressed uncertainty regarding the sustainability of the current arrangement as her son matures and requires consistent schooling.
She is concerned that pollution is no longer confined to major urban centers such as Delhi but has also begun to affect smaller, picturesque cities like Dehradun.
In Delhi, the city she yearns to revisit, the ongoing crisis has sparked discussions for years.
In the last forty years, India’s Supreme Court has mandated relocating industries that contribute to pollution, directed commercial diesel vehicles to more environmentally friendly options, ordered the shutdown of brick kilns, and expedited the development of bypasses and motorways.
With the resurgence of smog in Delhi and surrounding areas this winter, authorities implemented a series of measures. These included restrictions on non-essential construction, a halt to demolition activities, the closure of polluting industries, and limitations on the number of vehicles permitted on the roads.
Despite efforts, air quality remains essentially unchanged. Residents voice their frustration as the arrival of winter sparks an annual debate on air pollution, yet little progress seems to be made.
Om Thanvi, a journalist and writer with over 15 years of experience living in Delhi, emphasizes that while there is no simple fix, the government must recognize the situation as a public health emergency to seek a viable solution.
In 2018, Mr. Thanvi relocated to the western state of Rajasthan to teach and anticipates a return shortly. However, he has now announced his decision to remain there indefinitely.
“In Delhi, I found myself needing to use an inhaler.” “Since moving here, I can’t even recall where it is,” he remarks.
He recommends that those with the resources depart the city until conditions stabilize.
“While I have fond memories of Delhi’s vibrant cultural scene, I have no regrets about leaving and do not intend to return.”
For millions of Indians, however, this situation is not a matter of choice.Sarita Devi relocated to Delhi from Patna City several years ago for employment opportunities. She makes a living by ironing clothes, dedicating countless hours outdoors with her cart, and braving winter and summer conditions.
“Returning to Patna is not an option for me, as I cannot earn a living there.” “Even if I did go, it wouldn’t change much for me,” Ms. Devi stated.
“I visited for a festival a few days ago, and the air there was equally hazy,” she notes, emphasizing the concerning pollution levels in numerous cities across northern India.
Mr. Bhasin expressed that the decision to relocate to Goa in June was marked by the emotional challenge of parting ways with friends and family.
He now expresses confidence that the decision made was indeed the correct one.
“We can no longer accept compromising our child’s health.”
