Every third child in Delhi is suffering from asthma

Every third child in the national capital Delhi is suffering from asthma.

The observation was made by the Delhi High Court while hearing a petition concerning pollution in the city.

The Court said that it is the responsibility of the authorities to ensure that the Air Quality Index (AQI) comes down in the city. The court made the remarks while taking stock of various aspects of improving Delhi's green cover, such as freeing trees from concrete to give them breathing space, removing encroachments from the South Ridge and earmarking a dedicated forest.

The court said, 'According to a research, every third child in Delhi has asthma. We cannot wait for years to take care of trees,’’.

The research cited a study by Dr Arvind Kumar, chairman of Medanta's Institute of Chest Surgery, in which he found that almost one in every three school children in Delhi had asthma and obstruction in airflow. The court cleared the PWD principal secretary, who had appeared in response to the earlier directions. The court said that the agency will have to ensure that all trees are de-concreted otherwise it will be considered as contempt of court and be prepared for action.

In another hearing regarding removal of encroachment from the ridge, the court said that every citizen has the fundamental right to breathe clean air. Expressing its concerns to the Principal Secretary of the Forest Department, the court sought immediate action regarding the encroachment of about 300 hectares of the department's land.

The court said, "What is happening in South Ridge? It is shocking. Three hundred hectares of land, encroachment on all... This is not acceptable. People of Delhi want trees, this is one thing which is under your control. Remove encroachments and plant trees. Look at pollution levels and air quality."

It reprimanded the officials and said that construction on the ridge land is happening right under your nose and you are unaware? Remember, the forest department is responsible for the quality of the air we breathe. It is your responsibility to ensure that the AQI level comes down. We cannot force people to leave Delhi every December-January due to increasing pollution. Every child is having problem in breathing.