While hearing a matter concerning the creation of alternative forest land in the Capital, the Delhi High Court on Wednesday remarked that the forest department must ensure that the Air Quality Index (AQI) level comes down.
A single judge bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh who was also hearing a matter raising the issue of filling up vacancies in the forest department asked the Principal Secretary (Environment and Forest), Delhi government, to take up the matter on a “war footing”.
The bench said, “You are responsible for the quality of the air we breathe. By the post you hold it is your obligation to ensure that AQI comes down. Every kid has a breathing problem here”.
The court further said children were suffering from asthma due to breathing polluted air in the national capital and emphasised that the city’s residents have the fundamental right to clean air to breathe.
The official informed the HC that the forest department will undertake “eco-restoration” of 136 acres of land in Isapur near Haryana. The official also assured the court they will take the help and assistance of the Amicus Curiae advocates Gautam Narayan and Aditya N Prasad and they will be continuously informed about the steps taken for ecorestoration.
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The official said the eco-restoration would begin within two weeks on the land, which is in the department’s possession and control and is a deemed forest.
The court was also assured that adequate steps would be taken to complete the recruitment process for 117 vacant posts in the forest department.
Wednesday was the fifth consecutive day when the air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘very poor’ category at 370, which was 359 Tuesday evening.
