NACEJ: Arrest Air Pollution, Not Activists and Agitators

National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice

NACEJ Statement on 'Toxic Governance' in Delhi NCR:

Arrest Air Pollution, Not Activists and Agitators: Restore Fundamental Right to Breathe

Ensure Firm Policy Shifts and Institutional Action against Prime Polluters, Not Citizens

12th Nov, 2025: Yet again, the national capital finds itself in the midst of an extremely severe pollution crisis, as was witnessed by a series of citizen, women and youth-led protests this week in Delhi. Shamefully though, instead of owning up institutional accountability, the Delhi Government unleashed police force on the peaceful participants and detained many of them until late in the night on 9th November. The detentions were both unnecessary and unjust.

NACEJ strongly condemns the abject failure of the Government in systemically addressing the air pollution crisis and the brazen, arbitrary detention of peacefully protesting citizens, students, parents, environmentalists, workers and activists, who are courageously organizing against this public health catastrophe. The Chief Minister owes a public apology to the protestors and the people of Delhi for the Government's failure, unjust detentions and use of police force against peaceful citizens. We call for withdrawal of cases registered, if any, against the protestors.

The indiscriminate action by authorities not only violates democratic rights but also blatantly disregards the dire health emergency faced by millions in Delhi NCR, as air pollution soared to its highest levels in four years, especially following Diwali on 21st October 2025, as confirmed by official monitoring stations. In the backdrop of the severity of the issue, the short-sighted, politicized response of the government will only exacerbate the air pollution crisis further in Delhi NCR.

NACEJ demands that the Delhi Government, the Union Government and all authorities must immediately, without delay or evasion, recognize the magnitude of this public health emergency and the legitimate outrage of the people of Delhi NCR, instead of treating it as a 'law and order issue' or a political blame game. This unchecked governance failure has directly led to record-breaking pollution, with hazardous air choking the region and pushing public health to the brink.

We call for urgent, transparent, and scientifically accountable actions; not repression and diversion, to protect the lives, rights, and dignity of every Delhi NCR resident. The Government needs to initiate year-round air pollution crisis management, built on long-term policy preparedness and a prioritization of public health and justice. It is high time for political and bureaucratic authorities to address the rightful angst of the people, setting aside political calculations and vested interests.

Despite years of crisis and public outcry, air pollution remains a severe and escalating public health hazard, with Delhi NCR and several other Indian cities suffering the world's worst air quality. This crisis causes millions of preventable deaths and immense economic losses, while disproportionately impacting poor and marginalized communities, outdoor and informal workers, women, elders, children and those living in congested or industrial areas. Government actions have consistently excluded the most vulnerable, widening environmental injustice.

What is most alarming this year is that, despite clear evidence and expert warnings, the government prioritized appeasement-based political interests over scientific and public health advice, specifically legalizing the sale and use of so-called 'green' crackers for Diwali. This move led to rampant illicit use of fireworks, ignoring the Supreme Court's limited hours order, leading to its weak implementation. The result was record-breaking PM2.5 levels and a dangerous spike in air pollution, with Delhi reporting levels as high as 675 µg/m³ (CPCB data) — the worst in four years.

In parallel, non-compliance and apparent fudging of data such as the reported use of water sprinklers near AQI monitors to artificially lower recorded pollution further erode trust and delay meaningful action. The persistent blame games over stubble burning also do not address the reality, especially since, in 2025, its contribution to Delhi's PM2.5 was notably lower than previous years. Year-round vehicle and industry emissions remain the primary drivers. Delhi's pollution emergency demonstrates a deeper governance failure where populist politics has been allowed to overshadow public health and science-led environmental policy.

To genuinely address the roots of Delhi's air pollution emergency, the following immediate and structural measures are essential:

· A time-bound, transparent policy and plan of action to reduce air toxicity and fix accountability of all statutory authorities, as per law.

· Pro-active promotion and comprehensive upgrades to Delhi's public transport as a clear alternative to odd-even private vehicle restrictions.

· Renewed emphasis on both bus and metro infrastructure, as well as the neglected surface rail network, integrated into a unified transport system.

· Implementation of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lanes alongside metro enhancements for high-frequency, accessible public bus services.

· Rapid phase-out and strict control of all non-BS6 diesel vehicles in Delhi NCR, combined with the elimination of diesel fuel subsidies for non-commercial vehicles.

· Highlight the persistent neglect of Delhi's extensive surface rail infrastructure and integrate it with bus and metro systems.

· Reference existing scientific studies (IIT Kanpur 2023, etc.) to identify key pollution sources.

· Stop victimizing farmers for stubble burning and focus on chronic sources like vehicles and industries.

· Enforce a year-round ban on firecrackers and relocate toxic industries such as waste-to-energy (WTE) plants away from residential areas.

· Establish a permanent mechanism for dialogue with environmental and civil society organizations.

· Release real-time, credible air quality data and health advisories in accessible formats.

· Respond to peaceful protest calls with dialogue, not intimidation or arrests.

· Reject any political or religious narrative that delays public health action in environmental emergencies.

NACEJ calls for a scientifically informed, health-centred, long-term air quality management framework for Delhi NCR and all Indian cities. This must feature enforceable bans on new WTE plants, year-round prohibition on firecrackers, and strict controls on construction and vehicular emissions. A reorientation of urban, transport and industrial policy towards safeguarding public health is essential.

Addressing air pollution requires an integrated, inter-sectoral, institutional accountability approach rooted in public well-being and aligned with broader environmental, economic, and development goals. India's future depends on putting public health, social and ecological justice, and constitutional rights of all citizens at the very centre of all environmental and urban policymaking.

Issued by: National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ – NAPM)

Signatories to the Statement (NACEJ Members):

1. Alok Shukla, Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, Raipur

2. Apoorv Grover, People for Aravallis, New Delhi

3. Dr. Babu Rao, Scientists for People, Telangana

4. Chythenyen Devika Kulasekaran, Centre for Financial Accountability, Selam, Tamil Nadu

5. Disha A Ravi, Fridays For Future India

6. Dr. Gabriele Dietrich, Penn Urimay Iyakkam & NAPM, Madurai, Tamil Nadu

7. John Michael, NACEJ and NAPM Telangana

8. Krithika Dinesh, Legal researcher, NAJAR, Delhi

9. Medha Patkar, Narmada Bachao Andolan and NAPM, Madhya Pradesh

10. Meera Sanghamitra, NACEJ Telangana

11. Neelam Ahluwalia, Founder Member, People for Aravallis, Haryana

12. Nirmala Gowda, Mapping Malnad, Bengaluru

13. Prasad Chacko, Social Worker, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

14. Rajkumar Sinha, Bargi Bandh Visthapit Evam Prabhavit Sangh, Madhya Pradesh

15. Ramnarayan K, Natural History Educator and Independent Ecologist, Uttarakhand

16. Ravi S P, Chalakudypuzha Samrakshana Samithi, Kerala

17. Soumya Dutta, Movement for Advancing Understanding of Sustainability and Mutuality (MAUSAM) & NACEJ, New Delhi

18. Soutrik Goswami, Environmental Researcher and Activist, New Delhi

19. Stella James, Researcher and Independent consultant, Bengaluru, Karnataka

20. Dr. Suhas Kolhekar, NAPM & NACEJ (Pune, Maharashtra)

21. Sumit (For Himdhara Environment Research And Action Collective, Himachal Pradesh)

22. Tarini, Independent Filmmaker, Delhi

23. Yash, Environmental Rights Activist, New Delhi

Issued by: National Alliance for Climate and Ecological Justice (NACEJ - NAPM)

Contact for details: E-mail: nacej.napm@gmail.com

NACEJ members across India are grassroots movement activists, ecologists, climate scientists, environmental researchers and lawyers, working to address the climate crisis through an ecological and social justice approach, upholding human rights and coexistence of all species.

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