Amitabh Kant slams SC order as Delhi’s air quality ‘lies in shambles': 'Right to burn crackers over right to breathe'

Kant warned that only “ruthless and sustained execution” of pollution control measures could save Delhi from a “health and environmental catastrophe.”

Former NITI Aayog CEO and G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant, on Tuesday, lashed out at Delhi’s pollution management, saying the national capital’s air quality “lies in shambles” and that the Supreme Court had “prioritised the right to burn crackers over the right to live and breathe.”

“Delhi’s air quality lies in shambles: 36 of 38 monitoring stations have hit the red zone, AQI is above 400 in key areas. The Hon. Supreme Court in its wisdom has prioritised the right to burn crackers over the right to live and breathe. Delhi remains among the world’s most polluted capitals. If Los Angeles, Beijing, and London can do it, why can’t Delhi?” Kant lashed out in a post on microblogging site X.

He warned that only “ruthless and sustained execution” of pollution control measures could save Delhi from a “health and environmental catastrophe.”

Delhi’s air quality lies in shambles: 36/38 monitoring stations have hit the 'red zone,' AQI is above 400 in key areas. The Hon. Supreme Court in its wisdom has prioritised the right to burn crackers over the right to live and breathe. Delhi remains among the world’s most…

— Amitabh Kant (@amitabhk87) October 21, 2025

Kant also outlined a detailed roadmap for improvement, saying, “A unified action plan is vital — to end crop and biomass burning, shut or modernise thermal power plants and brick kilns with cleaner technology, shift all transport to electric by 2030, enforce strict construction dust control, ensure full waste segregation and processing, and redesign Delhi around green, walkable, transit-focused living. Only such decisive and relentless execution can restore the city’s blue skies and breathable air.”

Kant’s remarks came as Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of smog following Diwali celebrations, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 357 (‘very poor’ category) at 1 pm, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Several areas, including Bawana (AQI 432), Jahangirpuri (405), Ashok Vihar (408) and Wazirpur (408), fell into the ‘severe’ zone.

Residents across the capital complained of breathing problems and eye irritation due to the toxic air.

“Pollution has been increasing for years. People blame politicians, but they must also act responsibly. Crackers were banned, yet many ignored the order,” said Sagar, a Delhi resident in an interview to ANI. Another local, Ashish Ranjan, who went for a morning run at Kartavya Path, said, “It’s difficult to breathe; the air feels heavy," as cited by ANI.

On Monday night, many areas in Delhi-NCR witnessed fireworks well past midnight, despite the Supreme Court permitting only green crackers between 8 pm–10 pm and 6 am–7 am. The court had earlier lifted the blanket ban, citing a “balanced approach” that allows limited celebration without compromising environmental concerns.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) already invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Sunday, restricting construction activities and waste burning as pollution levels began to spike.

As per officials, the air quality might deteriorate further into the ‘severe’ category over the next two days due to stagnant wind conditions trapping pollutants near the surface.

Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI on Monday stood at 345 (‘very poor’), with 36 out of 38 CPCB monitoring stations in the red zone.