‘Unconscionable, uninhabitable’: Shashi Tharoor questions if Delhi with ‘hazardous’ pollution should remain capital | India News

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday strongly criticised the government for its inaction over Delhi’s air pollution, labelling the situation a “nightmare” and questioning whether the city should even remain the nation’s capital.
In a post on X, the Congress MP called it “unconscionable” that authorities have allowed Delhi to become the most polluted city in the world, recording air quality levels four times above the hazardous threshold. “This city is essentially uninhabitable from November to January and barely liveable the rest of the year,” he wrote, adding that despite his efforts since 2015 to bring experts and stakeholders together, “nothing seemed to change, and no one seemed to care.”

Delhi’s air quality has reached alarming levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 488 on Tuesday morning, placing it in the ‘severe plus’ category. Residents have been grappling with thick smog, drastically reduced visibility, and hazardous conditions that pose serious health risks, particularly to children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
Visuals across the capital, from Bhikaji Cama Place to Kartavya Path, showcase a city blanketed in smog. Toxic foam continues to float on sections of the Yamuna River, a stark reminder of the deteriorating environment. Transport services have also been affected, with 22 trains running late and nine rescheduled due to poor visibility.

The crisis has prompted drastic measures. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has shifted classes online until November 22, while schools in Gurugram have suspended physical classes for students up to the 12th standard until further notice. The Supreme Court has also issued an advisory, urging everyone within its premises to wear masks and adopt health precautions.