Delhiites brave heat as civic duty beckons

It is clear that people are worried about the future of Delhi, says protester

With the belief that it was their civic duty to stand up for the environment, citizens of all ages braved the Delhi heat to resist a development project approved by the government which involves felling of 17,000 trees, on Saturday.

At least 30 protesters gathered at Safdarjung Enclave with sign boards and candles to protest the government’s decision and create awareness on the consequences of deforestation.

Govt. criticised

Juhi Saklani, a freelance photographer, said, “This was not an organised protest. A few of us wanted to gather and soon the group grew to this size. It is clear that people are worried about the future of Delhi.”

Many protesters criticised the government for not using its technology to make development a sustainable endeavour. “There is enough research on alternative construction paradigms. This is not a creative solution,” said Devalina Kohli, a retired professor of English at Delhi University.

Biodiversity concerns

Others had concerns of biodiversity loss and rising dust and pollution. “Air pollution is not seasonal any more. Humans also share their space with so many animals and birds. What will happen to them?” asked Vallari Sheel, an ecologist from North Carolina State University.

At the core of the issue lies a poor understanding of city planning, protesters complained. “How will roads deal with the construction and then influx of traffic when this development is finished? We do not have proper planning,” said Ratna Raman, Professor of Literature at Sri Venkateswara College.