After weeks of parents, students and residents demonstrating against the capital’s hazardous air quality, the Delhi government on Wednesday held its first formal dialogue with those leading the protests. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa met citizen groups, environmentalists and volunteers at the Delhi Secretariat to discuss the city’s worsening pollution crisis — a conversation many attendees described as overdue but necessary.
Sirsa said the purpose of the meeting was to hear directly from those who have been mapping pollution hotspots, documenting daily violations and repeatedly flagging the gaps in enforcement. “We invited residents who actively work to keep the city clean and improve the air. We heard their suggestions and tried to understand what practical steps can be taken,” he said.
Minister admits enforcement failures
In a rare acknowledgement, Sirsa conceded that the city continues to struggle with “proper enforcement and coordination.” He noted that while bylaws and restrictions exist, they often remain only on paper. The Minister sought citizen support in monitoring violations, especially construction dust and open burning — both of which have been highlighted as major contributors to Delhi’s annual winter pollution spike.
Sirsa added that the government intends to integrate citizen-driven reporting into its action plan, pointing to the role that alert residents can play in identifying real-time violations.
“We live the ground reality every day”
Among those present was environmentalist Bhavreen Kandhari, who has been part of the citizen-led movement that has brought mothers, young children and students to the streets. She welcomed the government’s outreach but issued a pointed reminder about past failures.
“We appreciate that the minister reached out to mothers, citizens and students… and acknowledged that the same polluted air affecting us is affecting his own,” she told NDTV. Kandhari stressed that those protesting are not full-time activists. “As ordinary citizens, we live the ground realities every day and can be a source of strength and insight for policymaking and enforcement.”
She noted, however, that public patience is wearing thin. “We have seen decades of meetings and roundtables yielding little or no results,” she said. Despite this frustration, she emphasised that citizens have returned to the table “for the sake of all our children.”
Citizens list chronic failures
Participants detailed a long list of persistent failures: unchecked open burning, widespread bylaw violations, loopholes in enforcement, and agencies operating without coordination. They called for stronger citizen participation through improved grievance mechanisms on the Sameer and Green Delhi apps, a larger volunteer network, better promotion of carpooling, and sustained public awareness campaigns.
The repeated reference to open burning — described as one of the most stubborn contributors to winter pollution — underscored the urgency for stricter enforcement at the ground level.
Government outlines action taken so far
Responding to the concerns, government officials said several issues “are being examined for solutions.” They also highlighted recent operational measures, including the deployment of more Mechanical Road Sweepers, litter pickers and Anti-Smog Guns. Daily water spraying and mechanical sweeping in high-dust corridors have reportedly been intensified, with procurement underway for additional equipment to expand coverage.
Officials added that strict enforcement drives against construction and demolition waste violations are in progress, along with increased crackdowns on biomass and open waste burning. These efforts, they said, form part of a renewed push to address pollutant sources that repeatedly show up in winter air-quality assessments.
What lies ahead?
While the government said citizen suggestions will feed into policy updates, it did not share a specific roadmap or timeline. Those who attended the meeting said the dialogue was a positive first step — but warned that change must be visible on the ground, not confined to meeting rooms.
As one participant remarked after the discussion: “The government finally called us inside. Now we’ll see if they actually step outside and fix what’s happening on the ground.”
Conclusion
The meeting marks an important shift in the city’s handling of its pollution crisis, signalling a willingness to work with citizens who have long demanded meaningful action. Whether this engagement translates into real inspections, real penalties and real improvement remains the test that Delhi residents — and the winter ahead — will determine.