We are choking because of pollution: Delhi High court slams Centre over property takeovers

The Delhi High Court has reportedly slammed the central government’s decision to take over properties in Lutyens’s Delhi, including the Gymkhana Club and Indian Polo Association’s grounds, and raised concerns saying, “We are choking because of pollution.”

The Delhi High Court was hearing a petition filed by the Indian Polo Association (IPA), which challenged an eviction order issued on May 20 under the Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act. The order directed the association to vacate the 15.20-acre Jaipur Polo Grounds by June 4, as per reports. 

The vacation bench was hearing the matter and expressed concern over the place which is considered as heritage, reportedly asking what the Centre was  going to do with all the heritage structures, saying that even Gymkhana is a heritage structure. The bench said that if they were to made more buildings on these grounds, ‘Delhi will suffocate’. 

The court observed that such spaces act as "little breathers" for residents in a city already struggling with severe pollution and warned that replacing them with high-rise buildings could worsen living conditions in Delhi, as per reports.

Questioning the Centre's move, it reportedly highlights Delhi's worsening air quality, saying that the residents were already "choking because of pollution" and cautioned that losing these green and heritage spaces could make the capital increasingly unfit for people.

The high court reportedly disposed of the IPA's petition and directed the trial court to decide on the IPA's request, which sought to stay the eviction notice. The trial court is likely to hear the matter on Wednesday.