Air driving Delhi's seasonal fun indoors

Okay, so Delhi's toxic air is now changing its way of life. Not just the health of its citizens, their comfort, or office or school routines, but it's also delivering the unkindest cut of all: consistently high levels of AQI are driving the city's people to stay indoors during the very time of the year when they go out for winter concerts and outdoor meals, flaunting their winterwear. The air is now biting into entertainment and outdoor dining businesses. Singer Palash Sen postponed his December 6 concert this week after AQI readings hit north of 400. 'The air is poisonous, dangerous and killing us,' he said as reason for his show being 'postponed'.

Sen is neither alone in succumbing to Delhi's outdoor realities, nor can other entertainers risk having seats left empty by those who will understandably forgo fun for the fear of having to tolerate hazardous air. The months from October through March, once marked the peak of Delhi's live-entertainment season - mehfils, concerts, cultural shows and outdoor festivals - are being choked. Also under serious threat are winter rooftop dinners, open-air cafes and al fresco dates. Even the city's new public parks feel pointless when residents fear stepping outdoors for the very reason they would with the departure of summer: to taste a healthy outdoor life. Winter tourism, too, has taken a major hit. Foreign and domestic visitors alike are increasingly deterred by the noxious air, undermining the city's ambition of becoming a hub for MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) tourism.

This isn't a short-lived pandemic-kind downturn. Without decisive real action, Delhi will witness its cultural, social and economic life slink indoors. What a terrible shame that would be.