Politics · India · 58 mins ago
Parliamentary panel drops Delhi-NCR air pollution hearing from agenda
A parliamentary panel removed a Delhi-NCR air pollution hearing from its November 17 agenda.
Congress MP Ajay Maken, a member of the home affairs committee, objected to the change.
The hearing had been scheduled to examine enforcement of pollution rules, government measures and coordination among agencies.
Maken says the pollution crisis is a public-health emergency and has asked the committee chair to restore the hearing or set an alternative date soon.
The revised notice gave no reason for dropping the item.
The committee’s schedule lists no new hearing date, leaving its scrutiny of the issue uncertain.
Maken says a hearing could examine how agencies are responding and whether immediate corrective steps are needed, especially to protect vulnerable people.
A parliamentary standing committee removed a planned Delhi-NCR air pollution hearing from its Nov. 17 agenda.
Congress MP Ajay Maken objected to the change and asked for the hearing to be restored or rescheduled promptly.
The revised public notice dated Nov. 6 gave no reason for removing the item, according to Maken.
The original notice scheduled the hearing for 2 pm on Nov. 17 to examine enforcement, GRAP measures, protections for vulnerable people and coordination among agencies.
As of Nov. 10, the committee’s official schedule listed no air pollution hearing for Nov. 16 or 17, and no new date had been announced.
- Who
- Congress MP Ajay Maken, a member of the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs, objected to the change.
- What
- The committee dropped a planned hearing on Delhi-NCR air pollution from its agenda.
- When
- The hearing had been scheduled for Nov. 17, 2026. Maken’s letter was dated Nov. 7.
- Where
- The hearing was to be held by the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs; the location is not stated.
- Why
- The reason for removing the hearing was not stated. Maken said the air pollution crisis and related health risks required timely scrutiny.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Maken wrote to request that the committee examine air pollution.
The original public notice scheduled a Delhi-NCR air pollution hearing for Nov. 17 at 2 pm.
A revised public notice omitted the hearing and gave no reason for the change, according to Maken.
Maken wrote to the committee chairperson, objecting to the omission and requesting that the hearing be restored or rescheduled.
The official schedule listed sittings for Nov. 16–17 but no air pollution item, and no new date had been announced.
- Committee
- Parliamentary standing committee on home affairs
- Scheduled hearing
- Nov. 17, 2026, at 2 pm
- Maken’s letter
- Dated Nov. 7
- Original notice
- Issued Nov. 5
- Revised notice
- Issued Nov. 6; omitted the hearing without giving a reason, according to Maken
What people are saying
Delhi's air-pollution crisis must be treated as a public-health emergency
My concern is specifically the removal of the scheduled Nov 17 hearing at a time when these health risks demand timely scrutiny. Its omission requires an explanation and a definite date for examination,