NEW DELHI: With a massive haze of dust enveloping Delhi and the pollution levels dropping to “severe” category, a green body has urged the Environment Ministry to speed up rolling out its National Clean Air Program, which proposes multiple strategies to combat air pollution.
Greenpeace India said air pollution is a “silent and invisible killer” and a national health emergency, asserting that big polluters must be held accountable for the menace.
“Air pollution is prevalent all year round and throughout the country and not just limited to Delhi. The environment ministry must speed up its pace on rolling out the National Clean Air Program,” Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner, climate and energy, Greenpeace India, told PTI.
“Air pollution is a national public health emergency and the big polluters must be held accountable for the menace,” he said.
The environment ministry has prepared the draft NCAP with an overall objective of a comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, and augment the air quality monitoring network across the country.
Various green groups have submitted their recommendations to the ministry on the draft.
He rued that any serious conversation about pollution begins only after people experience hazy days.
“The haze in north India has become visible now because of dust-laden winds blowing from areas in Rajasthan. But air pollution in north India is omnipresent,” he stressed. PTI
