Delhi's Air Quality was Worsening Since 2007; UPA Did Little to Improve It: Javdekar

Air in Delhi is the most polluted in the world, revealed a report by the World Health organization (WHO). Similarly, a study conducted in Delhi by the Central Pollution Control Board and Kolkata-based Chittaranjan National Cancer Research Center suggested that every third child in Delhi had reduced lung function due to air pollution. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javdekar on Monday, June 8, 2015, blamed the erstwhile UPA government for not doing much to improve the national capital’s air quality, which started deteriorating in 2007. While listing achievements of the environment, forest and climate change ministry in the past one year, Javdekar said, "It’s not that the pollution has risen suddenly as Delhi’s air quality had been worsening since 2007. The previous government did little to improve things. However, we have taken a lot of measures in the last one year. Construction of the crucial ring road bypass that will prevent unwanted traffic into Delhi has begun and within the next two years, vehicles that are not destined for Delhi will not enter the city. Delhi Traffic Police too is working out ways to restrict the entry of overloaded trucks into the capital."

Moreover, the minister said that pollution and dust from nearby states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Punjab also contributed in a major way in Delhi’s poor air quality. He said, "The pollution from industries in Ghaziabad, dust from Rajasthan, they all contribute to Delhi’s air pollution. We have adopted a multi-stakeholder approach, and have including all neighboring states to improve Delhi."

Source-IANS