The Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Sighvi on Monday expressed serious concern over increasing pollution in north India and in Delhi. In a statement, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said, the impenetrable haze and the intolerable smell of burning have cast a dark cloud on the festivities in Northern India, particularly in Delhi. On Sunday, a Mumbai batsman Siddhesh Lad, was seen wearing a breathing mask during a Ranji trophy fixture in Delhi. Last year in December, in a similar embarrassing instance Sri Lankan players had come out to play wearing air pollution masks.
The shadowboxing between the Modi government at the Centre and AAP government in Delhi and their combined lack of the political will to fight the ‘The Great Smog of India’ is squarely responsible for this health hazard. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who creates much hype and hoopla over Swachh Bharat Mission- is absolutely silent on the fact that Varanasi, his constituency along with Delhi, Agra, Lucknow and Kanpur are now among the most polluted cities in the world, the Congress spokesperson said.
He cited some important facts regarding the grave situation of pollution in India;
Published: undefined
Abhishek Manu Singhvi recalled that in 2013, under the Congress led government, Delhi was named as the Greenest Capital in the World. Compared to previous years, its Forest Cover had gone up by 22%. It was the Congress party which completely shifted the Public Transportation System of Delhi to ‘Greener’ CNG.
As per an international study conducted by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and E3G, Delhi’s conversion into CNG was declared as one of the top 10 policies in the world. Delhi had also received the UN Clean City Award for environment.
But the present AAP led Delhi government and the Central government were forced to take some temporary measures to check pollution levels. Subsequently, Delhi has become the most polluted mega city in just five years.
Abhishek Manu Sighvi slammed the Delhi and Central government for blaming stubble-burning by farmers for air pollution in the city and said that the stubble burning in Punjab has reduced while it has increased in BJP ruled Haryana.
Quoting some of the previous government’s environment-friendly steps, the Congress spokesperson gave some constructive suggestions to curb pollution:
Published: undefined
Follow us on: Facebook, Twitter, Google News, Instagram
Join our official telegram channel (@nationalherald) and stay updated with the latest headlines
Published: undefined