Saturday, 23 November 2024
Saturday, 23 November 2024
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Friday called north India’s air pollution a national emergency that needs a collective response and not “political blame games”.
In a video posted on his social media handle, the Congress leader said what most Delhiites have been saying – that he has been facing eye burning and breathing issues and how the last week in Delhi has been terrible.
“I tell my mother [Sonia Gandhi] to leave town this month.” Rahul says in the video.
The video, where Rahul Gandhi discusses Delhi’s air pollution with environmentalist Vimalendu Jha, starts from Delhi’s India Gate at 6am.
Jha explains to Gandhi that the sources of air pollution in Delhi are episodic and perennial. Episodic sources are firecrackers and stubble burning, which affect the month of November.
“50 per cent of Delhi’s pollution source is vehicular. Construction-related roadside dust is another 30 per cent,” Jha explains to Gandhi.
The Supreme Court on Friday questioned the Delhi government over the entry of trucks in the national capital, reeling under severe air pollution.
“We need to pause certain developmental activities. There needs to be will and urgency,” Jha offers as the solution to Rahul, citing examples of Beijing and London on how they adopted public transportation to cut down on vehicular pollution.
“We will have to move all our coal power plants.”
Rahul Gandhi also asks Jha how responsible farmers are for the pollution. Jha says stubble is a source of pollution – to the tune of 25 per cent for 3 weeks.
Posting the video on X, Rahul said: “Air pollution in North India is a national emergency—a public health crisis that is stealing our children’s future and suffocating the elderly, and an environmental and economic disaster that is ruining countless lives. The poorest among us suffer the most, unable to escape the toxic air that surrounds them. Families are gasping for clean air, children are falling sick, and millions of lives are being cut short. Tourism is declining and our global reputation is crumbling.”
The Congress leader also said cleaning it up needs decisive action – from governments, companies, experts and citizens – with “no political blame games”.
Gandhi reminded that Parliament will convene in a few days for the Winter session and MPs will “all be reminded of the crisis by our irritated eyes and sore throats”.
Indicating he may raise the issue in the House, Rahul said: “It is our responsibility to come together and discuss how India can end this crisis once and for all.”
The Telegraph Online on Thursday spoke with a dozen residents of the National Capital Region who said that the toxic air has not only led to physical health problems but also to newer challenges such as mental health issues, loss of business and affecting savings of middle-class families.
They all wanted the government to take further and stricter actions.
There was no respite for Delhiites on Friday as the AQI level remained poor to severe in several areas of the NCR.
