The World Health Organisation urban air quality database released last week rang an alarming bell on Delhi’s high air pollution levels. This prompted Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung to form a high-power committee to look into pollution levels in the city.
In a public statement, Najeeb Jung expressed his concern over growing pollution levels in the national capital and said that “it is our moral responsibility to provide a healthy environment to our citizens. If we have to ensure health of our cities, we will have to take stern steps against pollution and polluting units."
Air pollution in Delhi
According to the report air in Delhi is dirtiest in the world. It says that the national capital had the highest concentration of PM2.5 (particulate matters less than 2.5 microns), considered to be most serious.
The committee formed by Najeeb Jung will examine all aspects of pollution and its causes including the ever increasing number of vehicles and pollution in the Yamuna River due to industrial and sewage discharges. The committee has been asked to submit a report within a month and take required steps to check pollution. The committee is also expected to devise both long term and short term measures with viable solutions to tackle this serious issue.
Pollution in Yamuna River
The extent of pollution of the Yamuna River is so shocking that it now has a thick layer of foam covering it completely. Yamuna quite often is described as a 'dead river' since pollution in the river has surpassed levels for fish or other marine life to survive.
As per mandate, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee has begun its work and 112 stainless steel picking units in Wazirpur industrial area received notices for illegally discharging untreated toxic wastes into the Yamuna.
Taking cue from the success story of Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad after Narendra Modi took reins of Gujarat, activists and environmentalists are looking up to Bharatiya Janata Party's prime ministerial candidate to clean up Yamuna.
As told to media, Anumita Roychowdhury, head of clean air programme at Centre for Science and Environment believes that Delhi should upgrade the present monitoring system and issue health alerts. An effective public transport strategy by integrating Metro, bus, walking and cycling and increasing the frequency of buses could help to a large extent.
picture courtesy- Daniel Berehulak
