7 months ago

Congress Criticizes Modi Government Over Air Pollution

Congress Criticizes Modi Government Over Air Pollution
Denial For How Long: Congress Questions Centre Amid World Bank Pollution Report · deccanchronicle.com

The Congress party is criticizing the Modi government for not taking strong enough action against air pollution.

A World Bank report says that air pollution in northern India causes about 1 million early deaths each year and costs the region a lot of money.

The report suggests strict rules for power plants, better public transport, and stronger laws to control pollution.

The Congress agrees with these ideas and wants the government to update old laws and spend more money on cleaning the air.

They are asking the government to stop ignoring the problem and take action.

Key facts

Report Title
A Breath of Change
Annual Premature Deaths
1 million
Economic Loss
10% of regional GDP
Affected Region
Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills
Congress Proposals
Review of Air Pollution Act, expansion of NCAP, stricter enforcement
World Bank Recommendations
Enforcement of emission norms, airshed-based governance, public transport expansion

Quotes

Jairam Ramesh

Congress MP and leader

“Keeping in view the deepening AQI health crisis that has become so very real in recent years, the INC has repeatedly been suggesting a review of the Air Pollution (Control and Prevention) Act of 1981 and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 2009 with focus on PM 2.5; a vast expansion of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) both in terms of financial outlays and geographic coverage with measurement of PM 2.5 levels as the yardstick for performance; a tougher and uncompromising enforcement of air pollution norms and standards without any relaxations or dilutions. How long will the Modi Govt live in denial?”
theprint.in
“The World Bank’s latest report on air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan foothills titled ‘A Breath of Change’ is comprehensive, evidence-based, and unambiguous. It is also, obviously, very timely. It highlights the fact that there are now around one million premature deaths annually in this region, which also suffers economic losses of about 10 per cent of regional GDP every year.”
theprint.in

Sources

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