Following the publication of the 2023 World Air Quality Report, Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena penned a letter to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, urging his attention to the report’s portrayal of the concerning air quality situation in the national capital.
“It raises a red flag over the abnormally high PM 2.5 levels, two-fifths of which is attributable to vehicular emission. I am sure that you are aware that prolonged exposure to particulate matter of this dimension leads to premature deaths in people, triggers lung disease, leads to a host of respiratory diseases,” the Delhi L-G pointed out.
In his letter, L-G Saxena emphasized that there are frequent reports of rising hospital admissions in the city, particularly among children and the elderly, who are experiencing the most severe respiratory issues.
Describing it as a “public health emergency,” the L-G stressed that this violates the fundamental natural right of the people of Delhi.
The L-G also stated that Chief Minister Kejriwal must shoulder responsibility and implement decisive actions and bold measures.
“Your ministers obfuscate the issue by engaging in a farcical exercise of emergency measures, lip service and media byte,” he lashed out.
Citing global examples the L-G said, “The Great Smog of London and the grey skies of Beijing got cleaned up with the determined leadership.”
Addressing the same issue, Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, “The pollution levels in the national capital have been decreasing consistently. From 2015 till 2023, there has been a decrease in levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5. After 2015, last year we had 206 days of better air quality.”
At the same time, the initiative to sprinkle water was implemented in the national capital as a measure to mitigate air pollution.