Lok Sabha may hold debate on air pollution amid rising concerns

New Delhi: Amid growing concerns from MPs about the hazardous air pollution in many parts of the country, especially in the National Capital Region (NCR), Speaker Om Birla is holding talks with the government and Opposition about the possibility of the Lok Sabha conducting a detailed discussion on the issue next week, sources said.

Many MPs, including leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, had sought such a discussion at the beginning of the session. Congress whip Manickam Tagore on Thursday raised the matter in the LS, saying a "health emergency is putting millions of Indians at risk every single day" and pointed out that "Delhi-NCR is breathing toxic hazardous air, children are missing school, workers cannot stand outdoors and hospitals are overflowing with respiratory and cardiac cases".

Accusing the central and Delhi governments of having failed to come out with "a clean air plan" and fixing no accountability, Tagore demanded specific measures; an immediate Beijing-style clean air emergency plan, mandatory FGD installation in all thermal power plants within 12 months, 50% electrification of NCR public buses in two years, real industrial inspections with shutdown of violators, 24x7 dust monitoring with strict penalties for violations, a Central NCR Clean Air War Room and a national clean air roadmap with measurable targets and an independent compliance authority.


"We see just cosmetic gimmicks. Instead of working hard to reduce pollution, the government is working hard to manipulate AQI numbers by spraying water near monitoring stations. Please wake up. Spraying water around sensors will not save our children's lungs. Managing the numbers is not the same as managing pollution. Year after year the same excuses are repeated, about weather, wind, farmers, neighbouring states. Everyone is blamed except those responsible for enforcement," Tagore said.