Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal asks babus for offbeat ideas to tackle air pollution

NEW DELHI: In his first review meeting with the environment and forests department, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal dismissed all other issues, choosing to discuss only the rising levels of air pollution in the city.

Even before bureaucrats could run him through presentations on various issues, the CM asked if the department could offer any immediate solutions to tackle the problem of air pollution.

Kejriwal asked bureaucrats to skip presentations on other issues and move directly to air pollution. He asked for "offbeat" solutions that could be implemented.

Environment department officials answered that they are awaiting a report by IIT Kanpur due in September, on the sources of air pollution in Delhi. Kejriwal was unsatisfied with their response. Some officials were taken aback. "We don't know if there can be any offbeat solutions to air pollution", one of them said.

In 2014, World Health Organization's urban air quality index showed Delhi with the highest PM 2.5 (fine, respirable particles). High PM2.5 pollution is linked to cardiac and respiratory conditions.

On Saturday, a joint study by universities of Chicago, Yale and Harvard found that half of India's population may be losing up to three years' lifespan because of bad air.

Meanwhile, Centre has also asked for a meeting with the department on tackling air pollution next week.