New Delhi : Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari flagged the perennial pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR during an event, saying he gets allergies because of the same. The 68-year-old minister and veteran BJP leader was speaking at the book launch of veteran journalist and former central information commissioner Uday Mahurkar in Delhi.
In his remarks, he also confessed that transportation contributes 40 per cent to pollution in Delhi and its adjoining regions. “I am the transport minister and 40 per cent of pollution happens because of transport itself,” he said. Gadkari stressed the immediate need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and adopting alternatives that contribute significantly less pollution. Why can’t we promote electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles, which can lead to zero pollution?” the Transport Minister asked, noting that India spends around Rs 22 lakh annually on fossil fuels.
Nitin Gadkari’s remarks come as Delhi’s air quality deteriorated significantly on Tuesday, entering the severe category again. The capital was the second-most polluted city in India with a 24-hour AQI of 412. Noida, part of the National Capital Region, was the most polluted city in India on Tuesday with an average AQI of 426.
The situation improved marginally with the AQI becoming very poor on Wednesday morning. It has been forecast for the AQI to stay in the very poor category over the next six days.This is, meanwhile, not the first time that Gadkari – known for his outspoken personality – flagged Delhi pollution. In response to the alarming pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked all measures under GRAP Stage-IV across Delhi-NCR.
As part of emergency steps, truck-mounted water sprinklers were deployed to suppress dust and curb particulate pollution. The opposition has been demanding a discussion on pollution in Parliament. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised the matter during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, demanding a structured debate on air pollution. Calling it a “national health emergency”, he urged the government to discuss concrete measures to tackle the crisis.
However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, accused the opposition of “stalling” the debate in Parliament on air pollution. Rijiju said the government was fully ready for the discussion, but the “Congress encouraged others to stage protests” in the Well of the House over the VB-G RAM G bill.
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