Rahul Gandhi: Time to leave politics on air pollution and find collective solutions

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Rahul Gandhi: Time to leave politics on air pollution and find collective solutions

23-Nov-2024 560

Rahul Gandhi along with environmentalist Vimlendu Jha, discuss the current air pollution crisis and the various reasons it has exacerbated.

Urging the entire nation to act collectively, Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi called the air pollution situation a “national emergency” on Friday. Asserting all Members of Parliament to come together and discuss the air pollution crisis without any political blame game, the Congress leader, in an interview with environmentalist Vimlendu Jha, said, “The poorest among us suffer the most, unable to escape the toxic air that surrounds them. Families are gasping for clean air, children are falling sick and millions of lives are being cut short. Tourism is declining and our global reputation is crumbling.”

In his post along with the video, the Congress leader said air pollution in North India is a national emergency — a public health crisis that is stealing our children’s future and suffocating the elderly, and an environmental and economic disaster that is ruining countless lives.

The cloud of pollution covers hundreds of kilometres. Cleaning it up will need major changes and decisive action — from governments, companies, experts and citizens. We need a collective national response, not political blame games,” he added.

Standing in front of the India Gate, Gandhi said he is himself experiencing breathing issues and itchy eyes. With the Parliament’s Winter session around the corner, MPs “will all be reminded of the crisis by our irritated eyes and sore throats”, Gandhi said. “The current AQI was at 396, which is under “very poor ” to “severe ” category of air quality”, says Jha while beginning the conversation.

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In the video posted on X, the Congress leader asks about the contributors of the air pollution crisis who responds by saying that there are both episodic sources and perennial sources that act together. While stubble burning and firecrackers are episodic sources, vehicular emissions that contribute to 50 per cent of the polluted air in Delhi is a perennial source. “The average life expectancy of a Delhiite is reduced by 10-12 years,” Jha says in the video.

Jha highlights that stubble burning is an issue but only for three weeks and disproportionate blame should not be levied on them and that there is a need to provide the farmers with incentives. He further says, “Construction and demolition dust is the other 30 per cent of the contributors.”

The environmentalist, in conversation with Gandhi, calls for bringing about lifestyle changes to deal with the air pollution crisis. “ The air-quality monitors in Indian cities often don’t work, and when they work, they show outdated readings,” Jha mentions. “The damage due to air pollution is a year long problem but people only realise it for a month,” Gandhi adds.(Agency)