4 months ago
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The Congress connected Sunday (January 18, 2026) cited a World Bank study connected aerial contamination that says astir 1 cardinal premature deaths hap successful the Indo-Gangetic plains and Himalayan foothills annually to inquire however agelong the Narendra Modi authorities would unrecorded successful "denial".
Congress wide secretary, communications, and erstwhile Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said his enactment has been suggesting respective measures successful presumption of the deepening AQI-induced wellness crisis, including tougher and uncompromising enforcement of aerial contamination norms and standards without immoderate relaxation.
"The World Bank's latest study connected aerial contamination successful the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan foothills, titled 'A Breath of Change', is comprehensive, evidence-based, and unambiguous.”
"It is also, obviously, precise timely. It highlights the information that determination are present astir 1 cardinal premature deaths annually successful this region, which besides suffers economical losses of astir 10 per cent of determination GDP each year," helium said successful a station connected X.
Mr. Ramesh said the study spells retired what indispensable beryllium done, which includes, among different things, enforcement of ember powerfulness works emanation norms and accelerated status of the oldest units, displacement from city-centric plans to legally empowered airshed-based governance that cuts crossed states, and enlargement and electrification of nationalist transport and tightening of conveyance emanation and substance standards.
"Keeping successful presumption the deepening AQI wellness situation that has go truthful precise existent successful caller years, the INC (Congress) has repeatedly been suggesting a reappraisal of the Air Pollution (Control and Prevention) Act of 1981 and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 2009, with a absorption connected PM 2.5," Mr. Ramesh said.
The erstwhile Environment Minister besides said the Congress has suggested a immense enlargement of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), some successful presumption of fiscal outlays and geographic coverage, with measurement of PM 2.5 levels arsenic the yardstick for performance.
It has besides suggested a tougher and uncompromising enforcement of aerial contamination norms and standards without immoderate relaxations oregon dilutions, helium noted. "How agelong volition the Modi authorities unrecorded successful denial?" Mr. Ramesh asked.
The World Bank study says that aerial contamination crossed the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan Foothills is 1 of the astir pressing wellness and improvement challenges successful South Asia.
"Nearly 1 cardinal radical are exposed to hazardous aerial each day, starring to astir 1 cardinal premature deaths annually and shortening mean beingness expectancy by much than 3 years.”
"The economical outgo is immense, with an estimated 10% of determination GDP mislaid to reduced productivity, illness, and related damages," it flagged.
The Congress leader's remarks travel successful the aftermath of rising aerial contamination successful the nationalist capital, with precocious AQI levels that person fixed emergence to wellness concerns.
