The Congress on Sunday cited a World Bank report on air pollution, which states that around one million premature deaths occur annually in the Indo-Gangetic plains and Himalayan foothills, to question how long the Narendra Modi government would continue in “denial”.
Congress general secretary (communications) and former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh said his party has repeatedly suggested several measures in response to the deepening AQI-induced health crisis, including tougher enforcement of air pollution norms and standards without any relaxation.
“The World Bank's latest report on air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan foothills, titled ‘A Breath of Change’, is comprehensive, evidence-based, and unambiguous.
“It is also, obviously, very timely. It highlights the fact that there are now around 1 million premature deaths annually in this region, which also suffers economic losses of about 10 per cent of regional GDP every year,” he said in a post on X.
Ramesh highlighted the report’s recommended actions, which include enforcement of coal power plant emission norms and accelerated retirement of the oldest units, a shift from city-centric plans to legally empowered airshed-based governance that cuts across states, expansion and electrification of public transport, and tightening vehicle emission and fuel standards.
“Keeping in view the deepening AQI health crisis that has become so very real in recent years, the INC (Congress) has repeatedly been suggesting a review of the Air Pollution (Control and Prevention) Act of 1981 and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 2009, with a focus on PM 2.5,” Ramesh said.
Also read: 44% of Indian cities facing chronic air pollution: Report
He also stated that the Congress has suggested a vast expansion of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), both in terms of financial outlays and geographic coverage, with measurement of PM 2.5 levels as the yardstick for performance.
“Keeping in view the deepening AQI health crisis that has become so very real in recent years, the INC (Congress) has repeatedly been suggesting a review of the Air Pollution (Control and Prevention) Act of 1981 and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 2009, with a focus on PM 2.5. We have also suggested a tougher and uncompromising enforcement of air pollution norms and standards without any relaxations or dilutions,” he said.
“How long will the Modi government live in denial?” Ramesh asked.
The World Bank report notes that air pollution across the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Himalayan foothills is among the most pressing health and development challenges in South Asia. Nearly one billion people are exposed to hazardous air every day, resulting in around one million premature deaths annually and shortening average life expectancy by more than three years.
“The economic cost is immense, with an estimated 10 per cent of regional GDP lost to reduced productivity, illness, and related damages,” the report added.
Ramesh’s remarks come amid rising air pollution in the national capital, where high AQI levels have raised public health concerns.
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