India needs ‘participative mission’ to provide clean air for all: Bhupender Yadav

Chennai: Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav “Participative mission” is the need of the hour to provide ‘Clean Air For All’ in the country.
“The air quality improvement efforts have shown positive trends in achievement of better air quality in cities across the country. But if we wish to achieve what we aspire, ‘Jan Bhagidari’ or participative governance holds the key.” the Minister said while inaugurating of Sensitization cum Review Workshop – National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in Chennai on Saturday.

In another revolutionary step, he asserted that India leapfrogged to BS-VI standard and the adoption of its norms for fuel and vehicles is one of the landmark policy decisions towards combating air pollution.

Yadav also recalled the Prime Minister’s commitment to ensure clean air to all people by improving the air quality in around 100 cities through holistic approach.
The Minister also appreciated about the Chennai, Madurai and Trichy, the 3 million plus cities’ air quality is within the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

“Under NCAP, 132 non-attainment cities have been identified across the country based on the Air Quality data from 2014-2018. The list is a heterogeneous mix of cities of all sizes and types and in southern India we have 13 such cities from Andhra Pradesh and 4 each from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Telangana”, he added.
The Minister appealed to the young population to become active agents in the mission to improve air quality by adopting sustainable lifestyles, appropriate behaviours and attitudes and become change agents of the society.

He expressed confidence that with the coordination, collaboration, participation and sustained efforts of all stakeholders, the objectives of NCAP in addressing the issue of air pollution in a comprehensive manner will be achieved.

Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister for Environment, Government of Tamil Nadu Siva and otehr senior leader were also present during the event.

The two day regional workshop organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.