Press release - March 10, 2015
New Delhi, 10 March, 2015: With Delhi facing existential risk from rising air pollution, Greenpeace along with Centre for Occupational Environment and Health (COEH), met the Delhi Health Minister Shri Satyendra Jain on Tuesday
In the meeting with the Minister, Greenpeace and COEH submitted the blue print of the health advisory to restore the health of its citizens and particularly the children during the bad air quality days. The Health Minister Shri Satyendra Jain accepted the proposal and ensured that he will look into the aspect of health advisories for schools in Delhi.
The proposal of the health advisory highlights various aspects of pollution levels, repercussion of pollution levels along with recommendations that can be implemented on a day-to-day basis for schools as well as the general public. Advocating the urgency for a health advisory, Dr TK Joshi, Director-Centre for Environment Occupational and Health said “children are our future, their health is our priority and we should give them a safe and healthy environment with the best of our ability, otherwise their growth and development will be impacted heavily”.
Various studies show that an average day in Delhi would be considered a very bad-air day in Beijing[i]. As per the available data on PM 2.5 levels from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s monitoring stations, in 2014, Delhi had several days with poor air quality compared to that of Beijing. Also, unlike China, Delhi has no emergency action plan to tackle heavy pollution episodes. Delhi has been termed as the world’s most polluted city and there is an immediate need to put in place short term and long term deadlines to meet the safety standards for pollution similar to that of China. Recently, in the air-quality monitoring survey carried out by Greenpeace inside five prominent schools across Delhi, it was found that the PM2.5 levels were 4 times the Indian safety limits and 10 times that of the World Health Organisation’s. This has reinstated the fact that air pollution levels inside Delhi’s schools are alarmingly high and that children are consistently breathing bad air.
A recent study released by the Jawaharlal Nehru University stated very clearly to the fact that Delhi’s air is full of cancer-causing particles and that exposure to particulate matter can lead to more than 47,000 premature deaths per million population within the city[ii]. Emphasising on the immediate need for an action plan, Greenpeace Campaigner, Aishwarya Madineni said “it was heartening to get an assurance from the Health Minister that he will look into the matter seriously. The minister has also said that the Govt will be launching a campaign on air pollution soon and that he will look into the health advisory recommendations submitted. We hope that the Govt takes up the recommendations we’ve made during the meeting on empowering school authorities with information on understanding the air quality in the city and the need to implement the respective health-safety measures associated with it seriously. As research by USEPA and WHO suggests, Children are the most vulnerable section of the population and exposure to air pollution will mean decreased lung functioning and development. Hopefully we will see some action on this front from the Govt soon”.
According to the Atmospheric Pollution Research Journal, National Capital Region (NCR) faces the highest health risks from air pollution. The increasing level of PM2.5 matter is not only hazardous for children but also causing problems like rapid increase in respiratory and cardiovascular mortality. Despite hard evidences on deteriorating air quality, there have been no concrete measures towards improving the air quality in the city. However the newly formed Delhi government has emphasised in its manifesto on bringing down pollution by giving incentives for low emission fuels and investing in clean energy. With assurance from the Health Minister Mr Satyendra Jain, Greenpeace hopes that the new government will issue health advisories to schools and the citizens of Delhi on an immediate note to help secure the health of Delhi-ites and make Delhi a world class city once again.
Please find Greenpeace Petition link to :- #ToxiCity
http://toxicity.greenpeace.in/
For Further Information:
Aishwarya Madineni, Campaigner, Greenpeace; +91 8884875744
Madhulika Verma, Communication Specialist, Greenpeace; +91 9971137736