Press release - March 20, 2018
New Delhi 20th March 2018| On Tuesday, environmental activists from different social background held a protest outside Badarpur power plant which has been shut down multiple times due to pollution issue and has become symbol of fight against air pollution. The protest was for reminding the MoEF&CC for an immediate enforcement of the National Clean Air Program by making it public and putting sector wise plan to achieve 35% emission reduction in three years in public domain.
The activists urged to “Break free from Coal, Clean Air Now” highlighting stationary sources like power plants which are one of the largest and easiest source to tackle provided there is a will.
Meanwhile, in the financial capital, Mumbai, a group of climbers also environmental enthusiasts have pinned a huge banner to the Vashi Bridge demanding “Mumbai Clean Air Now!”.
Ritesh Dwivedi, Activist said “We have allowed ourselves enough to become the victim of air pollution, something that is easily mitigated by taking concrete and right steps. We are here because we had enough and now we need to see change. That change is only possible if government's actions towards solving the issue is discussed on public platforms first so that we know where are we heading. We are standing here for solidarity to millions like us suffering of an unseen monster called air pollution”
Greenpeace India Airpocalypse II report highlighted that more than 80% of cities in the country where air quality is monitored are severely polluted and it impacts 47 million children across the country. Also, 580 millions people in India don't even have a single air quality monitoring stations in districts they are living.
The fact that NCAP is not even available in the public domain raises concerns on how the government is going to make the NCAP a truly participatory initiative.
Further talking about the twin cities silent protests Sunil Dahiya, Senior Campaigner, Greenpeace India said “we want to send a strong message that people of this country are determined to fight against air pollution and reclaim their Right to Life, we cannot allow the interests of polluting power companies take our life and health for a ride. The fact that the current NCAP has hardly any mention on how big polluters should reduce their emissions shows that the government is still not serious about pig polluters like coal fired power plants. The government should make NCAP immediate available to public and have clear targets for reducing pollution from big polluters like power plants and industries.”
Link to photographs: (Delhi & Mumbai) http://media.greenpeace.org/collection/27MZIFJXMY6VY
For further details-
Avinash Kumar; Senior Communication Specialist;
Greenpeace India; 
; 8882153664
Madhulika Verma; Senior Media Specialist;
Greenpeace India; 
9971137736
Sunil Dahiya; Senior Campaigner,
Greenpeace India; 
; 9013673250