Greenpeace urges govt to speed up rolling out Clean Air Programme

New Delhi: With a massive haze of dust enveloping Delhi and the pollution levels dropping to "severe" category, a green body has urged the Union Environment Ministry to speed up rolling out its National Clean Air Programme, which proposes multiple strategies to combat air pollution.

Greenpeace India said air pollution is a "silent and invisible killer" and a national health emergency, asserting that big polluters must be held accountable for the menace.

The air pollution situation in Delhi remained "severe" for the fifth day on Saturday, but authorities expressed hope that the air quality would improve after pollutants begin to disperse.The pollution level had dipped to "severe plus" category at on one point on Saturday but the situation was gradually improving, the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research institute (SAFAR) said. "Air pollution is prevalent all year round and throughout the country and not just limited to Delhi. The environment ministry must speed up its pace on rolling out the National Clean Air Programme," Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner, climate and energy, Greenpeace India, said.

"Air pollution is a national public health emergency and the big polluters must be held accountable for the menace," he said. The environment ministry has prepared the draft NCAP with an overall objective of a comprehensive management plan for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, and augment the air quality monitoring network across the country.