more-inIn a strange move that is unlikely to impress anyone concerned over the worsening air quality in our cities, the government has refrained from specifying pollution-reduction targets in its draft National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The Ministry submitted in the court that it was taking steps to address air pollution not only in Delhi but in around 100 cities. “We will strengthen the National Clean Air Programme in around 100 non-attainment cities where parameters (of air quality) are not right and require attention. Environment activists said the omission of targets was surprising given that they were deliberated upon in ministerial discussions last year when the NCAP was being gestated. “A September 2017 meeting involving the Minister and senior officials clearly mentioned targets, as we discovered through a Right To Information (RTI) request,” said Sunil Dahiya, senior campaigner, Greenpeace India.

Source: The Hindu April 18, 2018 19:09 UTC