Delhi Government has joined hands with OP Jindal Global University (JGU) to deal with the pollution in the national Capital.
Speaking at the seminar "Air Pollution in Delhi NCR: What can be done?", organised by OP Jindal
Global University (JGU) on Saturday, Delhi Chief Secretary Vijay Kumar Dev said there was a need for joint efforts by the Government and citizens and suggested a two-pronged strategy to deal with the problem.
He said the strategy includes fixing accountability of field level staff responsible for combating pollution along with convergence of efforts made by various stakeholders from the policy making to implementation level.
"We have developed so much that Delhi is hardly livable. Indices of Particulate Matter (PM) are our severest concern," he said.
He also emphasised that community groups and resident welfare associations (RWAs) should be empowered and made partners in enforcement of law and standards and "harsh measures" must be taken wherever required.
Expressing serious concern over the ill effects of air pollution which, he said, the high pollution level can reduce life span by 10 years, JGU founding Chancellor Naveen Jindal said the seminar was organised with the aim to find practical solution to this problem.
"This is not the responsibility of the Government alone. Every citizen must play his or her role to curb pollution.
The purpose of this consultation is to bring together all stakeholders with a view to develop a clear understanding and implementable set of measures to tackle air pollution in Delhi," said Jindal.
Addressing the gathering at the session, C Raj Kumar, founding Vice-Chancellor of JGU, said examples can be drawn from across the world to tackle the crisis of air pollution in Delhi.
"We need an informed understanding of air pollution and its problems to arrive at solutions. Many cities in South Korea, China and the
USA have set amazing examples to curb this menace and it's our turn now to make Delhi pollution free.
We really wish to be a society that respects the environment.
The first and foremost step that we have to take is to change the way of life and develop the essence of collective consciousness so that people become much more environmentally sensitive," he said.
Dr Bhure Lal, chairman of Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority said a cultural change is needed to deal with the issue.
He said though laws were passed and hefty fines were imposed on stubble burning, the farmers burnt it.
"There is a need for an efficient public transport policy and that the number of buses must be increased and public transport promoted. Cars must be disgraced," said Lal.
