Congress Criticizes Centre Over Ignored Air Quality Crisis

Congress has criticized the central government for denying the severity of India's air quality crisis. Jairam Ramesh highlighted the misuse and underfunding of pollution mitigation programs, noting unspent funds and policy inefficiencies. Furthermore, discrepancies in official statements about pollution-related health impacts were exposed.

On Thursday, the Congress launched a scathing attack on the central government over the worsening air quality issue, alleging that the current administration continues to deny its severity. The party criticized the government's failure to fully fund and utilize resources allocated for pollution mitigation.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary in-charge of communications, condemned the government's response to the air quality crisis. He pointed out that the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had left more than 75 percent of allocated Environment Protection Charge (EPC) and Environmental Compensation (EC) funds unspent, summing up to Rs 665.75 crores over the last five years.

Ramesh also countered a recent statement by a Union Minister of State in the Rajya Sabha, who claimed the lack of conclusive data connecting air pollution to health issues. He referred to a Lancet study showing 7.2% of deaths in India linked to air pollution and criticized the National Clean Air Programme's ineffective focus on road dust over more harmful emissions. The opposition party stated this as another example of the government's mishandling and denial of the air quality crisis.

(With inputs from agencies.)