Two days here and I get allergies: Gadkari says 40% of Delhis pollution is because of transport sector
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari urged people to drastically cut fossil fuel dependence, promoting electric and hydrogen vehicles as zero-pollution alternatives. Gadkari emphasised immediate action to combat the alarming AQI and reduce import costs, underscoring the shift to cleaner energy.
New Delhi: Delhi’s air pollution levels continue to deteriorate, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) rises alarmingly. Amid the pollution crisis, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said he gets allergies because of the toxic air. "I live here for two days, (and) I get allergies because of this pollution," he pointed out. Gadkari also said that the transport sector accounts for 40% of Delhi’s pollution.
The 68-year-old minister and senior BJP leader made these remarks while addressing the book launch of veteran journalist and former Central Information Commissioner Uday Mahurkar in Delhi.
'40% of pollution happens because of transport'
During the address, he also said transportation was behind 40% of the pollution in Delhi and its adjoining regions. "I am the transport minister and 40% of pollution happens because of transport itself," he underlined.
Gadkari also hit out at India’s heavy reliance on fossil fuels. He stated that there was an immediate need to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and adopt cleaner alternatives that generate markedly less pollution.
'What kind of patriotism is this?'
He asked: "Can’t we cut our use of fossil fuels? What kind of patriotism is this? Fossil fuels are limited and pollution is rising. Why can’t we promote electric vehicles and hydrogen-powered vehicles, which can lead to zero pollution?” The transport minister added that India spends almost Rs 22 lakh crore every year on the import of fossil fuels.
Gadkari also highlighted his eco-friendly flex-fuel vehicle, which runs entirely on ethanol, underscoring its potential to check pollution and lessen the dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Gadkari’s remarks come amid a steep deterioration in Delhi’s air quality. Around 8 am on Tuesday, the AQI stood at a whopping 413, badly affecting visibility and public health. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board has indicated that air quality across several parts of the NCR has plunged into the ‘severe’ category.
On Wednesday morning, the situation improved a little with the AQI becoming 'very poor'. The AQI is predicated to remain in the ‘very poor’ category over the next six days.
In December last year, when Gadkari was touring the smog-hit Capital, he had said he is generally reluctant to visit Delhi. He had remarked: "Every time, while coming to Delhi, I think whether I should go or not. The pollution is just terrible (bhayankar)."