The air quality of Delhi saw an improvement during the first half of this year compared to the same period last year, said Union Minister of Environment Harsh Vardhan.
The air quality index data of Delhi for the period of January-June during 2016 and 2017 shows that there were no days with severe level of air pollution in 2017, Mr. Vardhan told the Rajya Sabha on Monday. There were nine such days last year, he added.
“Moderate days have gone up from 29 days in 2016 to 56 days in 2017. Very poor days have reduced from 52 in 2016 to 36 during 2017,” he said. Responding to concerns raised over pollution, the Minister said the government was working towards creating a voluntary movement to tackle the problem.
Creating a movement
“We are preparing a list of good deeds that people can take up to curb pollution,” the Minister said. He added that the effort of any person doing at least one good task that helps curb pollution would be encouraged.
The Minister said that while people cannot be forced to take to cycling or other practices, healthy activities can be encouraged. The government will try to create a movement, he said.
He also said that the country’s efforts to fight pollution and climate change were being appreciated globally.