The Chinese capital, Beijing, has long been notorious for its "pollution problem", so to speak. From marathon runners wearing smog masks to prevent respiratory diseases to the recent banning of a documentary ["Under The Dome"] highlighting the impact of Chinese air on the residents, Beijing's appalling air quality has made headlines.

As a result, Chinese authorities have adopted a range of measures, both to reduce air pollution and to protect the residents from its effects.

But Delhi, even after being declared the most polluted city in the world, does not have the same amount of media coverage, awareness, or pollution-control laws.

A study declared that for every 10 μg/m3 increase in the pollutant PM2.5, a 36% increase in the rate of lung cancer was observed.

Delhi's average PM2.5 levels for 2014 were a whopping 142.9, which is more than 1.5 times the Beijing average, and 13 times the World Health Organization recommendation.

This places Delhi residents at a significantly larger chance of developing lung cancer, asthma, and a large number of other diseases. This level of particulate matter in the Beijing air would be a cause of immense concern.

The recent NGT orders of halting construction and banning old vehicles are a welcome breath of fresh air, but they do not address the root of the problem, which is the rampant use of personal vehicles, and lax vehicular emission standards.

We request the government of Delhi to introduce reforms in the public transport system, making last-mile connectivity and flexibility a priority. Public transport reforms should also introduce more transport running on cleaner fuels. We also request action on the vehicular emission guidelines - which are currently unable to significantly decrease pollution - by introducing stricter limits for emissions, faster and more widespread implementation and specifying limits for Carbon Dioxide emission.

Again, Delhi residents brave pollution that is 3.5x the Indian norms and 1.5x the Beijing levels, which is well-known for its pollution.

At a stage when pollution related deaths have increased two-fold since 1991, we need prompt targeted action to protect the health of the more than one crore citizens of Delhi.

 

Please sign and share this petition to demonstrate your support for the formulation of stricter laws and more practical policies to lessen the incredibly high level of pollution in Delhi air.