*air Quality Concerns Dominate Lok Sabha As Chandigarh Mp Manish Tewari Demands Clear Govt Plan*

Taking up the crucial issue of the Air Quality and Government Strategy to Prevent Air Pollution in Lok Sabha, Chandigarh MP Manish Tewai, asked the Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupinder Yadav, about the reasons for the failure to prevent the Air Quality Index in National Capital.

In his query, listed as question number 137, Tewari had pointed out that the region remained at severe levels-around 400 or above for nearly three consecutive months-despite the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and the specific lapses identified in its implementation or enforcement. He has also asked the Minister to comment on the current status of the national and major city-wise levels of PM 2.5, PM 10 and key pollutants and extent to which these exceed national standards and WHO Guidelines.

Tewari emphasised that it is important to tell the people of the nation that whether the Government has examined successful international air-quality models, including Beijing’s measures such as coal phase-outs, low-emission zones and strict compliance mechanisms, for applicability to India.

“The measures proposed to be adopted or scaled up in the country to ensure that vulnerable groups are not disproportionately burdened and whether a review of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act has been planned and if so, whether it is likely to include a time-bound, city-wise action plan with independent monitoring and public disclosure”, questioned Tewari.

The Minister’s reply, though lengthy and packed with references to National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), statutory powers, committees and meetings, reads more like a catalogue of existing measures and achievements than a direct response to the failures Tewari highlighted. It emphasizes improved AQI averages and the machinery of laws and committees but sidesteps the core issue of enforcement lapses and whether India is willing to adopt stricter, globally proven interventions.