New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS): Delhi is exposed to a "very high risk" due to "severe" level of air pollution, environmentalist Sunita Narain said here Friday, calling on the Arvind Kejriwal-led government to treat the problem in earnest.
"Delhi is exposed to very high risk and the Delhi government should treat the problem seriously in depth," Narain told the media.
Releasing the results of an analysis conducted by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) here, Narain said: "As the overall air quality of Delhi worsens, our exposure to toxic air increases several-fold.
"The new Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government has taken on the reigns in Delhi; we expect it to now lay down the priority action to control air pollution and protect public health in the city."
The study indicates that the common citizen is exposed to "very high pollution-level in all transport modes, especially the open modes like autorickshaws, walking and cycling being at the highest exposure".
The average levels recorded by the CSE's pollution monitoring device were two to four times higher than the background levels reported by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
Anumitra Roy Chowdhury of the CSE said the Delhi government should have emergency policies in place for city reeled under the "worst winter this year".
"Based on the DPCC data between October 2014 and January 2015, Delhi has had 12 clusters of three consecutive days in each that saw severe levels of pollution at particulate matter 2.5."
Chowdhury said, 65 percent of the days had pollution-level in that category in the December alone.
Impressing upon the need for immediate measures, the CSE called on the AAP government to mount pressure on the government at the Centre that could introduce Euro IV emission standards across north India by the end of 2015 and roll out Euro V nationwide by 2017.
It recommended scaling up the fleet of public buses in Delhi as a measure to encourage public transport while enforcing strict parking laws to discourage use of private vehicles.
Implement the Air Quality Index with health advisories and pollution emergency measures as well as tighten pollution under check (PUC) testing method and compliance.
It sought to make PUC certificate conditional requirement for obtaining annual insurance for vehicles.