Congress slams govt over 'unchecked air pollution'

Expressing concern over “unchecked air pollution”, the Congress alleged on Thursday that the Narendra Modi government has launched an “all-out war” on India’s environmental protection norms and prioritised the “profits of the PM’s friends” over the health of people.

Congress general secretary, in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh said a new study published in the prestigious global medical journal, “The Lancet Planetary Health”, shows how bad this crisis is, with 7.2 per cent of all deaths in India associated with air pollution –“ about 34,000 deaths each year in just 10 cities.

“Unchecked air pollution is killing tens of thousands of Indians every year,” Ramesh said in a statement.