#SaalBhar60: Delhiites seek policies to ensure air remains clean post lockdown

"The lockdown has shown that Delhi can achieve blue skies but clean air should not come at the cost of a pandemic,” said Navdha Malhotra, Campaigns Director, Help Delhi Breathe.

“We have the technology and the policies in Delhi to make sustained blue skies a reality- we need action and political will to accelerate their implementation on the ground. #SaalBhar60 movement manifests the greater appreciation that people have for their environment now,” she said.

According to a release issued during the campaign, Delhi is known for being one of the most polluted cities and has been listed among the 122 non-attainment cities across India (that don't meet the National Ambient Air Quality Standards) under the National Clean Air Programme by the CPCB and have been asked to reduce air pollution by 20-30 per cent.

Meanwhile, studies from Harvard and Italy have shown a significantly higher number of COVID-19 cases and mortality in areas with high air pollution, according to the release.

Demands by the campaign include measures to ensure that the PM 2.5 levels in cities are 60 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m3), which is the safe limit (for 24 hours) prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB); this will ensure a safe and healthy environment as well as also boost the fight against Covid-19 post the lockdown.

Said Dr Arvind Kumar, lung surgeon at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, and Founder & Managing Trustee, Lung Care Foundation, “We must aim for clean air for all. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that we too can have clean air and also how bad air can affect our health, increasing our vulnerability to diseases. High levels of air pollution across Indian cities pose a major threat to the wellbeing of our children.”

According to the release, it is expected that air pollution levels across Delhi will see a surge once the lockdown is fully lifted.
Sarath Guttikunda, Director of Urban Emissions (India) an independent research group on air pollution said, “We know the air pollution sources and now, we have to take that extra step to make these sources clean. Achieving #SaalBhar60 is very much in our hands, it’s hard work but very much possible.”

He said it is necessary to clean every source- transport, industry, waste, cooking, heating, lighting, and roads.

According to Urban Emissions, during the lockdown, Delhi witnessed a dip in levels of major pollutants like Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), PM10 and even PM 2.5, which is considered as one of the most dangerous pollutants due to its small size and the health impact as it’s known to easily enter lungs and trigger respiratory illnesses.

The campaign was launched through a video released by Jhatkaa.org, featuring Haridwar based 12-year old climate activist Ridhima Pandey on May 23, asking everyone to share their images holding a placard demanding ‘Clean Air for All’ and #SaalBhar60 on social media.

The campaign was supported by Jhatkaa.org, Waatavaran Foundation, Lungcare Foundation along with Youth ki Awaaz, Let Me Breathe, Fridays For Future, Let India Breathe, Greenpeace India, Help Delhi Breathe, My Right To Breathe, Kolkata Clean Air forum, Mumbai's Aarey Conservation Group, Awaaz Foundation, etc.