look news india
It is pathetic and worrying to see that the entire government machinery has failed miserably to deal with the air pollution prevalent in Delhi and a large part of the country. What is even more worrying is that efforts are being made to hide this failure. Under this, the exact data of Air Quality Index i.e. AQI is being avoided. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is arguing that the AQI figure of more than 500 is not disclosed as it is clear that deterioration in air quality beyond this is harmful to health and touching this figure cannot be tackled. Steps have been taken for. it. Does CPCB want to say that Air Quality Index 500 or 800 or 1200 is the same thing? How can this happen? If the index is 900, it will be twice as harmful as an area with 450.
If CPCB wants to say that it does not matter whether the AQI is 450 or 900, then it cannot be accepted. It is also natural that if somewhere the AQI is 450-500 and somewhere it is 900-1000, where it is higher, more stringent measures will have to be taken to prevent air pollution. According to CPCB, the data provided by other agencies on the air quality of Delhi or other cities is on different standards. This may be true but on this basis should it be assumed that AQI in Delhi is not going above 450-500? CPCB is saying that Usham’s data regarding air quality is authentic and reliable, but it is not able to say that the data of other agencies is not reliable. Why after all? At least CPCB should give correct figures because there cannot be any rule that if AQI figure goes above 500 then there is no need to make it public. Not providing accurate data on air quality is keeping people in the dark and deliberately playing with their health. Even if CPCB has different air quality measurement standards, it will have to put in place a mechanism to calculate the maximum AQI accurately so that there is no scope for doubt.