Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said pollution levels in Delhi are so high that staying in the city for three days can lead to infections.Informing that Delhi and Mumbai are in the red zone due to pollution levels, Gadkari said a lot of work needs to be done in the coming period with regards to air and water pollution.
New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said staying in Delhi for three days could lead to some infections. The minister added that the deteriorating air in the national capital is reducing the average life of a citizen by 10 years. The rising pollution in Delhi and Mumbai has put the two cities in the red zone, said the minister while asserting that a lot of work needs to be done.
“In Delhi, pollution is very high. If you stay in Delhi for three days, you will get some infection. As per a medical conclusion, Delhi pollution is reducing the average life of a citizen by 10 years,” said Gadkari at an event here in Mumbai.
The Minister of Road Transport and Highways said addressing environmental concerns is critical to national development alongside infrastructure growth. “Ethics, economy, ecology and environment are important for Indian society but we have not taken the environment issue seriously,” he said.
He added that road development is a key strategy to address pollution and reduce logistics costs. “We import nearly Rs 22 lakh crore worth of fossil fuel. Petrol and diesel are major contributors to pollution. Traffic jams need to be solved. There is a need for change in fuel used in vehicles. I am supporting alternative fuels like a crusader.”