Rajya Sabha member Swati Maliwal said on Monday that she will raise the issue of air pollution in Delhi in the winter session of Parliament. He has sought suggestions from experts and citizens on this matter.
Maliwal, former chief of Delhi Women’s Commission, said in a video message posted on ‘X’ that every year in winter, Delhi and North India become a ‘gas chamber’. “Breathing here is equivalent to smoking 20 to 25 cigarettes a day,” he said. We are not just breathing bad air, but are also inhaling poison that is slowly penetrating our lungs, hearts, brains and even unborn children.”
While sharing his plan to raise this issue in the upcoming session of Parliament, he has sought suggestions from the people.
Along with the video message, he wrote on ‘X’, “If you are an expert in this field, a doctor, an activist or a concerned citizen, you can share your suggestions with me on ‘livingpositive at the rate of gmail.com’.”
The MP said she will implement two initiatives with the help of her MP Local Area Development Scheme (MPLAD) funds – first, the installation of ‘air purifiers’ in all government old age homes across Delhi and second, the purchase of four ‘mechanical road sweeping machines’ to prevent dust pollution.
A blanket of smog has engulfed the city since Diwali, with air quality oscillating between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories and at times reaching the ‘severe’ category. The winter session of Parliament will run from December 1 to 19.