Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari expressed serious concern over rising air pollution in Delhi. He revealed that he developed an allergy within just three days of staying in the national capital.
Speaking at a book launch event in Delhi, Gadkari shared his personal experience to highlight the severity of the pollution crisis.
“Pollution Gave Me an Allergy in Three Days”
“I have been in Delhi for three days, and this pollution has already caused me an allergy,” Gadkari said. He added that transport alone contributes nearly 40 percent of air pollution.
Therefore, he stressed the urgent need to reduce the use of fossil fuels. He pointed out that fossil fuels are limited, yet pollution levels continue to rise every year.
Push for Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles
Gadkari strongly advocated cleaner alternatives. According to him, India must promote electric vehicles and hydrogen-based transport to control pollution.
He questioned whether the country can continue relying on fossil fuels while pollution worsens. As a result, he called for faster adoption of green mobility solutions.
Ethanol and Flex-Fuel Vehicles as Solutions
Meanwhile, the minister continues to promote ethanol usage. Earlier, he unveiled India’s first flex-fuel car manufactured by Toyota.
Flex-fuel vehicles run on a blend of petrol and ethanol. Gadkari said this technology can significantly reduce pollution and lower dependence on fossil fuels. He also revealed that India spends nearly ₹22 lakh crore every year on fossil fuel imports.
Delhi’s Air Quality Remains Critical
Delhi’s air quality has continued to deteriorate. On Tuesday, the Air Quality Index plunged to a severe level of 412. However, it showed slight improvement by Wednesday morning.
Notably, Gadkari has raised concerns about Delhi’s pollution in the past as well. He once said that he limits his stay in Delhi to two or three days and books return tickets in advance due to poor air quality.
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