Keeping in view the toxic air quality in the Delhi-NCR region which only worsens as winters approach, finance minister Piyush Goyal, presenting his maiden budget, said that ¡°air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region has been a cause of concern.¡±
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has taken a slew of measures to control air pollution level in the region, but all efforts have proved to be futile so far.?
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In the Budget 2019, Goyal announced a special scheme to be implemented to support efforts of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi in curbing air pollution, which has effectively reduced life expectancy of residents in the region. The pollution is so poor that a spike has been registered in respiratory problems.
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¡°A special Scheme will be implemented to support the efforts of the governments of Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and the NCT of Delhi to address air pollution and to subsidize machinery required for in-situ management of crop residue,¡± said Goyal in his speech.
Most of the environmental issues such as pollution-free cities, clean rivers, coastline protection, only managed to find a mention in the ¡®vision for the next decade¡¯ in Goyal¡¯s speech. None had a concrete action plan.
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According to a survey by LocalCircles, 55 per cent citizens are in favour of funds being allocated for pollution control in budget 2019.
Thirty per cent of the voters said funds should be allocated to improve municipal enforcement on garbage burning and construction, 25 per cent said funds should be given to putting in place next-generation cleaning systems like mechanised street cleaning brooms.
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¡°30 per cent said the public transportation system in cities should be funded and 15 per cent said funds should be given for technology-driven interventions like large air purifiers on streets, artificial rain etc,¡± the survey also said.
Sixteen per cent of citizens said that environmental sector should get a top allocation in Budget 2019.