NEW DELHI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Health minister of the Indian capital Satyendar Jain on Wednesday urged people of Delhi to reduce air pollution and bring down water, land and noise pollution in order to make the city pollution free.
"Let's take a pledge on National Pollution Control Day that we will take forward our efforts to not only reduce air but water, land and noise pollution as well and make Delhi pollution free," Jain wrote on Twitter.
Jain's message came on the occasion of India's National Pollution Control Day, which is being observed on Wednesday.
The day is being observed every year on Dec. 2 to raise awareness among people about environmental pollution and its disastrous consequences.
The day is observed in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas tragedy when the deadly gas methyl isocyanate leaked out of the Union Carbide pesticide plant on the night of Dec. 2 in 1984.
The gas leak left at least 3,787 people dead and another 500,000 injured in the state of Madhya Pradesh.
Meanwhile, federal health minister Harsh Vardhan urged people to adopt green good deeds and an environmental-friendly lifestyle to help curb pollution.
"Clean air and water are the greatest resources available to mankind. The Modi government is committed to a path of clean, sustainable growth. On the National Pollution Control Day, pledge your support by adopting green good deeds and an environmental-friendly lifestyle to help curb pollution," Vardhan said.
India's capital city Delhi is among the topmost polluted cities in the world.
Industrial activities and vehicular traffic are significant contributors to air pollution in the city, along with rampant construction. For the past many years, the air quality in Delhi becomes hazardous every year ahead of winters.
Officials in Delhi blame the stubble burning in neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana for the increasing pollution.
This year, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has made the situation worse.
On Wednesday, the air quality in Delhi was in a very poor category.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the overall air quality index (AQI) remained in very poor category at 376.
"The AQI in Delhi at 2:00 p.m. local time today was recorded at 376," data released by CPCB said. "The air quality is severe and prominent pollutants are PM 2.5 and PM 10." Enditem
