Clean tech

Groups like Greenpeace India praised it for upholding the precautionary principle amid rising pollution levels, noting cement plants contribute significantly to air toxins like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, linked to acid rain and respiratory ailments.

The poor of Delhi and beyond are not just breathing polluted air – they are breathing the consequences of delayed justice. Blue skies remain a distant dream while painful breaths define their daily reality.

With the right policy signals and investments, reducing air pollution could become one of the most powerful levers for inclusive prosperity in the coming decade.

What started as an informal attempt to ease congestion and reduce the physical toll on pedal rickshaw pullers has now evolved into a dominant transport mode across Dhaka’s North and South city corporations.

The EPA, which enforces federal environmental laws, said it would stop estimating the economic value of health benefits from reducing ozone and fine particulate matter, even though it acknowledges that they contribute to pulmonary disease, heart attacks, and premature deaths. 

The meeting also reviewed management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste, with emphasis on designating C&D waste sites, stopping demolition activities during peak pollution periods, and partnering recycler associations for scientific disposal.

These twin initiatives – ministerial oversight of state action plans and on-ground inspections by CAQM – reflect an intensified government push to address chronic air pollution in the NCR.

Experts caution that timely implementation, effective supervision and coordination among agencies will be key to ensuring project success. Nepal’s road sector has historically faced challenges related to delays, cost overruns and difficult terrain.