The national capital could shed the tag of the most polluted city in the world mainly due to action against construction dust, industrial emissions and increased awareness on the harmful effects of pollutants, the Delhi government claimed today.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took the lead in congratulating the residents over the findings of a World Health Organisation's report that has put Delhi in the 11th spot in its latest urban air quality database.
"Latest WHO report - Delhi no more most polluted city. Congrats Delhiites," Kejriwal tweeted.
The report was based on comparison of a total of 795 cities in 67 countries for levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 from 2008 to 2013.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) underlined increased awareness about pollution-related data, concrete action to control emissions from construction activities and control on industrial emissions as important factors behind the reduction in the last one year although the report did not factor in recent data.
Center for Science and Environment's Anumita Roychowdhury said WHO may not have considered recent data, but perusal of 2015 data of DPCC also establishes that there has been a drop in the level of pollution in the city.
