CSE welcomes launch of draft air quality index
CSE has also applauded the ministry’s new initiative of introducing a health advisory to inform people about the degree of severity of daily air quality and the health consequences.
This can help people take precautions on days that have poor air quality.
Javadekar, while releasing the air quality index, said: “Now one number, one colour and one description will help people to understand the quality of air they are breathing.”
Said Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE’s executive director-research and advocacy and head of its air pollution team: “CSE has been demanding adoption of this programme as this can help people to understand the quality of air and the possible health effects. This is needed to demystify complex air quality data, help promote public awareness and build public pressure for effective air pollution control in cities.”
An air quality index (AQI) is a method by which daily air quality is classified according to actual concentration and described simply for informing people.
The index was prepared by an expert group set up by the Union ministry of environment and forests that includes prominent medical doctors from leading hospitals, research bodies including IIT Kanpur, and Centre for Science and Environment.
