Congress Highlights Rising PM2.5 Pollution and Calls for Review of Air Quality Standards

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh has raised concerns over India's rising PM2.5 air pollution, citing a 2024 Lancet Planetary Health study linking increased PM2.5 levels to higher mortality rates. He highlighted estimates of about 17.2 lakh annual deaths from PM2.5 exposure, a 38% rise since 2010. Ramesh criticized the government's repeated parliamentary claims that air pollution deaths are inconclusive, contrasting this with Indian Council of Medical Research findings and recent data showing most cities exceed national and WHO PM2.5 standards. He called for urgent review and stricter enforcement of air quality norms.