Worried over the high pollution level in Delhi's air, the Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Fran Hans Dannenberg Castellanos, on Friday, met the officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to express the concerns of the diplomatic community.
Several diplomats are leaving Delhi due to pollution related breathing and other health problems. According to them, New Delhi is no more a sought-after posting among diplomats due to poor air quality.
"The Diplomatic Community had asked me to share some of our concerns with officials of the MEA, about air pollution in New Delhi, and how is affecting the inflow of tourism from some of our countries and the daily operations of some of the Missions. However, we completely understand that this is an issue that affects 22 million people living in New Delhi and that the issue needs to be addressed for the better future of all the people that live in this city, and not only for the Diplomatic community. We all breathe the same air," Castellanos said after the meeting with MEA's Chief of Protocol, Sanjay Verma.
"He (Verma) has taken note of the concerns of the Diplomats assigned to Delhi and their families, on the current environmental conditions in our city. He said that this concerns are understandable and a challenge to all," the Dean, who is the ambassador of Dominican Republic, said.
The envoy was explained by the MEA official that the downturn in the environment index has affected not just New Delhi but many other parts of Northern India and that the usual deterioration in the quality of air is a product of multiple causes, most of which are domestic but have also been aggravated by a dust storm in the Middle East. He was also informed that the government and agencies have made numerous emergency steps and prohibitory measures were implemented to improve the situation.
"The simultaneous aggregation of these cases has led us to an environmental challenge, which the Government of India is determined to address and ameliorate…I would like to assure you that the Government of India is giving this matter top priority. The conditions affecting us are historically, not unique to lndia alone. These challenges are by products of rapid economic growth and development are known to have affected several countries. We are committed to dealing with this issue, including learning front best practices emerging from countries that have traversed this experience," Verma told Castellanos.
"We both hope that the outcome of the efforts of both Central and local Government will bring rapid and positive results, not only for the Diplomats living in lndia but also for every citizen, children and adult that live in this
very active, energetic and busy city," Castellanos said after the meeting.