Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Dirty Delhi, noxious nation” (May 10). Indeed the World Health Organisation’s report on air pollution level is alarming. Delhi has been put right at the top of the list. Since CNG buses were inducted in the capital city, the air quality improved but under increased vehicular pressure, it is back to square one.
In this context Delhi’s lt Governor Najeeb Jung’s idea to clean Delhi on the Singapore pattern is good. But he should be wary of two facts: First, public money was wasted on cleaning the Yamuna river during the 2010 Commonwealth Games, due to lack of proper monitoring, and second, Singapore is smaller than Delhi, both in terms of area and population.
I don’t know how receptive Delhi will be to the idea of curbs on new vehicle purchase, as buying a car is a status symbol. But having said that it is also critical that something be done to arrest the slide in deteriorating standards of air quality. We need to catch up on Bharat Stage IV and III emission standards