Kiran Bedi seeks public participation to protect air quality

Retired IPS officer Kiran Bedi on Thursday called for a partnership-based approach to sustain the recent improvement in air quality, seeking greater citizen participation through joint control rooms.

In a video message posted on X, Bedi said, “It is time to sustain the progress we have achieved in improving air quality, and the only way to do that is by working in partnership.” She added that the Government has control rooms, and their numbers should be made public so that people can participate.

“Wherever citizens see pollution from industries, construction sites or vehicles, they should inform the municipal corporator, the police control room in case of traffic issues or the officers of the Pollution Control Committee,” she said.

The retired bureaucrat posted that citizens should “text or WhatsApp them so that responsibility is fixed at the local level,” adding that elected and appointed representatives must take charge of their respective areas.

Calling for a system to be put in place even before curbs are eased, Bedi said, “A joint control room involving citizens, RWAs and pollution control officials can coordinate with municipal corporators, MLAs and MPs so that everyone takes responsibility for their area.”

She added, “Complaining alone brings no improvement; partnership does. When we work together, everyone benefits.”