Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr Mahesh Sharma, will flag-off a Mini Marathon, as part of the Clean Air campaign, from India Gate on October 15, the birth anniversary of former President, Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam. The campaign is being launched to create a mass movement for reducing air pollution. The idea behind the campaign is to entrust a sense of responsibility among people, so as to consider clean air as a collective responsibility. In order to achieve the objective of Clean India in a true sense, clean and pollution-free air needs to be a priority.
Taking forward the momentum of ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’ and extending the ‘Harit Diwali-Swasth Diwali Campaign’, the campaign for ‘Clean Air’ – “Swachh Hawa for Swachh and Swasth Bharat”, is being launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. “Swachh and Swasth Bharat cannot be achieved without Swachh Hawa”.
Air pollution is one of the pressing environmental challenges being faced at present. With the onset of winters, increased emissions from various existing sources and burning of crop residues, coincides with adverse meteorological conditions. The month of October 2017 is also important, as India is hosting the FIFA U-17 World Cup. The Government has been taking various steps to address the issue.