NGT Chairperson Declares Clean Air a Fundamental Right, Not a Luxury
The notion that clean air is a fundamental human right, rather than a mere environmental aspiration, was emphatically asserted by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). In a recent address, he articulated the pressing need for robust actions to combat air pollution, framing it as an issue of human rights rather than a luxury for a privileged few.
His remarks come amid the backdrop of the Environment Ministry's new compendium of best practices, which aims to provide a roadmap to cleaner air. According to Justice Goel, the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) proposal to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels by 20-30 per cent by 2024 is a critical target. This reduction, with 2017 as the base year, is part of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), which seeks to create a healthier living environment across India.
A Call to Action
Justice Goel's address was not limited to air quality alone. He urged for the protection and sustainable use of water resources, warning against the irreversible damage that could be inflicted if they are neglected. "We can't afford to either lose or degrade them as such loss cannot be compensated by any monetary cost," he stated, underlining the intrinsic value of natural resources.
The NGT's proactive stance also extended to the issue of noise pollution in the national capital, with the formation of a monitoring committee headed by retired High Court Judge SP Garg to ensure compliance with the existing norms.
Environmental Challenges as Human Rights Issues
The NGT's perspective marks a shift in addressing environmental issues, viewing them through the lens of human rights. This approach underscores that access to clean air and water should be universal, not contingent upon socioeconomic status. As plastic pollution continues to pose a global crisis, the NGT's focus on comprehensive and actionable strategies reflects a broader understanding of environmental stewardship as essential to human dignity and wellbeing.
Such directives from the NGT highlight the urgent need for policy makers and the public alike to recognise environmental protection as integral to the nation's development goals. Clean air, as Justice Goel emphasises, is not just an environmental concern but a practical goal that must be achieved to ensure the health and prosperity of future generations.
