Gadkari terms Delhi pollution as 'Bhayankar', talks about his reluctance to visit capital

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari voiced his concerns about Delhi's air pollution on Tuesday. Gadkari, who represents Nagpur in Parliament, stated his reluctance to visit the capital due to pollution-related health issues.

Speaking at an event, Gadkari said, "Every time, while coming to Delhi, I think whether I should go or not because pollution levels are so high." He added, "I do not like to live here. I get infection due to pollution here."

"Har baar Delhi me aata hua, aisa lagta hain ki (Delhi) jaana chahiye ki nahi. Itna bhayankar pollution hai (Every time, while coming to Delhi, I think whether I should go or not because pollution levels are so high)," he said.

Gadkari proposed reducing fossil fuel consumption to combat pollution. He highlighted India's ₹22 lakh crore fossil fuel import bill, calling it a challenge for the economy and the environment. He advocated for alternative fuels to lessen this dependence.

Gadkari also emphasized poverty, hunger, and unemployment as India's main problems. He stressed the government's role in addressing both economic and social inequality.

Delhi's air quality saw slight improvement on Tuesday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 274, providing a brief respite after a heavily polluted November.