MLA lends support to awareness rally for public transport

GREATER NOIDA: The citizens of Greater Noida, along with the Jewar MLA, organised a rally Sunday morning to create awareness among the public on using public transport in order to combat the rising air pollution levels in the district.

According to the organisers or the rally, the idea behind the rally was to urge people to stop using private vehicles and carpool instead, or use public transport wherever possible. The rally started from Pari Chowk in Greater Noida and terminated in Noida.

Jewar MLA Dhirendra Singh, along with the residents, travelled in an Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation bus and interacted with co-passengers.

“Pollution levels are terrible in the national capital region these days. Air quality index (AQI) levels in Greater Noida have crossed the 420 mark. The district has severe levels of various pollutants. In light of this, we took a ride in a city bus to spread the message among the public to refrain from using private vehicles and use public transport instead,” Singh said.

The AQI in Greater Noida and Noida stood at 436 and 445, respectively, on Sunday, according to figures released by the Central Pollution Control Board, with the primary pollutant being particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5). The prescribed standard for PM2.5 is 60 micrograms per cubic metre. This means that level of PM2.5 is at least seven times higher than the prescribed standard in the two cities.

Singh added that given the way the pollution levels are rising, the situation will only worsen in the future.

“We use private vehicles for our comfort, but if we don’t make changes in our lifestyle, the future will become more and more difficult. I request citizens to use their personal vehicles only when absolutely necessary,” the MLA said.

Members of social organisations and residents’ bodies, such as the active citizens’ group, were present in the rally.