Candidates across parties offer solutions to tackle Gurugram pollution this election season

GURUGRAM: Five years ago, the issues of environment and air pollution were not a major concern for politicians in the Gurugram assembly seat but the time has changed since then and the increased awareness of the deadly impacts of air pollution on the health of citizens has forced the candidates in Gurugram assembly seat to respond to their voter concerns.

The election campaigning is occurring at a time when Gurugram's air is deteriorating to the extent of reaching the dangerous category.

All the leaders from Bhartaiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and even the independents are offering solutions to tackle the problem in their list of promises.

For Sudhir Singla of BJP, the main causes of pollution in the city is traffic congestion and that too in the old part of the city. Singla has asserted that if elected his first priority will be to make sure that the bus stand that is situated in the heart of Old Gurugram will be removed and set up in the outskirts of the city. The son of former BJP MLA has also advocated for more multilevel parking sites in Old Gurugram which would prevent the problems of cars being illegally parked.

“The BJP government in its earlier tenure did a lot in improving the traffic situation in the city by developing various flyovers and underpasses. When elected I will try to improve the situation of traffic in the old parts. Tackling traffic congestion will help in a great deal to reduce air pollution,” said Singla.

Sukhbir Kataria from the INC on the other hand highlights that the main cause of air pollution in Gurugram is the government's inability to improve the transportation system in the city.

Attacking the BJP government, Kataria who won the Gurugram seat in 2009 asserts that the government was not able to extend the metro system in Gururgam despite the detailed project report (DPR) being prepared by the Congress Haryana government. Protection of Aravallis and increasing the green cover is also among the major priorities of the Congress candidate.

RS Rathee of AAP also highlights the importance of improving public transportation in the city so that the number of private cars on Gurugram roads can be reduced. He also asserted the importance of revamping the power infrastructure so that the diesel generators that supply electricity to a large number of families in Gurugram can be phased out.