To kick off World Environment Day celebrations in India, the city that’s home to the famous Taj Mahal, Agra, has launched a comprehensive action plan to improve air quality. As one of India’s most polluted cities, Agra intends to crack down on vehicle and industrial emissions, road dust, crop residue, burning of municipal solid waste, and air pollution from construction and demolition activities, among other sources of air pollution.
The air pollution in Agra has had a negative impact on the city’s tourism industry over the past several years as the air quality began to discolor the historical Taj Mahal. The Supreme Court of India has ordered the government to become more proactive in tackling Agra’s increasing air pollution problems. The senior officials at the release of the Action Plan stressed the importance of creating an absolute strategy to alleviate air pollution in other Indian cities.
“In the fight against pollution, we should move towards decentralized solutions. Organizational structure at various levels in the form of a responsibility matrix will also be key to implementation,” said Anup Chandra Pandey, Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh.[1]
Advisor to the Government of Uttar Pradesh, Keshav Varma addressed the increasing issue of urbanization and the decline in air quality across the nation. “The ‘blue water and blue sky approach’ of Beijing is a good example and we have the full capability to implement our activities with the same spirit,” said Varma.[1]
Traveling with a Portable Oxygen Concentrator
It’s unfortunate that if you’re planning a visit to the Taj Mahal in the near future, you won’t get to see its original color due to the air pollution in Agra. You should prioritize your health if you’ve been diagnosed with a respiratory condition before your visit, though. There are many portable oxygen concentrators on the market that can fit your needs when traveling to a heavily polluted area. POCs such as the Caire Freestyle Comfort, Respironics SimplyGo Mini, and the AirSep Freestyle 5 make for the perfect companion when traveling abroad with a respiratory condition since they are FAA-approved. Make sure to confirm with your primary doctor about which portable oxygen concentrator works best for you.
Stay tuned with our expert staff of oxygen concentrator professionals for more updates on air quality around the world.
Sources
[1] UN Environment – City of Taj Mahal, Agra launches action plan to combat air pollution
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