The All India Professionals’ Congress (AIPC) presented a white paper on ‘Air pollution in Delhi’ at Rajiv Bhawan on Monday.

The paper stated that ‘road dust’ and ‘vehicular pollution’ account for 65% of PM10 concentration and 58% of PM2.5 concentration in the city, and were the two main contributors to air pollution in the Capital. Crop stubble burning is far from being the main contributor, the report added.

The paper was presented by AIPC chairman Shashi Tharoor and Congress spokesperson Salman Soz and others “with an aim to contribute to the discussion on how to deal with Delhi’s air pollution crisis”.

The paper recommended strengthening public transport and subsidising metro rides. It also said that the Ministry of Railways must examine reviving the 35-km Ring Railway and integrate it with the public transport.

“Professionals of the Indian National Congress have brought together discourses, expertise and suggestions to provide a solution to the problem,” Mr. Tharoor said.

He further stressed that the alarming levels of pollution in the Capital posed serious threats and challenges to the country’s health and healthcare system.

Mr. Soz said that the crisis was not a platform for political battles. He further underlined the need to come together and work out a long term solution to the problem.

“We’re not only drawing attention to this problem but also proposing a solution. We outsourced this study, inviting fresh ideas from outside. The purpose is to rise above petty fights and think about the future of this country. A copy of the report would be sent to both the Central as well the Delhi government and they are expected to comply,” Mr. Soz said.

According to the committee, the White Paper has been compiled with inputs and reports from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT-K), Centre for Science and Environment, The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority for the National Capital Region and the Delhi Transport Corporation.