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Sonia expresses concern over pollution in Delhi, says Cong Govt brought CNG for public transport

Sonia expresses concern over pollution in Delhi, says Cong Govt brought CNG for public transport

New Delhi, Nov 19 (UNI) Expressing concern on the high levels of pollution in Delhi, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said that it was the Congress Government in the capital city that introduced Compressed natural gas (CNG) in public transport vehicles which had then helped transform the quality of air in the city.
Speaking in an event to present Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2018 to the prominent environmental NGO, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Mrs Gandhi also praised the efforts taken by former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to protect environment.
Pointing out that the Congress government had introduced CNG-powered public transport system in Delhi to tackle pollution, Mrs Gandhi said,'we who live in this capital, notorious now as the world’s most polluted city, can recall the difference in air quality when compressed natural gas was introduced in public vehicles. This transformation was made possible by the persuasive expertise of the CSE and the Congress government of the
day.'.
In her speech at the function, which was attended by former President Pranab Mukherjee, former Vice President Hamid Ansari and former Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Mrs Gandhi also recalled efforts by country's first woman Prime Minister to protect the environment and said, "In late 1971, even while being completely engrossed in the grave crisis on India’s eastern border with Pakistan, she found time to initiate action that would lead to the passage of the landmark law to protect our wildlife."
Mr Ansari has presented the award to CSE director general Sunita Narain.
She said that the former Prime Minister also found time to launch various conservation programmes like Project Tiger, in the midst of all political crisis.
The Congress president also recalled introduction of Forest Conservation bill and its connection between Indira Gandhi and Anil Agarwal, the founder of CSE.
"One of Indira Gandhi’s very first interviews, after she had returned as Prime Minister in January 1980, was to Anil Agarwal for the well-known British science magazine called Nature. In that conversation, questioned by Anil Agarwal she spoke of the urgency to protect India’s forests. A few months later the landmark Forest Conservation Bill was passed.'.
On the occasion of Indira Gandhi's birth anniversary, Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust on Tuesday announced renowned naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough as this year's awardee for Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development.
Sir Attenborough's name was selected by an international jury chaired by former President Pranab Mukherjee.
UNI KNA AR 2054

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