http://epaperbeta.timesofindia.com/Article.aspx?eid=31818&articlexml=AIR-POLLUTION-CONCERNS-RISE-Delhis-Air-Show-Sees-26022015001016
Feb 26 2015 : The Economic Times (Mumbai) AIR POLLUTION CONCERNS RISE - Delhi's Air Show Sees a Flurry of Foreign Exits! DipanjanRoy Chaudhury New Delhi: US, Japan & Germany may reduce diplomats' tenure to two years Embassies of the United States, Japan and Germany are actively contemplating a reduction in the three-year standard tenure for their diplomatic staff posted in Delhi to two years because of concerns over poor air quality in the national capital. Such a step, officials at these missions hope, will reduce diplomats' and their families' exposure to air pollution levels that have, in the past couple of years, acquired a dubious distinction of being among the highest in the world.But this move could prove to be embarrassing for the Indian gov ernment especially at a time it is trying to position itself as a major world power and an attractive investment destination for business. Delhi's steadily deteriorating air quality has been an issue of discussion among several foreign missions for some time now and diplo mats have been complaining in closed circles about the ill-effects on their health because of rising pollution, diplomatic sources told ET. A recent meeting of administrators of various missions discussed this issue and it was here that the possibility of the three countries contemplating a cut in diplomats' tenure first came up, said one source familiar with the matter. Spokespersons of the three embassies declined comment. Diplomatic sources said if these three countries went ahead with their plan of curtailing diplomats' tenure, some other European countries could follow their lead and resort to similar action. Delhi has the world's highest levels of PM2.5 -tiny, toxic particles that lead to respiratory diseases, lung cancer and heart attacks. The Indian capital averaged 153 micrograms per cubic metre in 2013, the World Health Organization said last May, citing government data. That's 15 times more than the average annual exposure recommended by the WHO. The country as a whole is home to 11 of the top 20 cities on the planet with the worst air quality, WHO data shows. Delhi's worsening air quality already has many missions resorting to unusual steps to mitigate its impact on the health of their staff. Japanese diplomats are given longer annual breaks on Delhi postings - India joined the ranks of China and some African countries where breaks are longer to recoup from high pollution levels. The US embassy in Delhi imported hundreds of air purifiers during President Barack Obama's visit to the Indian capital last month. The European Union's mission in Delhi has also installed air purifiers in the offices and residences of its diplomats. Last week the US announced it was expanding an air-quality monitoring program it started in Beijing years ago to other cities around the world, starting with India. Under this program called AirNow, US missions will monitor air quality in host cities and countries to help personnel take better care of themselves. A Different Approach While these three missions contemplate tough steps, others view the issue differently. For instance, the UK, a close ally of USA, has a different approach to rising pollution levels. "All British diplomats make an informed choice about which postings to apply for. They all are given information on local living conditions, including air quality. Delhi re including air quality. Delhi remains a popular posting and UK has no difficulty attracting the best talent despite the air quality," a senior UK government source told ET. This source pointed out that Delhi's air pollution is not a new challenge and diplomats who have been posted in Beijing too face the same test. The Indian government too declined to comment, with the ministry of external affairs not firming up a view on a hypothetical scenario. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
