AMN / New Delhi
The menace of Delhi air pollution has evoked serious concerns among the diplomatic community which was conveyed to the External Affairs Ministry by Dean of Diplomatic Corps Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos on Friday.
In what it could be called as a major embarrassment for the government, the Dean of Diplomatic Corps, Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos, met senior officials of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday and raised “concerns” of envoys over air pollution impacting their health.
Castellanos met with Sanjay Verma, Chief of Protocol in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and discussed how Delhi’s air pollution is also impacting inflow of tourism as well as the health of diplomatic staff of missions in the city.
In a formal statement Ambassador Castellanos said, “We completely understand that the issue needs to be addressed for the better future of all the people that live in this city, and not only for the diplomatic community. We all breathe the same air.”
Verma took note of the concerns of the diplomats assigned to Delhi and their families, on the current environmental conditions in the city.
The MEA has assured the diplomatic community of dealing with the issue, including “learning best practices from countries that have traversed this experience”.
Quoting the MEA official, the dean’s statement said, “The unusual deterioration in the quality of air is a product of multiple causes, most of which are indeed domestic, but have also been aggravated by a dust storm from a distant geography. The simultaneous aggregation of these cases has led to an environmental challenge, which the government of India is determined to address and ameliorate.”
Over the last week, voices of concern have grown in the diplomatic community with some embassies and high commissions reporting increased respiratory problems and health issues in staff members.
Two diplomats from ASEAN member countries have wrapped up their Delhi postings ahead of time while others advanced their year-end vacations.
Thailand’s Ambassador Chutintorn Gongsakdi informed the media that he has written to his foreign ministry headquarters to explore the possibility of declaring India a “hardship posting”.
He further explained on Twitter, “Hardship/special situation classification for Delhi means that we can access better staff welfare measures, such as air purifiers, medical check-ups, trips back home and additional days off for morale and as compensation.”
Costa Rican envoy Mariela Cruz Alvarez too, who was hospitalised following respiratory ailments, expressed her deep concerns in a blog that went viral this week.
“What happened last week in Delhi was her voice speaking to the whole world,” Alvarez wrote in her blog referring to India and pollution and climate change challenges for the world.