Aaditya Thackeray says Centre has failed to ensure clean air and water, questions climate policies

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader and former Maharashtra environment minister Aaditya Thackeray has alleged that the Central government has failed to provide citizens with basic necessities such as clean air, pure water and safe food. Speaking ahead of the Earthshot Prize Summit and Awards in Mumbai, he questioned the Centre's climate policies. He also alleged that environment-related data is being manipulated.

Thackeray said most of the world's most polluted cities are in India. Citing this, he questioned the Centre's stand on international climate agreements and on environmental management within the country. The COP31 climate conference is currently under way in Turkey. Mumbai will host the first Earthshot Prize event, followed by Mumbai Climate Week. Against this backdrop, he spoke on environmental policy.

According to him, global climate indices do not show India's real picture, which also raises questions about the reliability of the data. Thackeray said the environmental crisis is not getting enough attention at the political level, which is why citizens have to agitate. He also said some people are being forced to migrate in search of a better life.

Thackeray said citizens who pay direct and indirect taxes expect to get clean air, water and food. But they have to spend money again on purifiers to clean air and water, and on safe sources of food.

He warned that rising pollution is no longer only a public health crisis but is also showing an economic impact. According to him, businesses and institutions are moving out of polluted areas, which is also affecting jobs.

Aaditya Thackeray reiterated his demand for a separate "Climate Change Council" along the lines of the GST Council. The aim is to improve coordination on the environment between the Centre and state governments. He suggested that the Prime Minister chair the council and that the forest and environment ministers of all states be its members.

He also demanded that representatives of related Union ministries, such as urban and rural development, energy, agriculture, industry and road transport, be included in the council. He suggested the council meet every three months and review verified data, set targets and progress on the ground.

Thackeray said state-level climate change councils should be headed by the respective chief ministers. These councils should bring together different government departments and monitor regional climate action plans.

Thackeray noted that while he held charge of Maharashtra's environment and climate change department, climate action plans were prepared for several cities, including Mumbai. He said such plans should be prepared transparently and be audited impartially by independent bodies with international credibility.

He also said environmental governance is linked to almost every government department and directly affects people's standard of living. With India at a crucial juncture in terms of population and demographic dividend, he appealed for climate measures to be seen as an economic and policy necessity.

Aaditya Thackeray cautioned that if climate measures are taken in time, they can become a major opportunity. But if the opportunity is lost, it could pose a serious threat in social, political, economic and national security terms.