India rushes to tackle air pollution

The central and state governments in India are rushing to prepare plans by Thursday to set up air purifier towers and other means to help check severe air pollution in and around the capital. The deadline was imposed by the Indian Supreme Court.

The court set the deadline on Nov 25 following the filing of a petition highlighting the Delhi region's hazardous air pollution levels. The India's capital, at times, has seen pollution levels rise to almost 20 times the World Health Organization-prescribed safe levels.

Justice Arun Mishra was aghast at what he considered apathy. "Why are people being forced to live in gas chambers? ... Why should people suffer all this?" he asked.