Diplomats in Delhi express concern over rising air pollution, set to approach MEA

The diplomatic community in Delhi is concerned over the rise in air pollution levels in the city.

New Delhi, Nov 17: As the Centre is maintaining a deafening silence over the never-ending layer of smog over the Delhi sky since the last week, the diplomatic community in the national capital is very concerned about the unprecedented rise in the air pollution levels.

In order to express their concern over poor air quality, Dean of Diplomatic Corps Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos is all set to approach the ministry of external affairs on Friday.

"As a diplomat we are concerned for our tourists coming to India and the nationals living here, but this (pollution) doesn't affect only us," Castellanos was quoted as saying by ANI on his visit to the foreign ministry on Friday over poor air quality in Delhi.

As a diplomat we are concerned for our tourists coming to India & the nationals living here but this doesn't affect only us: Dean of Diplomatic Corps Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos on meeting Ministry of External Affairs today over poor air quality in Delhi. #DelhiPollution pic.twitter.com/Pko9hwY5VX

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2017

"We'll meet MEA and discuss measures which were taken by other countries facing similar problem," added Castellanos, ambassador of Dominican Republic.

We'll meet MEA and discuss measures which were taken by other countries facing similar problem: Dean of Diplomatic Corps Frank Hans Dannenberg Castellanos on meeting Ministry of External Affairs today over poor air quality in Delhi. #DelhiPollution pic.twitter.com/YTkYPNZ6uD

— ANI (@ANI) November 17, 2017

Castellanos told Times of India that he had been indeed approached by many ambassadors over the issue. He said he was going to discuss the situation with MEA even though he fully understood the ministry's position that it had nothing to do with the deterioration of Delhi's air quality.

"I have been receiving many calls from HOMs (heads of missions) concerned about their health and the seriousness of the air pollution in the past few days in Delhi, and I will bring it up before the COP (chief of protocol in MEA) in my next meeting with him," Castellanos added.

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