The Prime Minister’s office purchased 140 air purifiers to combat India’s rising air pollution level to be installed in offices and at least six other government agencies, according to previously unpublished government data

The pollution level in India has hit danger level last year and the Kejriwal government faced much criticism regarding the same.

Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan that manages more than 45 government schools in the capital said it had made no purchases of air purifiers and had no plans to do so. The schools with open windows, fans cannot be made to function under air purifiers.

The World Health Organisation has recommended keeping windows closed when air pollution is high. It also says air conditioners should not be used if they draw air from the outside.

The central government, however, spent 3.6 million rupees, or about $55,000, to buy air purifiers for Modi`s offices and at least six central departments between 2014 and 2017, according to government data reviewed by Reuters.

Besides Modi`s offices inside parliament house, the agencies included central economic planning think tank NITI Aayog and the ministries of health, agriculture, tourism, home affairs and foreign affairs.

Smog and dust in Delhi and north India have for long hogged the headlines, sidelining the dangerous levels of air pollution in south India and Maharashtra. No other city apart from Delhi has a comprehensive plan to tackle air pollution till date. Last October, Delhi-NCR got a graded response system for pollution when the Supreme Court-mandated Graded Response Action Plan came into force.

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