New Delhi, Nov. 2 -- The Centre needs to address PM2.5 pollution prevalent across Delhi and North India more seriously, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said on Monday.

"PM 2.5 is choking the nation's capital and other parts of North India especially," Ramesh, who was environment minister in the erstwhile United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, posted on X.

He added that it has been clear for quite some time that PM2.5 levels in Delhi and North India have been above the standards prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

"For quite some time it has been abundantly clear that PM2.5 safety standards-that is, for Particulate Matter of size 2.5 micrometres or less in diameter are four times the WHO safety levels (24-hour averag...