<h1>Union minister avoids Delhi visit citing severe pollution reducing life expectancy, emphasizes vehicular emission reduction responsibility</h1> A Union minister expressed reluctance to visit Delhi due to severe pollution levels that are reducing citizens' life expectancy. The minister emphasized that reducing vehicular pollution from fossil fuels is a primary responsibility of all stakeholders. Speaking at a plantation drive, the minister highlighted government initiatives including promoting alternative fuels like ethanol, large-scale tree plantation programs, utilizing waste in road construction, and implementing water conservation measures like rainwater harvesting on highways. The National Highways Authority has focused on creating green corridors through bamboo and dense plantation projects, successfully planting 67 lakh trees against a target of 60 lakh during the previous fiscal year.