‘Words on paper, but are they being implemented?’: Dia Mirza calls out govt’s lack of action on pollution

NEW DELHI: Actor Dia Mirza recently opened up about the growing pollution levels in cities like Mumbai and Delhi, calling out the government for not doing enough. The actress added that they need to shift from mere words to real action and focus on tangible “outcomes” rather than just plans on paper.

The ‘Rehnaa Hai Tere Dil Mein’ actress was speaking at the launch of the Zero Prize, India’s first national, results-based environmental award. This initiative links financial rewards directly to verified reductions in air, water, and land pollution.

When asked if she believes the government is doing enough to tackle pollution, Dia responded with a firm “outright no”. “The answer is an outright no,” she stated.

Delhi: On Zero Prize National Launch, Dia Mirza, Actress and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador, says, “But along with air pollution, our rivers are polluted, our rivers, our water, our groundwater, our soils, there is desertification. All of these issues affect human lives,… pic.twitter.com/5EJttATyro

— IANS (@ians_india) February 26, 2026

“Unfortunately, we have to move from words to scalable action and outcomes. We should now be celebrating outcomes, like, for example, what Indore city has achieved. How they have successfully established protocols and systems that manage their waste so efficiently. Why hasn’t this become a pan-India initiative? Why are we still struggling to get people to segregate the bare minimum, which is wet and dry? Even though they are not doing. Waste is a huge contributor to pollution, right? So we need to do much, much more.”

Dia continued, “We have the right words on paper, and there are many powerful programs. But are they truly being implemented on the ground? No, they are not, which is why there is such a big gap”, she added.

Her comments come at a time when air quality has become a critical concern. After Delhi faced severe air pollution, Mumbai is now grappling with similar issues, which have prompted celebrities to speak out.

Recently, actor Saiyami Kher also raised an alarm about the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai. She shared that the worsening pollution has significantly impacted her daily life, even comparing the situation to the Covid-19 pandemic. (ANI)