Amid growing concerns over pollution in cities and falling level of groundwater, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Saturday said India needs restoration of its water bodies and afforestation, and his party will employ lakhs of rural youth for the purpose, if voted to power.

Gandhi said in a tweet that a Congress government will employ lakhs of rural youth in gram sabhas to improve the environment.

"India needs to 1. repair and restore our water bodies. 2. regenerate and afforest wasteland and degraded land. We will employ lakhs of rural youth in our gram sabhas to improve the environment," Gandhi wrote.

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A recent report had said that 22 of the world's 30 worst cities for air pollution are in India, with Delhi again ranking as the world's most polluted capital.

Also, the per capita availability of water in India has been reducing. (IANS)