A fitting finale to the excesses of a city which have come back to wrap it entirely in a thick veil of smog, with no sun, or hope, in sight.
We have played with nature so
much that we have created a whole new season! A season marred with erratic
weather conditions, with temperatures fluctuating wildly from 31 to 16 degree Celsius!
Add to that a relentless cover of smog all over the city made up of dust and
poisonous gasses, and voila, you nearly have the setting for a post-apocalyptic
dystopian sci-fi story. Unfortunately for us, it is not fiction but the hard
reality.
On 1st of November, a day after
Diwali, an entire city woke up to arrival of an unwelcome guest in Particulate Matter
2.5 or PM 2.5, considered the most dangerous particle, at more than 20 times
the permissible limit in Delhi’s air. Suddenly, the city was clutching at its
last breaths.
As per a survey in June this
year, 47% residents in Delhi-NCR have symptoms of various respiratory diseases.
Numerous committees, advisory boards and action plans later, the effects have
been few and far between. A comprehensive plan, formulated in consultation with
various medical and environmental organizations, is still missing. Knee-jerk
reactions such as declaring school holidays will not have any effect unless
core lifestyle habits are targeted for change.
While Diwali firecrackers have
been a significant cause for rising pollution this year, there are other
factors involved which are of a recurring nature. These include the transportation
of trucks and commercial vehicles through Delhi, along with industrial waste. These vehicles are invariably of an old model,
and often do not meet the pollution or energy standards as defined.
As if it were another great sale
day, media reported the deficit of anti-pollution masks and how people thronged
the markets to buy them. While our officials visit the global cities for
learning infrastructural lessons in education, governance; why haven’t we yet
considered the danger of smog and pollution from the world’s most important
business center Beijing.
Beijing's air is heavily polluted
owing to its windless and warm weather and has been receiving smog waves which
are tackled efficiently. As part of Beijing municipal’s severe air pollution
emergency plan, which took effect in March 2015, the government implements a
range of measures to cope with the alert. Electric vehicles, movement based on
odd or even vehicle numbers, longer and more frequent operating hours of public
transport is the foremost. The plan comprises daily cleaning of roads and
banning of fireworks, garbage burning and as detailed as to open outdoor
barbecues.
We do not have government lead
steps rolled out to bring reduction of emissions from coal and non-renewable
energy burning industries and vehicles so as to boost cleaner and more
efficient use of renewable energy forms, electricity and natural gas in place
of coal, support for wind, solar and bio power sectors. Vacuum cleaning of
Delhi’s arterial roads was to start in April this year and four machines were
engaged for a few days but the project couldn’t take off.
The Delhi government has rolled out
some policies which include regular sprinkling of water on Delhi roads and
establishing air-purifier. But the effectiveness of these claims are unl is
going to be effective and bring about results. At this moment however, with
things looking grim, there is an increased role of us as citizens to play. It’s
time that all of us come together and take the task of getting ourselves aware
and educated and spreading the knowledge to others. The RWAs should come
together to deploy car pools, efficiently manage waste, reduction in crop-field
burning, implementation of control measures to deal with air pollution and a
blanket ban on Dussehra and Diwali firecrackers. Furthermore, care and
attention to patients such as children and senior citizens with respiratory
ailments needs to be given top priority.
A major portion of our current
population is suffering from pulmonary issues with constant cough and
breathlessness, irritation in the eyes, lack of energy etc. While I write this,
I can still hear firecrackers burning. Is this the level of education, civic
responsibility and surroundings that we will be leaving behind as a legacy to
our children? With empty parks, rapidly filling hospitals and a constant air of
despair, the city’s countdown has almost begun. We can either remain silent
spectators to it, or be accountable for the health and safety of our seniors
and young ones, and prevent the pollution quicksand from engulfing us.
