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POLLUTION FALLOUT
Challenge of breathing fresh airJaswant Singh Puri
Using Mask
Inhaling foul air
straightway signals to air
quality in Delhi and the
National Capital Region
(NCR) alongwith Gwalior
in Madhya Pradesh and
Raipur in Chhattisgarh. The
deadly particulate matter that we
inhale is really injurious to our
organs. The thick clouds of
smoke are found in Delhi and
NCR.
Vehicle Pollution
The capital city of Delhi, once
called the heart and soul of
India, has become deadly as 80
lives are lost daily, according to a
new study. These deaths
generally fall prey to heart
attacks and strokes rather than
respiratory disorders. Leading
observers about the malefic
effects of air pollution in Delhi
and the adjoining areas include
Joshua Apte from University of taken.
Delhi’s premature deaths could be controlled if
the administration ventured to take effective
remedial measures to control air pollution and
meet its national ambient air quality standards.
Smoke from chimneys
The recent study and research
has revealed stunning results of
air pollution. The number of
people who lost their lives every
hour has increased by three
times in about 20 years. This
number may even hike by 20 to
30 per cent if no action is taken.
The World Health Organization
had named Delhi in 2014 as the
most polluted city in the world,
with 13 out of 20 most polluted
cities of the world. PM 2.5 was
again cited as the graveyard
source of Delhi.
The danger of fire crackers
Eighty five per cent premature
deaths could be easily avoided
had Delhi paid attention to meet
the standards laid out by the
W.H.O. C.S.E warns that pollution
and congestion crises will worsen
this decade if urgent action is not taken. The Population explosion is another factor for pollution. More population means more vehicles, more ACs, more machines, more construction projects and consequently more polluting gases with hazardous pollutants. Wood burning fires, fires on agricultural land, exhaust from diesel generators, dust from construction sites, burning garbage and illegal and unauthorized industrial activities also lead to pollution in Delhi. The Badarpur Thermal Power Station is a source of air pollution in Delhi. It produces less than 8 per cent of the city’s electric power but throws out 80 per cent to 90 per cent particulate matter of pollution. It was temporarily shut down during the Great Smog of Delhi in November, 2017. There are mist emissions also from the wet cooling towers that are used in industry and other sectors to dissipate heat in cooling systems. About 10 per cent people use wood that was crop residue, cow dung and coal for cooking. The reports are based on the census carried out in 2012. Agricultural stubble burning also affects Delhi’s air quality when crops are being harvested. Lack of political will can also be one of the causes as the authorities go on blaming other states without planning and above all, lack of execution in the true and earnest manner. The air pollution problem should get top priority. Some remedial measures have been put forward by the authorities concerned and some might have been employed. But the residents need the outcome and the effectiveness of measures. There should be proper paving of all the areas around roads. It can reduce air pollution. Air purifiers should be installed at high risk places of pollution. Cleaner production processes at factories should be promoted. A time-limit should be set for heavy-industries. Emission policies should be strict for the industry which pollute the rivers with hazardous bye-products. An awareness drive should be inculcated among the people. Schools and residential areas should adhere to the norms. Subsidies and incentives should be provided for the reduction of stubble burning. Old vehicles should be banned. The Supreme Court of India recently issued orders to ban diesel cars that are ten years old. Introduction of alternate and cleaner fuels like CNG, LPG, ethanol blending may prove useful. There should be awareness for Hybrid fuel vehicles and Electric vehicles. Diesel-generator sets should be banned. There should be launching of National Air Quality Index on large screens. Coal-burning and fire-wood need to be stopped by hotels and other industry. Campaigns should be organized in rural areas to educate people. Public transport should be augmented by adding electronic buses in the national capital and weed out those buses that do not meet the standard norms. Social media should create awareness among the residents. A bypass transport route may be constructed around Delhi. Smog-free towers should be provided at critical hotspots. The number of e-rickshaws should be increased. Recently, the government has inaugurated KMP (Kundli- Manesar-Palwal) expressway to reduce traffic in Delhi and thus ease the pollution level. Such steps may help a lot to reduce the level of air pollution. More saplings should be planted to counter pollution from existing thermal power plants. More cities may be built across North India to reduce the pressure of Delhi. The government is planning to have artificial rains in Delhi. Fire crackers should be banned or the tenure of firing these should be reduced. Recent orders of the Supreme Court about fire crackers for two hours only ended up in smoke. We ourselves are responsible
for the situation we are in Delhi
and NCR. We see young ones
wearing masks to school. The
elders are restricted indoors.
Pollution in Delhi and NCR needs
a resolution also along with
solution. |