Delhi-NCR has topped the list of most polluted cities in the world. The city is being compared to a gas chamber. Most of the citizens residing in the capital have already lost their lives due to unhealthy air quality. It is also leaving citizens choking for breath with the air quality equivalent to smoking a pack of cigarettes on a daily basis. Shockingly! Environmentalists opine that Delhi is not at all uninhabitable with the air pollution rising to dangerous levels. The situation has turned so bad that doctors have advised the INC president Sonia Gandhi to temporarily move out of Delhi.
Sonia badly affected due to pollution?
Sonia Gandhi who was behind the wheels as the shadow PM during the UPA regime is now facing new hardships. The health of the Congress chief who is ailing from cancer and chest infections has been badly affected due to the unhealthy air. Despite the medical treatment for a chest infection, her situation hasn’t improved and hence has been advised to leave the national capital. It is heard that Sonia has decided to either move to Goa or Chennai. Well, Sonia can afford to go anywhere, but what about the average citizen.
Why so much pollution in Delhi?
There are two reasons behind the severe air pollution plaguing Delhi. Firstly, there are three crore vehicles plying on Delhi roads and it is estimated that over 30% old vehicles are still in use. The Carbon Monoxide released by three crore vehicles on a daily basis has led to pollution engulfing the city. Adding to this, the cold climate has worsened the situation.
And the second reason is an increase in stubble burning during Kharif by farmers in Punjab and Haryana. Scientists state that this as another major concern for the pollution in Delhi. Sadly, despite the Supreme Court intervention, the Punjab farmers haven’t stopped burning stubble. This has led the Centre and State Governments to wash their hands on the pollution crisis.
Is there no solution?
Yes. Any issue can be resolved. However, without public cooperation, nothing can be done. Firstly, the use of personal vehicles must be totally reduced and citizens need to make use of metro services. Not only vehicle usage must be halved, but old vehicles must be completely seized. This is because the pollution caused by a single old vehicle is equivalent to that of ten new vehicles. Also, the government needs to set up groups with farmers and devise a strategy to collect and use crop waste as fertilizers. Also, the expenditure to buy such equipment needs to be borne by the government, instead of farmers.
In developed nations, electric hybrid vehicles are already in use. In another ten years, London mulls banning petrol and diesel vehicles as a part of PM Boris Johnson’s Green Plan to curb pollution. Similarly, the Delhi government should grant permission for plying only electric vehicles. Well, in reality, this isn’t possible overnight, but efforts must be made from now, only then Delhi can become a habitable city.
