Wednesday, 15 December 2021 | PNS | Krishan Kalra
Air pollution, especially in the NCR, has become a matter of very serious concern as it affects the health and wellbeing of all citizens – particularly children and the elderly, much more so in case of those with comorbidities. Even though it is a perennial problem, it makes headlines in the print and electronic media only from around October to January every year. Noises start a little before Vijay Dashmi, peak around Diwali, last till the winter fog sets in – made worse by air pollution – and disrupts flight schedules; then everyone forgets about the matter either due to some other important issues or just because the air quality index (AQI) moves from ‘hazardous’ or ‘very severe’ to ‘very poor’ or ‘moderate’. For decades, we have hardly seen ‘satisfactory AQI days’ more than 10 or 15 in the year. As far as ‘good air days’ as per the WHO definition are concerned – AQI less than 50- we can only dream about those! The four-month period, October to January, is particularly bad due to Diwali and stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. So the hue and cry about an ineffective ban on Diwali crackers, some lip service about the mythical ‘green crackers’ and of course political wrangling over stubble burning. It is unfortunate that a problem that actually exists throughout the year is treated as a seasonal one and all energy is dissipated on just these two issues. The usual suspect -lack of coordination between the state governments’ is criticised more like a political shenanigan and then conveniently everyone gets back to business as usual- the criminal business of polluting the air we all breathe to live. As a matter of fact, air quality is bad in several other states too, but one hears loud voices only in Delhi because all important politicians and bureaucrats live here and so do the diplomats – and they too have to breathe the same foul air. Also the presence of the Press is more in Delhi than anywhere else in the country.
Even the apex court shows lot of “impatience” with the pathetic situation but rightly hesitates to issue any serious bans because the honourable judges realise (a) unsustainability of a drastic ban like that on stubble burning and (b) absence of a serious holistic study of the various sources of air pollution and their apportionment so that efforts to tackle the same are scientifically measured and not just based on sundry reports about one thing or the other. To that extent the Supreme Court seems to be taking a more pragmatic view as compared with the governments in Delhi and other states in the NCR. A start has been made recently with an MoU between the Delhi government and IIT Kanpur, for a comprehensive source-apportionment study. However consequent actions on the same will need total coordination with other state governments. Unfortunately, due to narrow minded thinking and vote-bank angles, that may not be forthcoming. Sad but a reality.
There are multiple sources of air pollution and crop stubble burning is only one of them. Perennial sources in the region are road and construction dust and exhaust from vehicles as well as lakhs of small and large diesel generators; both these are equally important – if not more. There are also millions of small fires from burning of twigs, lit by the poor to keep themselves warm in harsh winters. These people, without a roof on their head, have really no option because of non-availability of enough night shelters! Even the very large number of private security guards do not have adequate woollens to protect themselves and so are forced to join the small twigs-fire brigade. The tragic situation – causing immense harm to the health of people especially the children and the old – needs a holistic approach which only the central government can initiate, fund and monitor strictly. It is a public health emergency that deserves immediate resolution and rigorous action on the lines of a pandemic control like drive. We do not seem to realise that a large number of people are dying due to air pollution. Perhaps all these deaths are all clubbed with ‘old age natural deaths’ or other categories. As far as children are concerned, these innocent ones run the danger of compromised lungs for life – seriously damaging the health of our future generations. Several hospitals, including AIIMS, have repeatedly reported that grossly increased numbers of breathing stressed and asthmatic kids keep coming to them and the figures rise hugely during the lethal four-month period.
There are indeed solutions – some simple others long term and difficult – for tackling all the contributors to this mayhem. Construction dust will reduce sharply if (a) all building materials are adequately covered and sufficient water is regularly sprayed on sand, bricks and gravel etc. (b) all builders use pre-mixed concrete and preferably pre-fabricated sections from large factories located away from the cities. Strictly enforced control on PUC certificates of all vehicles can help in reducing vehicle emissions. Diesel vehicles and generator sets can also be made significantly cleaner with mandatory use of catalytic converters.Only resolution of the twigs-fires is provision of more shelters for the homeless poor – a huge task but doable. Finally, stubble burning should cease to remain a volleyball being tossed from one state government to the other. Several solutions have been found by young engineers. But, none of these will ever be implemented by the poor marginalised farmers. These have to be done by the state governments involved. Actually, going down to the root cause, owners of such small land parcels just cannot be successful. The now repealed farm laws would have facilitated consolidation by corporates and cooperatives. And, instead of asking the farmers to sell their holdings they could be made stakeholders who would share the gains. As for Diwali crackers – and those on festivals of other religions – only our religious leaders can sway the people away from those. All this is doable – if the government at the centre has the will and determination. With the strong majority that the ruling party enjoys, they can do it.
(A veteran of the corporate world, the author now does only voluntary work in various spheres. Views expressed are personal)
