Srishti Tiku
Residents of the city have raised a voice that shows that they aren’t mere onlookers, but are responsible drivers of change in the fight against this menace.
In the capital city of Delhi, the struggle for survival gets tougher as toxic pollution engulfs the city. The residents of the city are choking on hazardous air and the AQI levels are alarming. Delhi’s air pollution makes the headlines every year and puts people at a risk of serious health consequences. The city’s population of 18.6 million, regardless of their conditions, is susceptible to respiratory diseases and other health-related risks. A public health emergency was recently declared in the city as noxious air took a heavy toll on the health of its residents.
As the city grapples with unprecedented pollution levels, there is unrest among the masses about the current state of affairs. In a recent survey conducted by Envecologic to gauge the vox populi, people from various economic and social strata voiced their views and concerns about the problem of pollution in the city. They came forward with ideas on what could be done to bring about a change in the present scenario.
While certain respondents felt that execution was the need of the hour and not just drafting policies, others, realizing the gravity of the situation, vehemently opined that the time to act is now. “The time is now… The only thing preventing us from seeing it is the pollution. After all, its our life span, ease of life, our kids’ and our future at stake”, remarked a young girl from Northeast Delhi. Another respondent from Delhi remarked “Green India, Clean India, don’t just say it, follow it too.”
While certain respondents felt that execution was the need of the hour and not just drafting policies, others, realizing the gravity of the situation, vehemently opined that the time to act is now. “The time is now… The only thing preventing us from seeing it is the pollution. After all, its our life span, ease of life, our kids’ and our future at stake”, remarked a young girl from Northeast Delhi. Another respondent from Delhi remarked “Green India, Clean India, don’t just say it, follow it too.”
A large majority of respondents felt that the onus lies on the government to take responsible steps towards the issue and play a pivotal role in addressing the problem. They believe that clean air is their right that the government must grant them. A large section of the society also suggested that stricter laws must be put in place and penalties must be imposed on outlaws. “We pay taxes, it is your duty to prevent pollution”, “Clean air is my right. Kindly do the needful as there is no government without people”, “Initiate strict laws for air pollution” were some of the thoughts penned down by participants.
Still others were of the opinion that vehicular emissions on a daily basis are a leading source of pollution and must be effectively tackled. Passenger vehicles are a major pollution contributor, producing significant amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. The quantification of these emissions is also critically important in estimating their impact on air quality levels.
It is a well-known fact that environment plays an important role in improving the air quality in a city. Trees, for instance, make an enormous positive contribution to the health of our environment and must be a salient element of any remedial measures for air pollution. Several participants suggested that increasing green cover in the city must be of utmost importance while considering key problem solving methods. In addition, a section of the participants attributed high levels of pollution to inefficient waste disposal and waste collection systems in the city. Proper infrastructure, waste segregation and a ban on burning trash were some of the initiatives suggested.
The urgency of the situation can certainly not be undermined. A plea for a call for action emerged from the responses of people as they emphatically voiced their expectations and opinions. The voices of concern that came forth from the survey demonstrated an awareness of the matter as well as heightened sensitivity towards the same. While there are a myriad ways in which we can approach the issue, there is a lack of a defined framework to approach the problems. It is thus imperative that a holistic approach must be adopted where each plays his part. Residents of the city have raised a voice that shows that they aren’t mere onlookers, but are responsible drivers of change in the fight against this menace.
Srishti is an Associate with Envecologic. She holds a Masters degree in Behavioral Economics from the University of Warwick, UK.
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