“Don’t Let Yesterday Take Up Too Much Of Today,” Will Rogers

Blame-game needs to end

The air quality in the National Capital Region of India continues to present the same dangerous situation every year. This year too, the situation hit an all time high though it began to show some a marginal improvement starting this week, but continued to be in the “severe” range, with the region still covered under a shroud of toxic pollutants and no respite in sight. There are many reasons being attributed for the same, despite some actions taken by the authorities this year. Diwali was virtually cracker less in New Delhi on the orders of the Supreme Court, governments in Haryana and Punjab are trying to keep a check on the stubble burning by the farmers and many Non Resident Indians have come forward to help poor farmers with their stubble problem. The air quality in Delhi has been rated as equivalent to smoking 50 cigarettes in a day! In recent days, in Delhi there has been 20 percent spike in emergency hospital admissions for people suffering from heart and lung problems.

Non Government Organizations were soon out there handing over masks to make a point about the pollution and trying their best to reduce the impact of the pollution- keeping out the tiny particles from people’s lungs. Delhi government announced certain steps that included banning all construction activity till further notice, trucks carrying essential products allowed to enter the capital, four fold increase in the parking fee and rationing of the cars-through Odd-Even scheme. However, the Delhi Government received a jolt when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) asked the government to prove that the Odd Even scheme could be effective. The government left with no option had to put off the decision.  Other questions put forth by NGT to Arvind Kejriwal government were, why was it allowing two wheelers and woman drivers? Considering that the number of two wheelers is no less than number of cars moving in Delhi. However, the logic of Kejriwal government that of not allowing women drivers could be a security concern does hold ground.

Over the years, the world has noticed, that such measures don’t address the root causes, especially in case of Delhi. Delhi has daily moving population of close to 10 lakhs. These include daily commuters who only come to Delhi for work, or traverse through Delhi for work. Rapid construction is going on all around Delhi that add to the pollution levels and there is no control on new vehicle being added every day.

Considering that there are countless reasons, such improvised and reactive steps will not yield results.  And leaders, who are supposed to provide a direction, were seen indulging in party politics, and soon the channels too joined the bandwagon. The discussion focused on “air from Punjab” giving an impression that the air from neighboring BJP ruled Haryana and Uttar Pradesh don’t enter Delhi. Thus creating a notion that the problem of Delhi will have to be handled by Arvind Kejriwal and his government as the Kejriwal government is sitting on unused funds of over 700 crores for the Green Cause. Hence, Central government may please be excused!

The problem needs to be addressed in the right earnest. Farmers are deep down in debt and asking them to spend more to treat stubble without giving any economic policy would be deterrent not only for the environment but also on an economic front. Asking motorist to drive only on alternate days, without having any control on the number of new vehicles would only invite more pollutants to be present in the air. Unlike China where anger spurred Beijing into action, air quality and its impact on health simply is not a concern for the common man of India and for the authorities that should have been working relentlessly to curb the pollution levels.  More than just debates and discussions on the TV channels, the governments of the various states and the central leadership should be talking in tandem to evolve policy, curbs and actions that can change the way people in the capital of India can breathe with ease. Let there be no more dilly-dallying or undue procrastination. Blame-game needs to end, and positive action is required, as the environment in the National Capital Region of India is a case of terminally-ill patient. Leaders in India need to appreciate that they can draw state boundaries on the land, however can’t stop the winds from flowing across. Today it’s a problem of National Capital Region, and soon may become the dilemma of the nation.