Delhi Pollution

For the last 3-4 years, the news headlines are flashing with the terrible state of the air pollution in the Delhi and NCR region. The contributors are the millions of tons of stubble burning from the North-Western states, vehicular pollution, industries, construction activities, etc. The Air quality specifically takes a hit during the winter season. It is due to the physiology of Delhi which is saucer-shaped and as well the stagnant surface wind.

The SAFAR model which measures the Air Quality Index even surpassed its measuring scale and the index was well beyond its limit. Taking this into the cognizance a Public Health Emergency is declared in Delhi by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority. While most of the politicians remained tight-lipped to comment on the situation, social media platforms are filled with apathy. At the same time, there was an increase in the respiratory-related illnesses reported at the capital. The city remained under a deep cover of smog. The Sun look tamed. The visibility decreased significantly. Schools were shut. Later on, the Supreme Court of India once again took to the helm and fulfilled the inefficiency of the Executives who remained underground to not harm their vote bank. Odd-Even rule on the vehicles is on the play now. Masks have been distributed by the powerless Delhi government. Rest will help the mask industry to earn profit at a later stage. Those who could not afford it and are not aware of its ill effect remained aloof. The manual workers & rickshaw pullers would be worst affected. Some of these have to spend their night under the sky.

Question is that will it be repeated next year as well? Is there no solution to it? Is wearing a mask a viable solution? Is it not that it is a toll on the Right to Life as per Article 21 of the constitution? Why should a citizen have to be compelled to wear a mask? This is inhuman in all sense. It will also decrease the economic viability of the region as more number of people will try to evade it. What about Indian Tourism sector? Why can't proper swift actions be taken against this? Fortunately enough, there are solutions to this however with a serious lack of political will to implement it.