Prof PB Sharma
OUR focus for air pollution control has largely been on air quality monitoring and modelling, popularly referred to as AQM. While monitoring, analysis and modelling are important, more important is air quality management as we cannot afford to wait for the more-permanent solutions to become available.
Air pollution is a killer, it cripples and kills, causes mental disorders and slow death. Recent surveys have revealed the wide-ranging impact of air pollution on asthmatic disorder, mental stress and bad throat. As per a recent survey by ‘Local Circle’, at least one person in 62 per cent of families in Delhi is suffering from itching in eyes and in 31 per cent families, at least one person has asthma.
Year-round problem
Knowing very well that air pollution in Delhi and in NCR is a matter of grave concern, we hear of stringent measures to control it only around the festive season. It is not enough to awaken ourselves to control air pollution only on Diwali, when we know that the problem is all year round. Is it not enough to shake our conscience that in the last five years, there were only 10 days when the AQI could be classified as good (as per an India Today report)? Could we have not done anything to avert such a disastrous condition for air quality? The answer cannot be no by any stretch of imagination. In fact, a lot can be done, and should be done, now that India is rising as Viksit Bharat.
We need to redefine AQM as air quality management, and not just air quality monitoring and modelling, as it is usually interpreted, and launch a movement involving everyone in society – in governance, industry, trade and business. Having known the problem and analysed it year after year, by now we should have become capable of managing it and mitigating its ill effects.
While scientists will continue to detail the impact of air pollution, those in position of authority should devise implementable action plan to mitigate it by focusing on short-term as well as long-term initiatives for air quality management.
Suggested measures
Now that EVs are being manufactured in India and are capable of 300-400 km on a single charge, green mobility should be encouraged. aThe Government may like to mandate that all Government Vehicles used in metro cities be either EVs or run on CNG and other clean fuels. aLet all V-Cs of universities travel in EVs, setting an example for students. aLet all ministers, MPs, MLAs and senior Government officials use only EVs.
aLet there be a series of incentives, both from the Government as well as EV manufacturers to make ‘Go Green’ a people’s revolution. aUniversities and R&D establishments be provided with fast charging points free of charge under CSR from automotive manufacturers aThe odd-even vehicles on road was a good idea, but was not accepted as a long term solution. To make it less inconvenient, cars carrying three to four persons could be exempted from odd-even ban to promote carpooling.
Green future investment
As there is a large construction activity in Delhi-NCR, why effective duct control measures are not mandated and rigorously implemented throughout the year? Farm residue fire being a major culprit at this time of the year, requires major intervention and strategic management system. We need to support R&D and young India Startups for scientific solutions and technology innovations to make ‘parali’ a useful resource for biofuel production and other industrial uses.
Today when India is rising as an economic power of great eminence and capitalising on its vast market, it cannot afford the luxury of continuing to suffer from air quality. Do not forget that WHO standards mandate AQI of 05 micrograms per cubic meters while we become alert only when AQI crosses 300 or more! How long can we afford this luxury?
