- The Indian citizens generally look forward to the winter months as the cooler climes not only usher in much-needed relief from the gruelling summer months but also the somewhat sultry monsoon season too. It’s an extremely pleasant experience to feel the early nip in the air that symbolizes the arrival of winter months. Most of us look forward to taking out safely wrapped and kept warm clothes and quilts to enjoy the colder climate. Yes, people staying in the northern and western parts of the country would know how desperately they look forward to the winter months to set in. It’s a big relief from the agony of the energy-sapping summer months followed by a somewhat pleasant but humid and oppressive monsoon season.
PC: FreePik
- Unfortunately, with the advent of a modernity-driven present-day world in some of the most popular urban dwellings are becoming so polluted with the industrial, automobile, construction, and other unhealthy discharges that it’s hellish to even breathe fresh air. As you are aware, the national capital Delhi is hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons globally courtesy of its air quality. Make no mistake, over time, the government’s failure to improve Delhi’s air quality is bound to impact its economic primacy sooner than later. For the uninitiated, about three weeks ago, the Delhi govt told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) it was implementing its 21-point winter action plan involving about 30 govt departments to mitigate air pollution.
- Indeed, it would be laughable were the situation not so serious. As reported recently, Delhi’s AQI shot to over 490 on a scale of 500 at 26 of Delhi’s 37 monitoring stations – even though personal diesel vehicles were off the road, ordinary residents’ construction works were halted, and schools were in from-home mode. Discomfort even inside houses – air filters gave up – and rising hospital admissions of respiratory distress cases nailed Delhi-NCR authorities’ false promises. Or, perhaps, no solution’s working. Given NCR’s suffering year after year going into decades, what’s clear is world’s fifth largest economy’s capital is slow-motion self-destructing. All thanks to petty politics, fragmented authority, and even an identity crisis as the national capital region (NCR).
PC: FreePik
- NCR is an urban broth with many cooks. Pollution is an NCR problem – three state govts, one UT govt, and the Centre via LG cannot work together to get a handle on the issue. Year after year, we get granular data on air toxins, fights, claims, and counterclaims on causes and so-called solutions. When govts choose to be blind to ordinary citizens’ misery, they should know that as Delhi rapidly becomes unliveable, the infra push for more industry, investment, more airports, and prosperity can quickly turn unviable. Delhi NCR is India’s most prosperous. Its per capita is 2.5 times higher than the rest of India. But prosperity brings with it a demand for quality of life. Normalising Delhi’s air pollution as a seasonal issue can lead to the flight of professionals, and capital. Act now.
