Delhi, our national capital, has earned the ignominy of being the most polluted city in the country and the second most polluted globally. Disgraceful, as this may be, the pollution indices have been rising year-on-year for many years now – the air quality has not reached such an alarming level overnight – it has taken more than two decades of negligence. I make this point just to emphasise that no ‘one’ government, individual or event is responsible for the ‘suffocating’ state of affairs – the pun is not just intended but deeply tragic. The political blame game is trash and does not interest me as a citizen. I just want to breathe healthy air – the most basic right to life.
I hang my head in shame as a citizen of a country that seems to be claiming the dawn of an ‘Amrit Kaal’ (perhaps, for good reason) but is unable to provide clean air to its people. To the extent that closure of schools has become routine, prevalence of respiratory disorders has increased manifold and daily life has been impacted in several ways that has endangered our most basic right to life.
The reasons may be many – industrial effluents, vehicular pollution, indiscriminate construction activity, rapid reduction of green cover in urban areas, stubble burning in farmlands, general apathy of the authorities, poor enforcement of regulatory mechanisms, clout of mafias and perhaps several others. There are solutions for everything but none has been attempted seriously for reasons that do not require any specialist to identify. The basic driver for this state of affairs is greed of different kinds that have trumped the ‘right to life’ hands down, several times over.
Drastic situations demand drastic measures. There is no more time to be lost. Cancel licences of polluting industries, ban polluting vehicles of all kinds, limit purchases of new vehicles, put a cap on numbers that can ply on the roads, make mass transit systems non-polluting, cheap and efficient, impose an indefinite moratorium on construction activity, criminalise stubble burning, ban use of firecrackers, enforce regulations, undertake punitive policing, seek accountability from governments, civic organisations, industry and individuals – whatever is necessary to reverse the nosedive. Why else do we have leaders, governments, regulatory bodies and enforcement agencies?
The Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, recognises our right to life as laid down in International Covenants, which are enforceable by Indian courts. Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” Our National Human Rights Commission is empowered to inquire ‘suo motu’ into any human rights violation, abetment to such violation or negligence to prevent violation of human rights by any public servant. What could be a more serious transgression of human rights against our own people than the poisoning of the air that we breathe?
We are well past the stage of remaining mute bystanders to this marauding of our national capital. ‘Greed’ is one of the most powerful drivers of everything unfair and unjust and has been the sole reason for everything inhuman and destructive on this planet. Our resolve to overcome greed and secure the basic human rights of our people will determine whether we survive to realise our collective vision of an ‘Amrit Kaal’.
Now is the time to put lasting mechanisms in place to reverse a ‘near hopeless’ situation. Now is the time to display vision and leadership. Is anyone listening???
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ReplyForward
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Sir, it is said that if the citizens collectively want a course of action to be taken, it will happen irrespective of the pulls and pressures from leaders of all types. This requires collective citizenry uprising to tackle the basic right to live life. Unfortunately we as a society have failed in this respect as ‘greed’ of different kinds and ‘privileges that only I am entitled’ syndrome prevents us from collective action. Better thinking coupled with simple living with empathy for the very nature that supports our existence will definitely do wonders in this respect. However, we keep waiting let the other one start then i will also do it. without basic discipline and personal integrity tackling this issue is an humungous task.
Sir, a very nice article. According to me, it is the lack of political will which is the root cause of the problem. I feel we have too much democracy for our own good. The culture of appeasement will result in our downfall. Quoting Bob Dylan from the famous song “Blowing in the wind”, quote ‘And how many years can some people exist
Before they’re allowed to be free?
Yes, and how many times can a man turn his head
And pretend that he just doesn’t see? unquote seems apt and relevant.
The pollution of Delhi has two main drivers. Transport system and burning of crop residue. For such a huge mega polis, local train system should have been commuters choice. Sadly it has been ignored and Road transport is the preferred mode. Results are obvious.
Crop burning in North India is the other major south of smoke. Harvesters cut crop instead of uprooting. Therefore farmers find it convenient to burn the remaining 6 inch stubble with obvious results.
Address these two, things will improve
Seems absolutely absurd when we claim that we are progressing as a nation.Progress in what way?? As you have brought out can’t even breathe freely that too in our capital city. Greed definitely drives this unbridled rush to progress regardless of the consequences.
The greed can’t be reined in as the people have got used to the so called comfort and still looking for more , come what may. Inclusive sustainable growth is the only mantra.Are we patient and accomodative enough??I really wonder
Classic case of Catch 22 a vicious cycle we have ourselves into. It’s just about time for course correction else we the present generation and definitely the next Gen are going to suffer. Very well summed up sir in creating awareness and a sincere attempt to draw attention of all of us to this unfortunate situation.
Sir,
I have wondered often that inspite of our country progressing well on lot of indicators, why are we not able to do anything about pollution that too in our capital city, where embassies of various countries is located. If 2022 cleanest City survey is any indication, Indore tops the list, while Vizag is at fourth position. Political will and demand by citizens is required to get the things moving. We need to ‘clear the air’ on this
Year after year after year – the same rains , the same crop burn , no wonder kids are migrating out of the country !
Very true sir.
Tough decisions are required.
Delhi NCR is not able to support the overload of people staying there.
For a sustainable life, we require to decongest NCR…. Easier said than done