What is the way ahead?
Year after year, citizens in Delhi NCR face the brunt of catastrophic levels of hazardous pollutants. Primarily from stubble burning in Haryana and Punjab, secondarily from industrial effluents and vehicles. Each time, when the AQI surges, the same blame game starts between the governments of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and the Central government. The ones who suffer are the citizens and that includes our children and the elders. In 2019, Delhi has become the "most polluted" city in the world! A dubious distinction that, and our government should be ashamed of it.
When there is a solution to control stubble burning through straw management machinery, why does the central/state governments not ramp up the subsidized supply of these units to farmers? We cannot burn farmers for this but the government directly. While the Punjab and Haryana CMs, care a hoot about it, is it not time for our glamorous PM Modi to step in and do something about it??
We really and truly feel responsible for our children and they do NOT deserve such a life and neither do we.
The State and Central Government should enforce rule for the benefit of common people.
Nov 06
Whatever action is needed to face the burning issue and to get rid thereof, the government must do and all the facilitators contributing in aggravating the situation be dealt with iron hands. If the concerned state governments remain uncooperative and refuse to come forward to join hands with the government in the centre to fight back with this national issue threatening human lives under influence of any ulterior motives of gaining political advantage under pretext of the Constitution, the government in the centre should immediately take necessary steps bringing in necessary ordinance to have special powers to directly act against those presently fall under the jurisdiction of the respective state governments. In the meantime, all our political parties are being called upon to become above politics and join hands with the national government to jointly find out a solution to fight back with such national tragedy/issue.
Nov 05
Neelav Samrat De: Your and other Delhi residents frustration with the governments at various level is palpable. No question you are right in saying the pollution situation in India is shameful with the country having 12 out of the 14 most polluted cities in the world. But in a democracy the only answer is to keep on putting pressure where ever and whenever one can. If you don't, I believe things can get much worse. One wishes that the country's leaders were as good at delivering results as they are at slogans and promises. At the same time do your part to influence your family's, neighbours' and community's behaviour towards a better environment.
Nov 05