In run up to Punjab polls, plea to fight air pollution
Darpan News Desk IANS, 05 Oct, 2021 11:34 AM
Chandigarh, Oct 5 (IANS) With less than five months to go for the Assembly polls, members of Clean Air Punjab, a citizen's collective, have written to Deputy Chief Minister O.P. Soni, who heads the Health Ministry, urging him to lead by example by taking up the issue of air pollution prominently.
The demand made by citizens primarily mirrored their right to clean air and the right to breathe, underlining the reality that Punjab is home to some of India's most polluted towns, including Mandi Gobindgarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Khanna, and Patiala.
To make sure people are alerted about deteriorating air quality, Clean Air Punjab on Tuesday also urged the Health Minister to direct all urban local bodies (ULBs) to mandatorily issue timely health advisories publicly, to alert citizens on 'bad air' days, which will help save vulnerable groups from severe health impacts of air pollution.
Punjab has nine non-attainment or million-plus cities under the National Clean Air Action Plan (NCAP). A non-attainment city is one that does not meet the prescribed air quality standards set by the Union Environment Ministry.
Supreet Kaur, president of EcoSikh, told IANS the issue of air pollution is just not limited to the Environment Ministry and it is time for the Health Ministry to step in as well as its a well-known fact that air pollution poses severe risks to the health.
Recently a first pan-India study conducted by scientists in the country found that areas with poor air quality and higher emissions of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 are more likely to have Covid-19 infections and related deaths.
"The menace of air pollution can only be tackled by coordinated efforts of all stakeholders. The government being the apex body to frame policy guidelines and ensuring its successful implementation must pay attention to the issue of air pollution," she added.
Ranjit Powar, a member of Clean Air Punjab and a prominent writer, said clean air is crucial to health and performance.
"Each of us has a right to clean air and also an obligation to work for keeping the air clean. Most of all, the government, as the policymaker and regulating authority for keeping the environment pollution free, must own its responsibility to harness the sources of air pollution.
"What will people do with higher incomes and material progress that might come through the smoke-belching industry and units that diffuse poisonous gasses for miles around, choking their lungs and poisoning their innards? Let us safeguard our air; let us safeguard life," he said.
The recent Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) for 2019 revealed that air pollution was likely to reduce the life expectancy of about 40 per cent of citizens by more than nine years.
"With over 4.2 million deaths per year, ambient air pollution continues to be the ninth leading cause of cardiopulmonary deaths in the world. In India, indoor air pollution also poses a threat accounting for over two million deaths," said Zafar Ahmad, senior consultant with Fortis Hospital in Mohali.
Even during the lockdown under the second wave, when most of the industries were shut and movement halted, Ludhiana noted an average air quality index (AQI) of 135, whereas the good AQI is 0-50 and moderate is 51- 100.
Even Fazilka and Ropar towns, which are considered some of the greener regions in the state, saw an average AQI of 113 and 129, respectively.
This alarming data puts focus on the immediate need for an intervention and promoting actions to reduce the prevalent severe air pollution.
Meanwhile, India logged 27,254 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours. The country also reported 219 Covid deaths in the same time span. The country presently has nearly 3.75 lakh active cases.
At a virtual Covid-19 review meeting, the Chief Minister said vaccine effectiveness is evident from the data being analysed. Special efforts were made to reach out to the government employees, and those who continue to avoid getting vaccinated will now be asked to go on leave till they get the first dose.
DGP Dinkar Gupta said with the case load decreasing, people had started being lax about wearing masks, which the Health Department should strictly enforce with the help of the police.
Additional Chief Secretary Devendra Singh and Deputy Commissioner of Karnal Nishant Yadav are participating in the meeting. From the farmers side, BKU president Gurunam Singh Chaduni and the state leadership will present their demands.
Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Balbir Singh Rajewal told the media here after the day-long deliberations with the political parties, except the BJP, that they had told the political parties not to hold big rallies till elections in the state are announced.
Naqvi further stated that the long-pending demand of Kartarpur Corridor has been fulfilled and the government has also decided to start the 'Gurudwara circuit train' that will take passengers on a pilgrimage across the country.
