For the sake of clean air!

This is a matter of concern…a concern of too much importance in fact. What we breathe and what helps us to live is now turned into a poison. Our life is at stake. Diseases will nestle in our body and gradually gnaw at our life!

These few lines are enough to leave us like dumbstruck, pale-faced, listless creatures whose mind can only pray for a savior and nothing less. But our mind is accustomed to multitask. The continuous process of evolution has bestowed on us the humongous sense of responsibility that overcomes all kinds of fear and we keep on inhaling the poison, we keep on doing works, we keep on watching movies, we keep on partying, shopping and what not. The unlucky few who are showing the sign of decay are towing themselves to the medical assistance. Poor fellows! 

And what is Delhi’s image in the world arena?  For the foreign diplomats it’s the hardship posting like Kabul, Baghdad and Damascus. They have already expressed their concerns with the ministry of external affairs.  Many feathers were ruffled and that ensued debates, especially worthy to mention the one that cropped up when Sri Lankan cricket team displayed their exasperation while playing in such pollution laden air in Delhi and some of them fell sick too. It’s a blotch on the NCRs. Bleak is the scenario when we think of talents’ repugnant towards the region since the process of degeneration has already started with pollution being one of the ominous stigmas. Sigh! When many corporates headed towards north of India instead of the western coast of the country, the north Indians had a laugh of victory. Millennium city, Gurugram, the hub of Fortune 100 companies, is reeling under the heavy pall of pollution. What if these corporates now start to scout for another place? The damages will be manifold. A throbbing development will stall abruptly, and re-location will drain out the money and energy which can be invested in some other purposes. We will simply lose a huge chunk of land with urban prosperity. It’s a setback for urbanization drive. The same can be said for Noida.

Yes, there are many people who are, simply because of the nature of work, pitted against such hazardous pollutants. Construction and mine workers are some to name. In many industrial townships it’s hard to find lush green leaves. Dusts settled on these vegetations make the colour drab.

Sometimes I ponder over the value of our life. How much it costs? Can it be only measurable by our earnings? Work while you live and any stop on this means your life is not secured and you may draw an end to your LIFE!! This reality is too obnoxiously displayed by the recent developments caused by the alarming rise of air pollution in Delhi-NCR. While the air pollution index reaches an emergency level and remains there for 48 hours at a stretch, the state governments of Delhi, Haryana and Punjab are locking their horns to shift the blames on each other. NGT (National Green Tribunal) keeps on nullifying appeals and suggesting something which infrastructure fails to comply with and we the poor people giving damn to the warnings lead a life of apparently vibrant citizens without curtailing down any activities.  Yes, schools remained closed for a week as per the government’s ordinance but work didn’t leave the teachers and other staff and they made the usual visit.

What is laughable is this stupid discrimination. Of course, the kids are susceptible to this hazardous condition but same for the adults too! Why not there is a blanket ban on all official activities to keep the citizens indoor and make the roads traffic free? In such a case, shops for essential commodities can remain open for a limited period for necessary support. Why are the governments taking so much time for the immediate actions?

Today’s crawling smog was there in the yesteryears. The people choked in the winter in 2016 and will choke more in the coming years. How much budget is kept aside to prevent this catastrophe? We lack in number of CNG buses and don’t have the land to park any addition to this fleet. We don’t know how soon can the Delhi government acquire the buses and build the depots.

The advance in the medical science, the high costs in its implementation, the numerous specialty hospitals, high-priced health insurance all together make us feel how precious our life is. While 50% of the nation’s population cannot afford the decent healthcare, well-informed middle-class families accommodate such high-priced medical expenses as a necessity and work hard to meet the other demands with their limited means. But when it comes to our daily life, shield of protection and safety tatters making us feel how uncertain this life is. The protectors of the nation, the state mechanisms, whose responsibility is to ensure a healthy environment, fumble to meet the basic demand for clean air.

Yes, even few years back, the clean air didn’t cost anyone, but now you need to buy. The marketers are not losing the opportunity. Astonishingly, this year, even during this cold spell in the North India, geysers are not advertised. A niche category has been discovered, an air purifier. Time is not far away when this will become an essential commodity at home.  Again a burden comes to an individual family unit. Who will purify the air for public?  The question lingers without any knowing, concrete solutions. In such a situation the worst thought that comes to mind is – Life of dear and near ones is so expensive, life in this country is so cheap!