The air quality in Delhi has been deteriorating day by day. The crop burning issue of neighbouring states, too many vehicles and irresponsible burning of garbage, has made the city’s air too toxic to breathe.
Winter is almost here, and now the smog is the major cause of Delhi air pollution. All the harmful gases are trapped due to fog, thus resulting in poor visibility. There is a fear of accidents and increase in the number of respiratory diseases. Air pollution was 14 times over the safety mark in many parts of the Indian capital due to the emission of deadly gases, including sulphur dioxide, from the bursting of fire crackers it is indeed extremely disturbing, alarming and shameful to note that New Delhi has the highest level of air pollution in the world, at least at the current time. Shameful, because it shows that India neglected the basics of health care and discipline while at the same time reaching out to the world as the most preferred business destination.
Alarming and disturbing, because it appears that one in three babies born in New Delhi has chronic lung and respiratory ailments from birth. And when we add the old, infirm and the working populace, this ratio will definitely worsen.
The Delhi government called an emergency meeting last year to tackle the problem and assured the city’s inhabitants that special sprinklers and mist fountains would be used to clear dust particles. The government assured that the plan would be implemented on a ‘war footing’. Lots of promises! The harm is done. What about the health problems the irreversible lung damage? No special sprinklers will repair the damage.
Calling for a ban on firecrackers, Father Robert Athickal, an environmentalist, told ucanews.com that bursting crackers is a ‘crime’ as the combined smoke can seriously harm people, especially children and the elderly. The Indian government would have to work collectively with State MLAs to tackle the issue of air pollution. And stop all the blame game we are a collective culprits to this horrible problem.
Echoing the same views, environmentalist Anil Joshi said that people need to look after future generations.
Disappointed by the situation many who are concerned about the smog-filled air feel that the campaign to eco friendly living life has failed in many ways as Delhi has some of the most polluted air in the world. According to a World Health Organization survey, 50 percent of all children who grow up in the Indian capital will suffer irreversible lung damage.
