Haze over the city

“I think that I shall never see

A billboard as lovely as a tree

Indeed, unless the billboards fall

I will never see a tree at all.”

- Poet Ogden Nash (1902-1971), in “Song of the Open Road”

“The new American finds his challenge and his love in the traffic-choked streets, skies nested in smog, choking with the acids of industry, the screech of rubber and houses leashed in against one another while the townlets wither a time and die. This is not offered in criticism but only as observation. And I am sure that, as all pendulums reverse their swing, so eventually will the swollen cities rupture like dehiscent wombs and disperse their children back to the countryside.”
 

- John Steinbeck (1904-1969), American novelist, short story writer, war correspondent

“Fog and smog should not be confused and are easily separated by color.”

- Chuck Jones, American animator (1912-2002)

(image source: ww.bbc.co.uk)

I just wrote a piece on the joys of riding a two wheeler and hence writing this piece seems like a paradox. But each has its merits, I think and so, here it goes.

In the year 2008, Beijing conducted its first ever Olympics. Just before the Olympics, concerns were raised over the heavy air pollution in the city and the blanket of smog that was enveloping the city. It was just like a "sky-below-the-sky".

So being a communist country, China took all measures possible to have the IOA nod and ensure that nations (read "the west") don't stay away citing these concerns. Being supremely confident of their sportspersons, China obviously wanted everyone to competes so that if the host won, it could be a certificate of being the best among the best, which would not be the case if some nation pulled out. The image of the nation was also at stake.

Smoke emitting factories were closed, new vehicles banned, driving restrictions relating to the vehicle usage enforced - many drastic measures were taken. This did have the desired effect - atleast during the Olympics, finicky western nations did not complain.

The authorities claimed that the measures taken were just for the purpose of the Olympics but long term measures. However, smog over Beijing continues to make news. So much so that, in the past week, the haze over the city has got thicker. People have been staying indoors, masks have become part of everyday attire and, despite being an authoritarian Government, it is in a bind as to what can be done to fight the haze. Being a land locked city, Beijing cannot take the help of the wind from the sea to reduce the haze. And now, a 'red alert' has been sounded.

A lot of pollution related diseases are on the rise. Where can one go? If you home is in a city, you just cannot abandon the place just because there is smog in the city.

Closer home, the first reality check for us has dawned. Delhi, the Indian capital, has been having Beijing-like symptoms and is in a daze due to a haze of its own. Hence the State Government has come up with some solutions, the most prominent, very trolled and attention-seeking measure being restriction on car usage with odd and even numbers on alternate days.

 

 (image source: ww.bbc.co.uk)

Though the Delhi state Government has said that the measures are only for 15 days on a test basis, if the smog refuses to clear, the measures have to continue for a further period.

However, the moot point is whether these measures have to be thought out as a short term band aid or should we work towards a permanent solution. Certain measures are going to be drastic and painful to implement, like banning of two stroke vehicles or keeping certain vehicles older than a specific number of years off the roads for ever.

We cannot go back on industrialisation but how are we treating our effluents? It required the Courts to intervene and say that the Yamuna should not be polluted. Similar was the case with Sterlite in Tuticorin.  

We need to address this problem on a war footing so that it does not become a Frankenstein monster in future like what has happened to Beijing. As public, we should be understanding enough to swallow small bitter pills like public transport, cycle-only lanes, car pooling, etc. Let us plant more trees and ensure that they grow. Delhi 2015 is the beginning.

India, let us wake up and smell the coffee!