DELHI POLLUTION: MINDLESS DRIVING MAJOR CONCERN

BY APURVA RAI

THE national capital has earned the disgraceful status of being one of the most polluted cities in the world. Poor air quality leading to breathing troubles and reduced visibility on Delhi roads has become a major cause of concern for most citizens, NGOs and several civic authorities.

The matter has been raised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which has cited several reasons for growing air pollution in Delhi and the adjoining National Capital Region (NCR). The NGT has pulled up the Centre for not taking enough measures to stop growing air pollution in Delhi.

No control over production and purchase
According to NGT one major cause of air pollution is uncontrolled rise in the number of vehicles in Delhi. In the absence of clear cut guidelines or laws there is no restriction on manufacture, selling or buying of cars.

The manufacturer produces and sells vehicles that are more in demand. Car companies operate with the sole objective of making profits and seeing ever increasing sales graph. On the other hand the buyers are primarily concerned with just pricing and mileage. So where does the concern for environment figure and where are  government guidelines to make concern for environment a priority.

The vehicles that have recorded higher sales are fitted with diesel engines. Such vehicles have drawn bigger flak as they are the largest contributors to Delhi's growing air pollution. Sales figures suggest that diesel vehicles are a favourite among car buyers as they return higher mileage to every litre of diesel.

Restrict diesel cars
The big question is how to shift the choice of people and make them stick to petrol-driven vehicles. This is possible only when mass production of diesel cars is stopped. Otherwise, the manufacturer will keep producing diesel vehicles and people will keep buying them on their free will. In fact, this is what is happening today and the result is that diesel cars have outnumbered petrol cars. The consequence is there for all of us to see.

The vicious cycle of buying and selling of diesel cars thus stays and the companies keep on coming up with upgraded diesel models and people keep on getting attracted towards them.

It would be much better for our environment if there is a complete ban on production of small diesel cars having an engine capacity up to 1000CC.  Of late a new trend has emerged where companies are coming up with smaller hatchback cars in diesel version. Since small cars amount for much higher sales they will surely lure the buyers. When these cars will not be manufactured obviously the option of buying and driving them on roads will not be possible thus helping us restrict growing air pollution.

The government should also take the chance of making diesel dearer in urban areas. This is important because the purpose of keeping diesel prices low is to help farmers but the truth is that this is not happening in day-to-day life. Instead, diesel is being consumed by urban commuters who are by far well-off than the farmers or their rural counterparts. No doubt the chances of misuse remain there but still the mass sale of diesel in metropolitan cities will come under control.

Pollution-free vehicles
Another way of controlling vehicular pollution is to encourage use of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas).

CNG-driven cars are said to be eco-friendly as they do not pollute air to that extent. Although CNG has found many takers its popularity remains far from satisfactory. Why is it that CNG cars are still not selling more? One factor is their pricing, second is availability of CNG and third is pricing of CNG itself. Sadly, the government has failed miserably on all these three fronts.

Smaller vehicles with CNG engine, in particular, would be more beneficial as majority of people prefer to buy such cars. If car companies are encouraged to manufacture small cars with CNG option certainly such vehicles will register higher growth and would help keep the air fresh and clean.

Impose Congestion Tax
The NGT is very correct in its observation that heavy vehicular traffic jam in Delhi and NCR also contributes significantly to air pollution in the region. It is well-known that Delhi tops the list of car sales in the country. In fact, according to a finding, Delhi alone constitutes double the number of cars combined in four metropolitan cities (Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Chennai).

When these vehicles come out on road they lead to traffic snarls and cause air pollution ultimately making the national capital unfit for breathing. It is again an irony that while the people of Delhi lead the race of buying cars they themselves fall in the risk zone as while driving they are the ones who get stranded in road congestion and inhale smoke billowed by surrounding vehicles.

Ideally a car is a family vehicle but the Delhi-ites take pride in projecting it as an individual mode of transport. Now-a-days a car has become the need of every member of the family and thus it is not uncommon to find two, three or four and even more cars in each family. Unless people realise that their prized possession is, in fact, a bane for them will only then they stop buying cars in such large numbers. But this could be possible only when the good sense would prevails over the minds of Delhi-ites. It would be better if people could find beter ways of spending money and not spend it all in car showrooms.

Before the people of Delhi wake to their mistakes is there any rule to control the amazing car-buying desire of Delhi-ites? Yes, why not. The government can allow people to buy at least one car. But laws can become stricter and stricter when it comes to purchasing second, third or fourth car without selling off previous cars. There could be higher tax for buying second car and this tax could go up with each successive purchase. Thus people will be discouraged to own two or three or more cars simultaneously. There may also be 'Congestion Tax' on people possessing three or more cars. In fact these are the richer people who increase the trouble for fellow citizens by spending all their wealth in buying one after another car. Afterall it is not the fault of those who own single vehicle and yet drive only when they must but such wealthy persons are entirely responsible for congestion on road who own large number of cars and that too in sizes that causes discomfort to others.

Public transport Vs Private transport
The National Green Tribunal favours greater use of public transport. Nothing wrong in it but do we have an efficient and smooth public transport system. Delhi got a breather when Metro was introduced but now travelling in it too is not less than a nightmare. Not only one has to cope with the heavy rush Metro services are having everyday trouble and the operations cannot be treated as smootha and error-free. Travelling in public buses is neither feasible nor comfortable. Moreover, when one has to travel with family or for special occasions buses or Metro is certainly not the answer and taxis or auto has its own set of problems.

When you do not have a dependable public transport system how can one curb ownership of private vehicle. Moreover there is a natural instinct in every human being to own a personal vehicle. Several decades ago it was a bicycle and today it is a car. As said earlier people may be allowed single ownership of cars but multiple ownership must be taxed heavily.

Battery Bicycles
The air pollution goes up all the more when people use cars and bikes for covering very small distances as well. Going to banks, buying vegetables or grocery, dropping children to schools etc are several small needs where one needs a personal vehicle but a car or a bike can certainly be avoided. Then what is the solution?

Well, there may be bicycles running on small batteries. When we can have battery-fitted cycle rickshaw pulling four to six people why can't we have bicycles fitted with small batteries! Such battery-driven bicycles would prove great mode of transport as they will save on fuel and will be fully 'green vehicles'.

There is great emphasis on using bicycles to meet our everyday needs. Unfortunates, despite its benefits and advantage bicycles do not find a place when we talk of personal mode of transport. It is good to talk about cycling but in extreme weather conditions found in our country it is not possible to use them all the time. This is perhaps the reason that bicycles have lost their value. If a small battery could be fitted at a little extra cost in existing bicycles then this pristine mode of transport will regain its lost glory in no time. Convenience combined with eco-friendly technology will make cycling more practical and will help it replace car and bike for smaller domestic chores.

My second opinion says that time has come for both, the people and the government, to take concrete steps to improve the quality of air in Delhi and NCR and leave behind the debate what should be done and what should not be done.
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NOTE

Also read other my other pieces:

Copy/ Paste the given links to reads these Blogs. 

1) BECOMING KEJRIWAL! (2019)
https://apurvaopinion.blogspot.com/2020/02/becoming-kejriwal.html

2) हवा ही है ज़हरीली (2019)

http://apurvarai.blogspot.com/2019/12/blog-post.html 

3) अब दिल्ली महानगरपाविका चुनाव (2017)

http://apurvarai.blogspot.com/2017/04/blog-post.html

4) Monsoon and Delhi Roads (2017)

https://apurvaopinion.blogspot.com/2017/07/monsoon-and-delhi-roads.html

5) Delhi Fights Pollution: Odds Come Again (2016)

https://apurvaopinion.blogspot.com/2016/04/delhi-fights-pollution-odds-come-again.html

6) Delhi Pollution: Fighting Odds to make Things Even (2016)

https://apurvaopinion.blogspot.com/2016/01/delhi-pollution-fighting-odds-to-make.html

7) Delhi Pollution- Check 'Green Agenda' of Builders (2015)

https://apurvaopinion.blogspot.com/2015/07/delhi-pollution-time-to-check-green.html

8) मैं और मेरी दिल्ली (2011)

http://apurvarai.blogspot.com/2011/11/blog-post.html

LAND ACQUISITION AND FATE OF FARMERS

BY APURVA RAI

FOR a long time there has been a raging debate on Land Acquisition Bill. Earlier it was the UPA, under command of the Congress Party, that wanted to bring changes through land reforms and now it is the NDA government, under BJP command that wants to bring Land Acquisition Bill.

Whatever the government-- either dominated by the Congress or by the BJP, each wants to bring changes in land bill saying they are working in the benefit of farmers. If every government is working for the benefit of farmers then why are they still poor, neglected, dependent and living on the mercy of others? It is sad that almost every party politicises the issue and every politician wants to bargain a vote in the name of farmers of the country. It is, indeed, a sorry story.

I wish to talk about the farmers only as I believe that all politicians are standing on the same platform and are just another side of the same coin. I feel ashamed of the politicians that when in power they seem to be talking and working in the benefit of farmers and the moment they are out of power they are seen opposing the ruling government and use farmers to prove their point. However, the only community that loses every time is that of farmers as neither the ruling government does anything nor the opposition comes up with positive ideas or support.

No doubt the farmers of India are poor and ironically this financially poor community is feeding the entire nation including those who are rich, prosperous and powerful. Farmers of India are the ones who work day and night to reap rich harvests so that the rich can eat to their contentment. What is even more tragic is that the rich want to buy the land of these farmers and use this land to reap bigger profits by doing anything other than harvesting. Does it all not sound strange?

I would have felt happier had the government framed such laws on land acquisition that would have helped the farmers besides giving a boost to the agriculture of the country. The governments are keen to bring land reforms or pass land acquisition bill but nobody is crystal clear on the way acquisitions will be made. Unclear and complex bye-laws and hidden ideas behind the rules have only added fire to the fuel.

I see only two-types of land-- one that can be harvested and the other that is totally infertile. It is not difficult to classify these two categories as well. Then what is the problem in defining the land acquisition bill?

While talking of infertile land there can be clear strategy that how it shall be used-- either by establishing large factories for defence, aviation or other sector or using it for commercial purpose like raising a hotel, housing society, hospitals for senior citizens or children and so on.

As far as fertile land is concerned the government will have to come up with clear strategy and schemes to boost farming activity. Agriculture has been grossly neglected and nothing concrete has been done to help the farmers. this is perhaps the major reason why many farmers are running away from villages and have become unskilled or skilled labours in metropolitan cities where large-scale construction activity is in progress for the 'welfare of wealthy' citizens of India.

If the government comes up with the idea that only infertile land will be purchased with enough financial compensation, rehabilitation and other help to the owner I don't thing there will be much of protest.

Now comes up the question of fertile land. I feel there would be least protest if the land is leased to corporates who may use the land only for farming activity. The farmers can be given good lease rent and share in harvest. With lease contract the farmer will remain the owner of his land, get financial benefits and share in yield besides getting employment as farmer for which he specialises. On the hand the corporates will invest money in buying seeds, fertilisers, hiring agriculture specialists and bring in all tools and equipment that is necessary to yield rich harvest. Since the farmer will have nothing to invest from his pocket he does not stand to lose anything and he continues to remain owner of the land as well.

So far we have only known industrialists but a now it is very important to rope in richer people and develop a new class to be known as Agriculturinsts. The agriculturists will in the long run come as saviours to the farmers of the country.

Land acquisition for the benefit of farmers will hardly face protest from rural India and that is what is my Second Opinion.

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NOTE

To read another related article please copy/paste the given link.

1) Will Onion Ever Make a Farmer Smile?

https://apurvaopinion.blogspot.com/2015/09/will-onion-ever-make-farmer-smile.html