Article by Anne-Sophie, French, Intern at Chandigarh University, India
Last Friday, on the 4th of November, Delhi witnessed for two days the worse smog the city as known in 17 years. Besides the celebration of Diwali and its firecrackers overuse, experts are blaming the lack of governments involvement to fight pollution, stubble burnings in Punjab and Haryana, and the increasing number of vehicles on the roads. We could ask ourselves where is the place of Chandigarh in that alarming pollution degradation and what role Chandigarh has played on the pollution regulation post-celebration.
Last Friday, on the 4th of November, Delhi witnessed for two days the worse smog the city as known in 17 years. Besides the celebration of Diwali and its firecrackers overuse, experts are blaming the lack of governments involvement to fight pollution, stubble burnings in Punjab and Haryana, and the increasing number of vehicles on the roads. We could ask ourselves where is the place of Chandigarh in that alarming pollution degradation and what role Chandigarh has played on the pollution regulation post-celebration.
With
a PM10 (Particular Matter of 10 micrometers or less) at 229 against 110 for
Chandigarh, Delhi reached the sorry state of being the most polluted city in
the world. Authorities were forced to take emergency measures and limit outdoor
exposures to children and vulnerable persons. The increasing level of pollution
is related to a doubling of the population in Delhi and greater areas in the
last 15 years. This demographic expansion consequently resulted on a
multiplication of vehicles on the road, as polluting as ever. This dramatic
scenario could have been anticipated by a stronger political will to regulate
and implement policies regarding the environment, but also reversed if
residents of India were willing to change their lifestyle habits and raise
awareness on environmental issues surrounding them.
Not
blaming Delhi only for the deterioration of its pollution, stubble burnings in
the region of Punjab and Haryana has played an important role in the pic of
pollution. Even though the government bans the crop-burning as a mean for
farmers to clear fields for the next crop, this cost efficient tradition is
repeatedly used in those regions, feeding the already existing smog surrounding
the city.
Due
to its geographical position and its lighter number of industries and vehicles,
Chandigarh woke up in a smoggy atmosphere which dispersed rapidly the following
days thanks to the wind. The windy region of Chandigarh was announced to help
clear up the air in Punjab, Haryana till Delhi.
Video by BBC News
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