Dieselvehiclesolderthan10yearsshould

bephasedout.Evenautorickshawsand
BMTCbusesshouldbecheckedfor
emissionfrequently.

Improvedairqualityinthecity,
anurgentpublicneed
WillthealarmingDelhipollutionforcetheKarnatakagovernmentto
wake up from its slumber to address the dipping air quality in
Bengaluru?
Are people now inclined to be more responsible towards the
environment,whichhasbeeninatwisterofpollutantsfuelledbythe
unregulatedrealestateandautomobileindustries?
DeccanHeraldinteractswithacrosssectionofpeopletounderstand
theirconcernsontheissueandtheirsolutionstotacklethegrowing
menaceofairpollution.
Uma Somashekhar, a resident of Chamarajpet, feels Bengaluru's
pollutionneedstobeaddressedonawarfootingbeforeitreachesthe
levelsofDelhi.Sheexplains,"WhatishappeninginDelhiisamatter
of serious concern. If the state government still hesitates to initiate
strictmeasurestocontrolthepollution,allourliveswillbeatstakein
the near future. With increase in air pollution, people are directly
exposedtotoxicfumesthatleadtoskindiseasesandallergies."
As an accountant, Uma has to travel to office every day. "I prefer
goingbypublictransport.SoIrequestpeopletocontributetheirbit
bytakingbusesortaxistoreducethevehicularmovementonroad.It
hasnowbecomeafashiontohaveasecondcarforthefamily.Arule
shouldbemadetolevyheavytaxonpeoplewhoprefergoingforan
additionalcar,"shesays.
Environmentalist Suresh Heblikar feels that Delhi is completely
different in its geographical pattern. He explains, "Our city has its
ownadvantages.ComparedtoBengaluru,Delhihasalargernumber
of vehicles plying on the road. It mainly boils down to people who
shouldtakeastepforwardandgoecofriendlyatalllevels."
Since there are large number of working class in the city, he says
people should encourage carpooling and public transport. "For
instance,ifIamflying somewhere, I usually prefer public transport
toreachtheairport.Thebasicresponsibilityliesinyoutobringdown
thepollutionlevel,"hepointsout.

"As the city grows, the government should reinstate a few of the
programmestocreatemoreawarenessamongpeopleonthedaunting
effectsofairpollution.Ifthetreesarebeingfelledforanyproject,the
government should make sure that a sapling is planted elsewhere
withinthecity,"headds.
SyedAmjedAhmed,visitingfacultyatSt.Joseph'sCollegereasons
that the scenario in Delhi might not immediately replicate in
Bengaluru as the parameters of humidity and temperature are
completelydifferent.Hesays,"InDelhi,thetemperatureiseithertoo
high or too low. But Bengaluru is blessed with a lot of greenery.
However,ifwestartlosingtheexistingtrees,thenthescenariomight
besimilartoDelhiinthecomingdays."
Ahmed suggests that government restrain older diesel vehicles that
are more than 10 years old from plying on the roads. "Even
autorickshaws and BMTC vehicles should be checked for their
emissiononatimelybasis.Alsoasindividuals,peopleshouldadopta
plantoratreeintheirneighbouringareasandtakeallresponsibility
innurturingit."
Jalajakshi G, a lecturer in ASC College says that air pollution is a
slowandunwarrantedproblem."Manydonotrealizehowbaditcan
beuntilit'stoolate.Weshouldbringpressureonthegovernmentto
implement programmes such as tapping solar energy as much as
possible. If there is proper channelization, the natural source of
energysuchassunlightcanbetappedeasily,"shefeels.
Besides,shesays,thegovernmentshouldencouragemorecarsrunon
CNG / electricity. Subsidy should be offered for such environment
friendly vehicles. "Industrial areas and small factories should be
shiftedtotheoutskirtsofthecity.Awarenessprogrammes,seminars
and debates on environmental pollution should be conducted with
morerigouratalleducationalinstitutions,"elaboratesJalajakshi.
PavithraTG