How to grow fresh air and keep smog out of our heads
Spook me a bit Halloween. The careless city whose veins are carrying the sins it has done. Sins of distaste for human emotions, humane benevolence, the lust for power, desire for supremacy. City which is the brain for the Aryavarta is choking to its own death. Taking its own smoky breath, it tried to shut its windows to the winter smog. Between life and lifelessness it has painted itself a blue lifeless balloon.
We, the people living thousands of Kilometers away can only pity with our words and abhor the situation there but highlighting the conditions and providing some solutions, is best we can do. Build a public conscience as a movement for the entire year rather than we actually waking up when we face the problem is the weakest we can be.
Since last few year, every last week of October and first few weeks of November, we get to hear that Air Quality Index in Delhi and surrounding areas is deteriorating, Air has become hazardous to breathe, people are having difficulty breathing, have nausea, irritation in eyes and throats and many more. Relentless media campaigns and rants-fights-blame games between politicians on opposite side of the spectrum, drama and many more. But what actually have we done. Its foolish to blame the government not to take any concrete steps to stop this chronic issue. Its foolish to blame the farmers. Parali or Stubble burning is not something which happens only in India. Australia, USA, France, China and countless countries are there where this practice is followed setting fire to the straw stubble that remains after grains, like paddy, wheat, etc., have been harvested. Who is responsible, what is the compulsion for the farmers to do so, where does this issue arose from, who is accountable, whom to blame for. Many questions are there. But this article is not for the problems. What solutions can we provide.
Solutions:
The residue stubble holds the potential to transform village economy, meet local energy demands and also provide alternative sources of income for farmers in northern India. Paddy straw as fuel for running decentralized cold storage units at the village level is the easiest alternative which we can be envisioned. There is a huge demand for solid fuel — such as coal and wood — to run cold storage units and brick kilns in the two states. It also says that creating a biomass supply chain involving entrepreneurs and setting up facilities to convert crop residue into fuel pellets can help farmers find value in waste. This, in turn, will aid in curbing air pollution. Central and State Governments need to collaborate under the guidance of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Commerce Ministry and Ministry of Renewable Resources. Showcase the power of Make In India and Skill India Initiatives. Make Think Tanks, engage various IIT Labs working in these fields of study, invite innovators, entrepreneurs interested in local dynamics. Setup Cold Storage with modern techniques which could harness the leftover stubble in an eco-friendly and economic manner. On the other hand provide incentives for electronic vehicles innovators and OEM’s, motivate people to use sharing transports or public transports when travelling alone, plant two evergreen trees as ritual with every new born kid, on happy occasions like marriage, anniversaries, compulsory planting on trees on road dividers and pavements are some of the ways we can go forward. Hundreds of suggestions can be there. Let a think tank specific for Pollution Control, Cleaner Air, Clean Water and healthy soil be created with active inputs and participation from all the agencies, government and optimistic support of all the citizens. Otherwise I binge watched Leila WebSeries on Netflix and the gory images of black skies during daytime and civil war for water is not far away. Jay Aryavrata!! Lets put forward one constructive each. Make a collaboration between state and the masses ‘to grow fresh air and keep smog out of our heads’