OPINION

Delhi after a long-time has seen this gloomy beginning to the New Year. Much to the relief of the citizens, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was ‘large-hearted’ enough to bring down the GRAP from level four to level three thus allowing BS-III (petrol) and BS-IV (diesel) vehicles on the roads. However, the weather isn’t in any way adding to cheer.

If one recalls correctly, till the turn of this century during the coldwave days the government would arrange for bonfires in marketplaces and other residential areas, which led to small assemblies and brought some cheer in the otherwise bitter cold environment. This today sounds like a folktale.

The harsh anti-pollution norms have ensured that there are no public bonfires today in the national capital region. Thus no assemblies and no scope for winter chat over ‘chai’ under shivering cold. The authorities may say that we have allowed heaters but then you don’t go around switching a heater at the roadside. Huge gas burners to keep the public places warm are still to make their debut in the national Capital or its surroundings.

According to a report released by the Centre, five years after the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) was launched in 2019, Delhi has failed to meet its 2024 target of bringing down the annual PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations by 20-30%. While we have been witness to continues blame games between the political parties, the government report shows that every state government, whatever the political hue, in the national capital region (NCR) has failed to get into mission mode to contain pollution.

The report says that of the Rs 428.61 crore allotted to six cities of NCR with million plus population, only Rs 170.58 crore has been utilised in the last five years. Delhi, ruled by Aam Aadmi Party, was allocated Rs 38.22 crore of which only Rs 10.77 crore used. Noida, under BJP government, of Rs 26.42 crore allocated only Rs 0.95 crore utilised, Alwar, ruled by Congress government, of Rs 15 crore Rs 0.04 crore used, Meerut, ruled by BJP government, Rs 81.93 crore of allocated Rs 139.19 crore used, Ghaziabad, ruled by BJP, Rs 76.89 crore of Rs 136.25 crore used and finally Faridabad, again ruled by BJP, not a single paisa of allocated Rs 73.53 utilised.

Newspaper reports say that analysis by an independent climate advocacy group found that the national Capital managed to bring down the concentration of PM2.5, the ultrafine particles that can reach deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, by a mere 6%. For PM10, slightly coarser pollutants made mostly of fine dust fell only by 4%. Delhi was part of 131 cities across the country that did not attain targets for improving air quality. 

In the midst of Ayodhya blitzkrieg on all the media platforms, the last thing Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have wanted images of air travellers sprawled on the taxiway of Mumbai airport and having dinner provided by the airlines. The images project penury in its worst form. Even the ‘langars’ (mass meals) meant for the homeless and poor outside the cremation ground of Nigambodh Ghat in Delhi present a better picture.

Projecting all round development and good governance is integral to Prime Minister’s Ayodhya sojourn. The image strategists for the Modi government have been projecting his rule as a journey towards Ram Rajya, the ideal state for the benefit of people. Thinkers and political leaders in India have venerated the Ram Rajya as the ideal to be striven for, and it resonates as the ideal polity in the minds of most Indians.

Now what the train and the air travellers have been facing in the national Capital and other towns in north India is certainly not an iota of a reflection on Ram Rajya. The other image which must have caused much cavity in Modi’s claim of move to Ram Rajya was an IndiGo passenger -- identified as Sahil Kataria – being arrested after he assaulted a pilot while he was making an announcement inside the aircraft that the flight to Goa waiting to take off at Delhi was further delayed. The incident, in which a woman flight attendant broke down and asked the passenger how he could be so aggressive, took place a week ago.

Ripu Jan Jiti Sujas Sur Gawat! Sita Sahit Anuj Prabhu Avat!!

Sunat Bachan Bisre Sab Dookha! Trishavant Jimi Pai Piyusha!!

(After defeating the enemy in battle field, Ram with Sita and Laxman is returning to Ayodhya! The Surs are singings paeans and hearing this Bharat has forgotten his agony like thirsty person forgets his thirst on getting nectar!!)

Ramcharitra Manas

As we read newspapers dated January 1, 2024, the hotels and other watering holes in Delhi-NCR would be counting on the profits made during what’s variously and most commonly called New Year bonanza. The roads leading to the hill stations have been jam-packed and the hill resorts too must have cooked sumptuous foods and their cash boxes would have remained clinging since the Christmas bells started to jingle.

While these are the visible areas of profit, what has escaped public notice are the notification on the pharmacy sites. Most of them are announcing the eye drops containing Carboxymethylcellulose as best sellers. To understand what these eye drops are, they are called by various brand names like Refresh Tears, Hypermist, Ontears, and Tears Naturale.

These eye drops help you not fight back tears but regenerate some in the eyes. The level of air pollution make it difficult for the natural tears in the eyes to absorb all the pollutants, thus the eyes going dry and the burning sensation. To fire fight the burn in the eyes, these tear drops play the role of the fire brigade.

This is a major health issue. Air pollution contributes to overall dryness in the air, which in turn leads to dry eyes, making them more susceptible to irritation and discomfort. In addition to this airborne allergens too contribute to eye irritation. These allergens are present in higher concentrations in polluted air, aggravating the symptoms for individuals who are sensitive or allergic to them.