My City - Delhi, India
Delhi the capital of India famous for its grandeur, and cosmopolitan environment and also has gathered an unenviable position of being the most polluted city in the world. It is the 6th most populated city and the 2nd if the NCR region is considered. The analysis of this fact reveals a lot of reasons for Delhi to become polluted of which population is also a major contributor. The Air Quality Index of Delhi generally is moderate (101-200) throughout the year except in the last three winter months, October-December when it becomes hazardous (500+).
‘The reasons have been detected and measures are being taken from 1982 but hyper population growth is causing degradation in air quality’ according to Dr.Devaram.A.Nagdewe.The main reason behind such pollution is the burning of stubbles in the neighboring states of UP and Haryana during this period. The combustion of solid waste also adds up air pollutants due to sanitary infrastructure in the suburbs and Yamuna banks. The burning of crackers during the festivals of Diwali during this period which cannot be completely prevented by the governments also stands up to be a severe reason for air pollution. As Delhi lies in a semi-arid region with a dry tropical climate which causes locking up of pollutant particles in air during winter months due to lack of air circulation than in humid regions where it resettles easily. The region in which Delhi falls carries dust and sand particles from the Afghan and Pakistani regions. The water resources in Delhi are also scarce and it is overused. The groundwater level is being depleted by 100mtrs every year, in some regions soil has completely dried up. This exerts huge pressure on the environment. The extremely polluted foaming Yamuna has water with such chemicals that it is hazardous for any use. The major reason for water pollution is industrial discharges.
The meaning of growth and development in Delhi is highly misunderstood by the authorities and also laymen. Mostly it is referred to the number of high rises, flyovers, IT Parks, and shopping malls, thus other infrastructural developments within the city is not focused upon as development. Inclusive development is still a very new concept for the people, which by name includes all socio-economic strata of people to be served with a sustainable, pollution-free environment.
Apart from this, it is seen that Delhi makes quite long trips in daily commutes which together with poor traffic management and less adequate public infrastructure results in congestion. There is a false sense of luxury in Delhi which shows the number of vehicles owned by a unitary family defines its status within the society. This has caused a huge number of private vehicle ownership of 83,851.53 two-wheelers, 26,67354 four-wheelers, and 185,6789 commercial vehicles going by vehicles registered till June 2014. Thus ‘walkability’ within the city is not increased and poor pedestrian facilities are seen. Public transport systems are to be more invested in and vigorously started.
Large-scale construction works in the newly developing regions are also to be considered. A huge amount of VOCs and other pollutants released in the air due to construction work creates the extreme opaque smog in the air.
All these things accumulate to have a huge impact on the living quality in the city. It causes high mortality and morbidity rates. Lung diseases are very frequently observed among citizens. United Airlines have stopped their flight to Delhi due to unclear sky. The ritualistic accident of every year the piling up of cars on the National Highway is very frequent during the winter months due to low visuality.
The viewpoint of a medieval monarch
The location of Delhi being so ideal to rule over India has always been a prime factor for monarchs to conquer this position. It has the most ideal expanse of land for setting up cities and government. If I would have been a medieval monarch right now with the unbound power and no budget restrictions there are a lot of practices which would have been carried out on priority. This power would have compelled me to make a city of my own like the great Mughals and other predecessors. The city would have had good water systems and for that a gigantic amount from the coffers would have been spent on the Yamuna. The cleaning of the river in a city causes a massive difference in the lifestyle and economy on the city.. Sanitation would have been a major concern too. Industrial growth is very important for country’s economic growth which environmentalist only visualizes as a giant pollution-causing centre. The lack of investment in the research of less polluting materials for manufacturing industries would cause a lot of difference.
My city would have been full of blooming orchards and gardens because not only food but urban biodiversity is enhanced by such developments. This would have been a mandate for all the citizens to own and tend to small patched of green lands. Agriculture would have had been concentrated upon even in cities. The money and labor would be found from the royal treasures for such activities. Awareness amongst people is important but awareness of the leader makes a huge difference in the system in itself.
As a monarch I would have made vehicle ownership a limited benefit for people, the number of vehicles owned by people would have been regulated. The construction works carried out within the cities would have had to abide by the Green building strategies for sanctioning of the project. Buildings and other built forms which are more inclusive of the environment would have had incentives.
All royal people have a fascination for recreational splurges, that personally would have made very indigenous public spaces in my city, that would include well enhanced public squares. Endemic species of plants are very important for controlling groundwater levels that would have been taken care of.
The land is a limited resource thus to make any development, even to make and conserve green spaces it island that has to be utilized. Thus it has to be used tactfully within the city. Mostly poor people are compelled to occupy land illegally due in equal distribution of wealth. As a benevolent queen, the housing crisis within the city has to solve by providing accommodations to poor people, then which will clear up the public spaces and important spaces. Anybody not abiding by the above laws have will be accounted for by carrying out laborious city development tasks which includes the financial part of carrying out the projects also.
The viewpoint of a democratic ruler
Being a member of the ministry of environment and forests in the department of the environmental department in the National capital territory I would be given the complete authority to scrutinize implemented and carried out in all nooks and corners of the capital. Due to the extreme rise in population within the city, it is very important to include a huge amount of the public to participate in all reforms. Higher population density reduces unit-based cost and permits economy of scale. Public participation makes the projects more doable and cost-effective. Making pollution controlling developments at the same time reducing poverty are itself a very costly affair. For example, providing electricity to households that lack, 200 million people will take around 1.37 million dollars. If this is generated from low carbon emission it would cost 1% extra for avoiding the 2O rise in temperature.
The chronic problem of vehicular pollution was supposed to be addressed from the year 1985 in the National Air Quality Monitoring Act. After this Act according to judiciary reports noxious industries like brick kilns and hot mix plants are shifted to outside of the city. Vehicles are to be provided with unleaded petrol, construction of well-designed roads with demarcated better pedestrian opportunities and promoting public transport would be my first priority. The regulation on vehicle ownership/ unit household is an important matter to be looked into. The successful initiative of odd-even vehicular transports according to days of the week had been very helpful which can be promoted for short periods.
Basic urban services like safe and accessible drinking water, river regulations, sanitation, waste collection, all-weather roads, education, emergency, and health care are to be more spent upon by the government instead of matter which is only shows in magnitude for vote collection. More impactful reforms are made but not carried out due to unanimous political scenarios and less public awareness.
Robert Moses’s ‘parkways’ are very good traffic-oriented concepts which if carried out in rational amount in applicable places are good proposals for green and clean cities.
Agriculture would be proposed to be an eminent land use within the cities The food crisis is a hovering threat in recent years which not only is being caused by groundwater depletion and extreme urbanization. As the population increases feeding people is becoming a costly affair day by day which can be reduced food production and inappropriate and limited levels can be introduced to cities. This will also emanate the greens and contribute to a sustainable vision. Victory garden after World War II and now the urban green movement in Detroit are inspiring examples of such urban food movements.
Vertical gardens on the columns of flyovers are being introduced and I would also promote the Kalpataru plant, which absorbs a lot of pollution on important crossings. It is an indigenous discovery which is to be promoted in different cities of India.
I would like to propose minor steps for achieving a pollution-free environment as a democratic leader, which will gather up to make huge differences in the city which caters to such a huge population of people with better facilities and opportunities. This can be achieved by continuous scrutinizing of the air in different regions regularly and act accordingly.
Websites:
- https://medium.com/@advanirajesh/why-walkability-in-india-miserably-fails-127943948c46
- https://itzchennai.com/chennai-is-second-in-overall-emissions-study/
- https://paa2007.princeton.edu/papers/7192
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3612296/
- https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/pollution-in-delhi-a-chronic-problem-1510211965-1
- https://www.vox.com/2018/5/8/17316978/india-pollution-levels-air-delhi-health
