Delhi-NCR’s air high quality once more hit extreme class this yr with governments pressured to shut faculties and ordering do business from home. The GRAP levels have been put into pressure to curb air pollution sources. However all of those are short-term measures. Religious chief and environmental advocate Swami Sehajanand Saraswati who has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on varied environmental points, has now referred to as upon the Nationwide Inexperienced Tribunal to contemplate assigning warning tag for cities with hazardous air high quality.
Expressing deep concern in regards to the deteriorating air high quality in cities like Delhi and its affect on life expectancy, Swami Sehajanand identified {that a} little one born in cities like Delhi in the present day is destined to reside a shorter life. “Practically 18% of their life expectancy is misplaced to air air pollution. Evaluate this to kids born in cleaner environments like Portugal—they reside considerably longer. Shouldn’t we be alarmed?” he stated.
He has urged the Nationwide Inexperienced Tribunal to take stronger measures. “Cities with hazardous air high quality ought to carry warnings, identical to cigarette packets show well being dangers. Think about the affect of an indication saying, ‘Warning: Residing on this metropolis will scale back your lifespan.’ Transparency can push governments to behave decisively,” he opined.
Swami Sehajanand painted a grim image of what inaction may result in. He stated, “The day just isn’t far when kids will carry oxygen cylinders as a substitute of faculty baggage. Clear air, like water, could quickly be offered in bottles. Is that this the legacy we wish to depart for future technology?”
The Hindu seer referred to as for believes that the change to cleaner fuels just isn’t an choice however a necessity. He advised drastic measures, together with banning petrol and diesel in city areas the place alternate options like CNG can be found. “We can’t proceed to poison our cities with vehicular emissions. If CNG or electrical automobiles can change polluting fuels, why hesitate? Every single day we delay, we hurt the following technology,” he stated.
Highlighting the urgency of the environmental disaster, Swami Sehajanand has referred to as for the declaration of a worldwide environmental emergency. He warned, “We’re operating out of time. Go searching: rivers are drying, forests are disappearing, and the air is popping poisonous. If we don’t act now, future generations will reside in a world the place even clear air and water are luxuries.” He has written to international leaders, urging them to prioritize conservation efforts over financial enlargement.
