Delhi needs more smog towers!

Does Delhi need more smog towers? This question is being raised in several circles as demand for smog towers is growing in several parts of the capital city Delhi and NCR. As Delhi has faced critical situation in the recent past the administrative and environmental structure have come out with a robust ‘solution’ in form of smog towers... read more

2020: QUEST FOR BETTERMENT TO CONTINUE DESPITE ODDS

2020: TEENAGE ERA OVER; HOPES ALIVE
CHANDAN SHARMA

The new year has finally arrived with a bang. Amid fear of the slowdown and a mega stimulus for the infrastructure sector by the government has, at least, gave an indication that the quest for the prosperous and happier nation and world to continue in the coming days despite all odds.

The year 2019 will be known for some of the unique and bold decisions. These decision would certainly impact the future of the entire nation. The country witnessed probably the biggest decision in the recent history or say in the modern history of India – Supreme verdict on Ayodhya temple was probably the biggest decision of over a century old conflict.

On the other hand, rise of people’s awareness about climate change and young Greta’s biggest challenge ‘How dare you’ certainly made an impact on the ruling community of the world and compelled them to seriously consider about the carbon credit and environmental protection.

The year 2019 also raised alarm for Himalayan crisis and melting of glaciers in polar regions and Himalaya. This was probably first year when people encountered with bizarre picture of international mountaineers, making beeline to climb world’s highest Mount Everest, indicating crisis of adventure tourism in the region.

Moreover, the capital city Delhi experienced a shivering cold as the city encountered with the coldest day in the century, colder than other hill stations.

Abrogation of article 370 is certainly a big step taken by the government to make India a united country and paved the way for ‘one nation one constitution’. India also added two new union territories, Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, this year.

Promulgation of Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is another big step despite controversies and protests by the opposition parties and youth. Although, there may be some concerns from various quarters but the decision was certainly a bold step despite all criticism. These concerns can be addressed in the future course of action. As far as protest is concerned, this was fuelled more due to misinformation and mismanagement of the administrative and communication tools and it can not be mixed with NRC or NPR.

The year 2020 is also going to the year of new political permutation and combination as opposition Congress or Congress supported (UPA) emerged as the major party in state politics in 2019. This gives so many indications for 2019 but also says that road ahead for BJP is not so smooth. The void created, by passing away of some of the political leaders like Arun Jaitley, Sheila Dikshit, Sushma Swaraj, S. Jaipal Reddy and some others, seems difficult to fill in the new year.

Not only politics, but media also faced some tough and challenging times. Several esteemed newspapers closed their editions or shut down the operations in some of the metro cities.  These include newspapers like ‘The Hindu’, ‘Deccan Chronicle’ and several others. Vernacular newspapers also forced to shut down in the cut-throat competition with electronic media and internet. Channels were not much different in this concern. This was despite the fact that several stimulus announced for the corporate sectors.

However, there are several economic challenges are still haunting the nation but Prof. Abhijit Banerjee’s Nobel prize gave some solace for India amid disappointments like crash landing of Chandrayaan-2, loss of 45 lives due to fire in Delhi, flood in Patna and many others in 2019.

There are several milestones in defence and diplomatic areas but one big achievement must be acknowledged that India emerged as a global leader in the renewable energy and telecom and its quest will continue in the era of rise of youth power despite plethora of social, political and economic challenges.  So, happy 2020!

(Chandan Sharma is founder of Yuvavani.com; A pvt. initiative)

Merry Christmas

Celebration of Christmas and preparations for new year grip Delhi's mood despite all odds.  

Delhi pollution: Time to move ahead

Chandan Sharma

So. What is the plan for Delhi now? The city, that faced severe pollution crisis for several days or say over three weeks. Over 1.3 crore residents of Delhi have been denied fundamental right to live (and to breathe) amid breathlessness and hazardous smog for several days. Union government got a huge jolt as the parliamentarians discussed the issue in the both the houses of the parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) continuously for three days to awake the government and people of the country from deep slumber and to take appropriate action to tackle the issue of climate change, pollution crisis and health emergency. It is another matter that the issue was sidelined amid some unprecedented political developments took place in Mumbai.

Even the Supreme Court of India has to intervene into matter and made sharpest comments on the administration and government on failure of tackling the crisis. And, Union Minister of Environment Prakash Javadekar had to make a detailed statement in the parliament on the issue. But, despite all the issue yet to be resolved. Air Quality Index (AQI) in different parts of Delhi is still not going down to normal level or healthier level. Interesting fact is that other metropolitan cities like Mumbai or Bangalore or some others are not facing such a severe crisis despite having several industrial units in these cities or their adjoining areas. In some areas level of pm 2.5 is much below than 100 mark that indicate healthier AQI.

It must be noted climate change is probably the biggest challenge around the globe and so the pollution too. The solution has finally been worked out in form of ‘air purifier towers’, use of mask, odd-even and some other tougher measures. But, here we must understand that Delhi has hardly any big polluting industrial units. Even, coal based power generation units too are now converted into gas-based power plants. Certainly, a large amount of pollutants come from adjoining state as large number of industries are operated in the adjoining areas apart from stubble burning.

Long ago, the union minister Prakash Javadekar, talked about pollution sucker or a kind of air pollution treatment plants, mounted over chimneys or such polluting units. The minister is now a minister of heavy industry too. So it much easier for the government to take action in this regard and force such units to install such environmental friendly units. This will a great help to reduce air pollution. 

Administrative steps and better governance will certainly yield results if it is done with co-ordination with other NCR states. On the occasion of ‘world climate strike day’, when world’s large number of younger generation came on street to fight their own right to breathe in a cleaner and healthier air and environmentalists and top leaders gathered for better climate in Spain in next week it is certainly an important step to stop some countries (including US) to ignore the issue of pollution and climate emergency. 

(Chandan Sharma is founder of Yuvavani.com)     ( yuvavani.com is a pvt. Initiative Not a part of AIR/any outlet/outfit/ppp )

    

Lithium-ion batteries soon to be matter of past!

Chandan Sharma

Is lithium-ion battery; that bagged Nobel award in 2019, going to be a matter of past? At least, new researches in this concern indicate so. Interesting fact is that the Indian policy makers believe that these batteries are not suitable for Indian requirements.

This has been indicated by NITI Aayog’s senior officials during a discussion on the issue in New Delhi. According to them “India needs new technology which suits Indian environment and requirements. It may be Aluminium batteries or hydrogen fuel or something else.”

According to him, though lithium ion batteries are working in e-vehicles but considering the requirement, weather and environment researchers should consider some new technology for the future.

Scientists and engineers, working in the field of the e-vehicles say that the lithium-ion batteries are not suitable option for public transport as it is very heavy and expensive. Moreover, recharging of these batteries is still a big issue for manufacturers of such vehicles.

It is notable that Delhi is already working on a plan to introduce hydrogen fuel for public transportation facilities, considering the volume of pollution on roads and number of daily passengers in the NCR areas.

It is notable that over 40 lakh vehicles are operating in the capital city on daily basis. The scheme like odd-even and others emergency measures unable to yield enough results to reduce pollution in the city.

It is an interesting fact that the metro train (DMRC) that has been mandated to provide high speed public transportation system, is now working extensively on a plan to ply e-rickshaws to ferry its passengers to their homes. This is certainly a move to distract its main task to provide passengers a comfortable high speed public transportation system, despite the fact that the move is intended to enhance revenue of the company. The company is already making huge money from the outdoor advertising (mostly of Kejriwal government); snatching bread and butter of dying print media and online and electronic media. Needless to say that DAVP plays an important role in this concern by authorizing these government ventures to convert into advertising ventures.

But it is a matter of fact that metro is least polluting public transport system. It will be better if it remains a public transport system than the advertising kiosks.

(Chandan Sharma is founder of Yuvavani.com; A pvt. initiative not part of AIR or any ppp)

Heritage Metro: Delhi finds spl. reason to celebrate Eid

Chandan Sharma

 

Delhi has at least one reason to celebrate the Eid in a big way. Eid is known as the biggest festival for Muslim but this year Eid is really has been very special for the capital city as Heritage Metro took off in the auspicious month of Ramadan.

“We are really thankful to Metro man E. Sreedharan and government who planned to bring the elite transport system to old Delhi”, says Irfan, a resident of Old Delhi area. 

It is notable that Heritage Metro line was flagged off on 28^th May. The line connects Old Delhi with rest of the city. Old Delhi is also known as the most congested and populous area of Delhi with the historical areas like Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Jama Masjid and many other historical place and centuries old commercial hub. The Metro line connects all these important area.

The old city is also known as the habitat of Muslim and traders community, most of them connect themselve with old Mughal empire. Mirza Ghalib, The biggest poet of Urdu literature to used to stay in this area. Historical documents say that the last Mughal empire or Bahadur Shah Zafar too used to be a dispel of the Mirza Ghalib.

Traditions and history apart, the heritage line has eased communication of the local people to the rest of the city. Connectivity to Jama Masjid, the biggest mosque of the country, too has eased to a lot during the Ramadan. As a result, number to devotees too has increased with the expansion of the heritage line.

“Though metro line used to connect several areas of old Delhi but this has touched the old city in a big manner”, says Akhtar. It is now much easier to reach the places like Fatehpuri Masjid, Jama Masjid and even best eateries of the Delhi.  

(Author is founder of Yuvavani.com)