Join hands to keep pollution away from tricity

Due to the increasing number of vehicles, air pollution has become a major problem for the world. Each private vehicle contributes substantially towards air pollution. People should be encouraged to use eco-friendly means of transportation such as covering short distances on foot, using bicycles, public transport, and carpooling for going to work. If people join hands and adopt these practices, air pollution can be reduced to a great extent.

Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh

---

Cover short distance on foot, go for carpooling

It is sad that Chandigarh, which is known as the City Beautiful, is taking an ugly shape because of the deteriorating air quality and rising pollution levels. Residents should limit the usage of vehicles run on fuel and go for carpooling whenever possible. People can cycle or walk shorter distances. Trash bins should be kept covered and accumulation of water should not be allowed. Any leakage in pipes and drainage system should be reported immediately. More and more trees should be grown as they absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen. At light points, ignition should be turned off to save fuel and to reduce air and noise pollution.

Rashi Srivastava, Chandigarh

---

Streamline public transport

The tricity often gets engulfed in aerosols, including dust, haze, particulate matter and smog, leading to various health disorders. Vehicular density in the region is increasing exponentially. Gaseous air pollutants from vehicular emissions are primarily responsible for causing air pollution in the city. There is a need for imposing self-restriction on the use of own vehicles. Public transport should be streamlined and encouraged.

RPS Chopra, Mani Majra

---

Use battery-operated automobiles

The dust and haze enveloped the tricity due to which all flights were cancelled for two days. It was a warning signal for asthmatic patients. Increasing number of vehicles is the main culprit. Pollens and biomass burning also adds to pollution. Industrial waste also pollutes the atmosphere. Battery-operated  vehicles should be used and burning of leaves should be banned. Water fountains can be installed at various intersections to nip this evil in the bud.

Harish Kapur, Chandigarh

---

Get vehicles checked for pollution

The pollution level has increased to an alarming level in the past few days. The reason for the deterioration of air quality, apart from weather conditions, is an increase in the number of vehicles, decreasing groundwater level and the green area. Public can contribute in conserving the environment by planting saplings on all nearby vacant areas and saving water by reducing the consumption and harvesting rain water. Residents should get their vehicles periodically checked for pollution control. The government should improve the public transport system. Extensive awareness campaign should be started for afforestation and saving water. 

Kamalpreet Kaur, Mohali

---

Curb number of vehicles 

Government policies and plans should ensure sustainable development. There is a dire need for an efficient public transport system which uses green fuel and of generating renewable sources of energy. Increase in the number of vehicles needs to be curbed by taking appropriate measures. Infrastructural facilities in suburbs should also be upgraded. Residents should reduce their ecological footprint by controlling consumerism and using home appliances and gadgets judiciously. They should also make increased use of public transport and avoid taking cars within the sectors.

DR Kapoor, Panchkula

---

Tackle vehicular emission

Pollution level in the past few days was alarming and the situation may worsen in winter. Smoke from burning of leaves, wood and automobile is the main cause. Vehicular emission should be tackled on a war footing as it is increasing day by day. Immediate steps are required to bring Metro rail to the city. Diesel-driven vehicles should be phased out and replaced with CNG-driven ones. Citizens should start carpooling voluntarily.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma

---

Cover grounds with grass

To decrease the pollution level in the city, it is necessary to cover all open grounds with grass. This will eliminate the dust and the quality of air will improve. Stubble burning must be banned at all costs. Those who indulge in such illegalities should be sent to jail for life. Laws should be followed with strictness. Only then will there be an improvement in the quality of air. 

RK Kapoor, Chandigarh

---

Fence forest areas 

Neighbouring states are transmitting their nuisance to Chandigarh. The heavy rush of vehicles is the main culprit. We need dense cover of trees in the city to maintain the ecological balance. All forest areas should be bordered with barbed wires so that those who want to steal wood can not enter. Every house, sector, school, and office should be covered with trees. The burning of lawn waste  should be banned.

Opinder Kaur Sekhon, Chandigarh

---

Develop cycle tracks

Increasing population, vehicle density, location of the city and industrial surroundings, temperature effects and crop harvesting seasons are causing the air quality to deteriorate. To improve the environment, a comprehensive urban air quality management plan should be formulated. Public transporters should use compressed natural gas. Cycle tracks should be developed to reduce dependence on motorised vehicles.

Priya Darsh Growar, Mohali

---

Strengthen public transport

The Chandigarh Administration has been making plans and proposals in a piecemeal fashion to check the pollution, but hardly does anything concrete. Several high-ups have interest in starting bicycles as a mode of public transport across the city, but it turned out just to be a publicity stunt. Under this piquant situation, the only viable and best alternative is to strengthen the public transport system to a large scale. Community interest will have to take precedence over individual convenience. People need to be made aware through advertisement and motivated to use the public transport.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

---

Reduce use of ACs 

Pollution is at its zenith. A few years ago, nobody could have imagined such an injurious pollution level in Chandigarh (particulate matter of size 2.5). News reports have revealed that the situation was because of the movements in Rajashtan, but citizens are also responsible for the sudden weather change. We all have ACs in our houses which contribute to the deteriorating air quality of the city. Major steps need to be taken in this direction. People must use one AC at a time and take to carpooling. Residents should be made aware of environment conservation through campaigns. During winters, pollutants get trapped in the air so the situation is even worse. 

Khushman Sehaj

---

Replant trees

Replanting of trees from where they were cut for various development works should be carried out. They should also be planted along roadsides and in residential areas.

Gurminder Saini

---

Spray water on roads

The dust and haze, not only enveloped the tricity but other northern cities also. This possibly could be due to stubble burning in farm lands and multiplying exhaust from the increasing number of vehicles, combined with climate changes ushering in early dust storms. Maximum that can be controlled is stubble burning. Next step that can be tried is spraying water on the roads to combat pollutant fumes from vehicles.

Tejinder Singh Kalra, Mohali

---

Keep surroundings neat and clean

It is the moral duty of every citizen to maintain the beauty of the tricity. We should keep our surrounding neat and clean. We should grow more trees, especially in industrial areas. We should advise people not to cut trees from their locality. The Administration should frequently carry out plantation programmes. Old vehicles on city road should be banned. The Administration should also ban the use of polythene material for any purpose. The people should use more public transport instead of personal vehicles. The stone crushers and brick-kilns should be removed from the surrounding area of tricity. The Forest Department should be more considerate about controlling the pollution.

Sumesh Kumar Badhwar, Mohali

---

Increase forest area

The dust storm last week might be a natural happening, but the human beings cannot be absolved of our misbehaviour with nature. For upgrading the Patiala-Bathinda highway, more than 63,000 fully-grown trees have been axed and no compensatory afforestation has taken place yet. To check such calamities, there is a need to create/ maintain water bodies in each village, to make sure that catchment of rivulets are not encroached upon and increase the forest area. The government must check the use of vintage diesel vehicles and the power need of the industry be met from alternate energy resources than diesel. Water sprinkling in the city limits should be done to arrest the dust while people susceptible to dust allergy should use masks.

SS Arora, Mohali

---

Ban diesel vehicles

Study had found that the air quality of Chandigarh was deteriorating. Diesel vans should not be allowed in the city and in case, heavy penalty be imposed on the owners. Citizens should be advised to use local transport than their own cars. Vehicles coming to the city must be thoroughly checked for their pollution control papers.

Tarlok Singh, Mani Majra

---

Check entry of commercial vehicles

Recently, a thick haze and layer of dust descended on the city for two days. The phenomenon has rung the alarm bells to check the increasing air pollution. The authorities must control the passing of all commercial vehicles from Himachal and Haryana to Punjab on the city roads in the day time. All diesel-driven auto rickshaws should be replaced with e-rickshaws. The use of recently-made cycle tracks must be encouraged to ensure less vehicular traffic. These measures, if taken effectively, are bound to improve the quality of air in winter.

SC Luthra, Chandigarh

---

Bring down number of vehicles

The city has adequate tree cover, but the mushrooming colonies and industrialisation around the city is turning out to be a leading cause of air pollution. We can improve the air quality by planting more trees and by bringing down the number of vehicles on the city roads. The governments of neighbouring states are taking strict measures to bring down stubble burning and we are hoping for a smoke-free winter this year.

Dr G Dewan, Director, Health Services, Chandigarh

---

Strengthen emergency services

Air pollution can cause heart problems and further deteriorate the health of those afflicted with heart diseases. It affects the respiratory system, nervous system and vascular system. Usually, the dust particles, when they combine with air pollutants from the gaseous material and carbon particles emitted from various sources — smoke and fire — affect the human organs adversely and can precipitate heart failure, hypertensive crises and coronary artery disease (heart attack and angina). This can even lead to cancer. The strengthening of emergency services and daylight conservation policy with the change of working time during summer and winter will help in reducing air pollution and cardiac diseases in the long run.

Dr Yashpaul Sharma, Head of Cardiology Department, PGI

---

Wear masks while going out

The PM 2.5 pollutant is so fine that it can reach our lungs directly and then the blood system. Those with allergies, bronchitis, asthma and lung fibrosis should stay indoors. In case patients have to go out, they should wear masks.

Dr D Behra, former head, Pulmonary Medicine Department, PGI, Chandigarh

---

Use bicycles whenever possible

The impact of surrounding states on Chandigarh’s environment cannot be controlled. The number of vehicles floating in from nearby cities is very high. While major sources of pollution, including vehicles, road dust, biomass burning, construction and industries, remain continuous throughout all seasons, the episodic pollution from stubble burning increases in this season. We have to act now as cases of lung cancer are increasing alarmingly. People should use public transport instead of private vehicles and also use bicycles wherever possible.

Vivek Pandey, Scientist, Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee