Nature redeems, rejuvenates

The response to the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a drop in pollution, both air and water, as the world hunkers down to wait out in the safety of homes. Even as crores of Indians are confined to their homes, they can, at least, look out from their windows and see far further than they could have before the lockdown. People in Jalandhar can see the Dhauladhar range, while from the airport road at Zirakpur near Chandigarh, there was a glimpse of the Churdhar range; cities are cleaner, nights are still cooler and the lockdown has led to far greater cleaning of the Ganga water than all the crores spent for the same. The dramatic effect of the cessation of practically all economic activity in India and most of the world is starkly visible.

The cost of this change is horrific: thousands of deaths, lakhs of infections worldwide, and the economies of nearly all countries derailed. While the poorest suffer the most, the pandemic is unsparing to all, and has exposed the fault lines in countries and health systems that for long prioritised profit. Amid reports of geographic quarantines for defined areas, the government plans a gradual opening up of movement to restore normalcy. This is bound to lead to pollution levels going up again. Will it mean a return to the ugliness?

It need not. Air quality will benefit from the new Bharat VI emission norms. These will undoubtedly cut down the fumes from new automobiles. Concurrently, the Bharat VI fuels that have now been provided at petrol pumps would also help. The government’s major focus would naturally be on the resumption of economic activity and the return of livelihood to the people of India. However, there is anecdotal evidence of people recalibrating their lives and priorities. Would it be too much to hope that even as effort is made to repair the economic fabric of the country, an eye is kept on doing so in a manner that harms the environment the least?

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