Open house: What actions can restore our fading air quality?

Vehicular emissions deepen crisis

The air pollution caused by stubble burning during harvesting seasons continues to worry environmentalists, but the heavy carbon emissions from ever-increasing vehicular traffic are no less worrisome. Approximately 60,000 automobiles are added to city roads every year without taking significant remedial measures to curb the likely pollution from such a heavy volume of traffic. Vehicular emissions have now become a major source of air quality deterioration and warrant drastic and sustainable solutions to check this chronic menace. To begin with, diesel-run vehicles must be totally banned and the latest emission norms of BS-VI should be strictly implemented by the concerned agencies. Automobiles that do not adhere to pollution norms must be confiscated. The process of issuing pollution certificates, covering all the latest emission standards, should be made more stringent and enforced strictly as per law. The sale of electric vehicles needs to be promoted and augmented through more incentives for buyers, while charging facilities should be made conveniently accessible to e-vehicle owners.

Jagdish Kumar

Beyond stubble burning blame

It is always said to stop stubble burning as it worsens air quality, but vehicles release harmful gases that contribute to smog, which reduces visibility and causes breathing problems and eye irritation. Vehicles are not regularly checked and move freely, emitting toxic gases. Older vehicles are particularly dangerous for the environment because fine particles enter our bodies, causing serious health problems. Fifteen-year-old vehicles should not be allowed within city limits. Even firecrackers worsen air quality—there should be a blanket ban on their sale. Noise and air pollution both occur due to crackers. Why blame only stubble burning? Other aspects that worsen air quality also need attention.

Shashi Kiran

Broken roads add to misery

During my recent visit to the city, I found the road network in deplorable condition. The stretch passing through Adarsh Nagar and Model Town areas is the worst affected. The uprooted roads for laying water pipes under the project, along with adjoining service lanes, reflect the Municipal Corporation’s and the company’s blind eye towards the inconvenience faced by the general public using the said stretch to reach their destinations. Long traffic snarls and accidents are a common sight, with traffic police posing as mute spectators. It is ironic that the Municipal Corporation, Jalandhar, is not keen on repairing city roads even in high-footfall areas, leaving interior roads in battered condition. The general public suffers the most despite paying higher road taxes and other charges. It costs them heavily in terms of petrol expenses and precious time wastage, adding to their woes. The MCJ should rise from its slumber and restore the battered city road network to at least a minimum usable condition.

Anil Vinayak

Air quality declining fast

With the onset of winter, air quality deteriorates drastically. As the mercury dips, smoke and dust particles laden with moisture become the primary cause of pollution. Upon harvest of paddy during this period, widespread stubble burning takes place, contributing significantly to rising pollution levels. Apart from this, excessive emissions from the ever-increasing number of vehicles and the erratic disposal of domestic garbage further aggravate the situation. To combat the declining Air Quality Index (AQI), restrictions such as bans on diesel vehicles and suspension of construction activities had to be imposed last winter to prevent a surge in respiratory ailments. Regarding farm fires, the government has begun taking strict action against farmers who resort to burning crop residue. However, no effective measures seem to be in place to control the alarming rise in vehicles, which heavily adds to pollution levels. Besides vehicles, harmful gases emanating from industrial units continue to pose serious environmental hazards, demanding urgent redressal. Although steps have been initiated to provide sustainable solutions for crop residue disposal, the problem of domestic waste remains a gigantic challenge. In some cities, mechanical systems have replaced manual scavenging, yet the lack of public awareness and seriousness toward segregation of waste into dry and wet content hinders effective waste management. Instead of last-minute crisis control, we must adopt proactive preventive measures to resolve this persistent problem. This may include affordable technological equipment for quick decomposition of crop residue in fields and sensitisation of industrial establishments to adopt eco-friendly practices for reducing toxic emissions. Likewise, enhanced incentives for switching over to electric vehicles will help curb vehicular pollution. Nevertheless, regulating the vehicle density on roads has become imperative, as our infrastructure has failed to keep pace with the growing traffic load.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Winter worsens pollution levels

Winter is approaching and stubble burning along with vehicle emissions is paving the way for worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. During the festival of lights (Deepawali), firecrackers were burnt on a large scale. People celebrated Deepawali for two days, bursting fireworks in large numbers on both days. The state government has been advising farmers to refrain from stubble burning and has even proposed incentives for not burning crop residue.However, if the wind flows in a certain direction, the AQI of several cities worsens. The worst sufferers are patients suffering from bronchitis, asthma, and allergic bronchitis, who require immediate medical attention as they feel uneasy when AQI levels rise in polluted environments. It is not just stubble burning, but the revolutionary increase in vehicles and their emissions that is polluting the environment. There is a need to strictly implement one-way traffic on various roads to ensure smoother vehicular flow and avoid jams. Vehicle owners must follow traffic signals strictly to prevent accidents and congestion. The administration should hold meetings with shopkeepers, appealing to them not to place their items on pedestrian footpaths or extend displays beyond their shops by one or two feet. This practice narrows roads, worsening traffic jams. We all must follow administrative orders to avoid traffic congestion and help improve air quality.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Traffic woes in Jalandhar

Traffic jams have become a constant reality in Jalandhar, with even major chowks and thoroughfares—once free of congestion—now facing annual bottlenecks. Previously serene areas, with wide roads and beautiful parks, are increasingly being defaced by parked vehicles, which have overtaken green belts and roadsides, all due to a lack of designated parking spaces. The growing number of vehicles is clogging the city’s roadways, worsening traffic issues year by year. Some congested areas are now practically impassable on foot.This surge in the number of SUVs, MUVs and cars has had a significant impact on the city’s air quality index (AQI). The clear skies during the COVID-19 lockdown serve as a stark reminder of how much damage has been done to our air quality by toxic vehicle emissions. There should be a cap on the number of vehicles allowed in each area, to prevent further degradation of the city’s infrastructure.

Raghav Sharma

Neglecting pedestrians and green spaces

While vehicles are essential for navigating the city, the city’s roads, open spaces, and parking areas were not planned to accommodate such a large fleet of vehicles. Meanwhile, pedestrian paths and green spaces are being increasingly neglected or eliminated to make room for the growing number of vehicles. The lack of footpaths and roadside benches further reduces the city’s walkability and overall liveability. It is crucial that mandatory green belts accompany any new areas designated for parking in the city. Vehicles not only occupy valuable road space, but also contribute to civic chaos and significant increases in air pollution. Unfortunately, vehicular pollution and accidents often receive less attention than issues like stubble burning. There should be mandatory vehicular pollution monitoring panels, similar to those used for monitoring stubble fires, to address the growing environmental concerns.

Sunny Vij

Impact of vehicle overload

Every year, Jalandhar adds more infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of vehicles, but former quiet lanes are now plagued with daily chaos and traffic jams. New roads, highways, bypasses, and underpasses—intended to ease traffic—are increasingly being used as parking spaces, consuming thousands of acres of land that were once designated for green spaces or trees. The impact of this vehicle overload is not just on air quality, but also on noise pollution and deforestation. The solution to this issue lies in the development of green areas and spaces in proportion to the land taken up by vehicles. At home, too, parking spaces are taking over gardens, reducing greenery in residential areas. Regulations must be put in place to curb the unchecked growth of automobiles at the expense of forests and green cover.

Mandeep Kaur