Air pollution deaths are increasing day by day and the high level pollution is felt in Metro cities as they are cramped with high rise buildings and the increase in the number of vehicles on the road. To add to that number of industries are located in outskirts emanating smoke, dirt and chemical solution to the city on daily basis. People suffer from air pollution deaths from particulate matter and O zone. Rapid degradation is felt. People suffer from both Asthma and Bronchitis throughout the year and that make them suffer from breathing and sinus problem. The high level pollution is the root cause for all the troubles and it is very difficult to put forth this problem with congenial atmosphere. The life line of Mumbai, the local trains, where commuters cram themselves into the train every day and the other alternative transport services available are not used much to reduce the pollution level. There has been a 57 per cent rise in the number of private vehicles in the past eight years and that is the major cause for imbalance in pollution level in the metro city. PUC check must be made strict to reduce pollution in the main city. Quality of both petrol and diesel must be checked and more and more electrically operated vehicles should be used. A mix of dust, chemicals, pollen all add to the pollution and lead to various respiratory ailments in the city. The fuel burning by vehicles, power stations and industries, construction activities, road dust, burning of garbage and use of wood and dung as cooking fuel all increase the pollution at its highest level. It is indeed a red alert.
S Abhishek Ramaswamy
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
