Pollution control, but as per convenience !

While hearing a plea filed on pollution in Delhi, the Supreme Court slammed the Delhi and Punjab Governments, saying – “We will not allow people to die due to pollution”. While the Supreme Court passed serious remarks on the issue of pollution, the Bombay High Court in Maharashtra also ordered to reduce the time for lighting firecrackers by 1 hour in Mumbai and surrounding areas to curb pollution.

Overall, the problem of pollution in Bharat is serious and if timely measures are not taken, the problem will go out of control. Despite the seriousness of the issue, we do not see the Administration and the Governments trying to control it seriously. Carbon emissions from vehicles are the main reason for air pollution in the country. As a solution, Bharat has adopted a policy of using electric vehicles. It cannot be denied that Maharashtra, along with other States, is making good efforts to implement this policy; but these efforts are not enough to prevent air pollution. The Maharashtra Government announced celebrating a ‘Pollution-free Diwali’. A formal programme in this regard was organised by the Pollution Control Board. A ‘Pollution-free Diwali’ means ‘control over lighting firecrackers’. Not only Diwali, but all the festivals should be celebrated in a Pollution-free manner and strict action should be taken considering the seriousness of pollution. The lighting of crackers is widespread during political events and processions. So, while announcing a Pollution-free Diwali, all the ministers and political leaders should first control lighting of crackers at their level.

If a political party appeals to its workers not to light firecrackers during its victory processions, the Party will have the moral right to advise the people about its harmful effects, and in this way, there will be effective implementation of the policy.

What is the Pollution Control Board doing ?

The Pollution Control Board says – ‘Prevent pollution during the Ganesh festival’, ‘Celebrate a Pollution-free Diwali’, ‘Avoid pollution during Holi’; but the question is – what does this Board do all around the year to prevent pollution ? This is the same Board, which called for a pollution-free Ganesh festival recently, exhibited so-called eco-friendly Shri Ganesh Idols in the premises of the Assembly and allowed the pollution-causing Idols made from paper pulp to be placed. This Board which appeals for curbing pollution has never created public awareness about the harm that paper pulp Idols cause to the environment.

Annual reports of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board from the Year 2014 are available on its website. The Board has provided data on the noise pollution levels at various places in the State during the Ganesh festival and Diwali. The Board, which measures noise pollution during the annual festivals and publishes it without fail, has never measured the noise pollution of the 365-day unauthorized use of loud speakers installed on mosques and has never published any data in its annual report. As a result, the common man feels that the Pollution Control Board only fills its annual report with selective data.

This Board, which raises alarm of pollution only during Hindu festivals, remains silent during the festivals of other religions. When it comes to Hindu festivals, this Board says – ‘Avoid pollution’; but does not create any awareness about the pollution caused by firecrackers used throughout the year. Hence, it should not be surprising if someone says that the governance of the Pollution Control Board is biased. The Board and the Environment Department can appeal to students and Government employees in schools, colleges, etc. to not buy firecrackers that cause pollution; but they never seem to take initiative.

Why there is no control over firecrackers ?

On the one hand, the Government and the Administration urge people to avoid pollution; but on the other, licenses to sell firecrackers are issued liberally. Firecracker shops are set up in towns, villages and even small lanes. In cities, the streets are lined with firecracker shops. How many firecracker shops should be there in a town or a city ! There must be some control; but in reality, no one has control over them.
Firecracker shops are mostly owned by leaders of political parties and their well-wishers. However, these political groups who think of financial benefits from selling firecrackers do not think about the resultant pollution. This begs the question – How serious are the Pollution Control Board, the Administration and politicians about preventing pollution ?

The Pollution Control Board’s agenda of going about completing a formality will not help control pollution. The Board and the Government should have the sincere intention of taking necessary steps to prevent pollution being caused during the festivals of any religion. Does the Board want to exhibit its disapproval only during Hindu festivals and turn a blind eye to the pollution that takes place throughout the year ? This will do no good to curb pollution.

Pollution control is not a one-day or fixed-term plan. Controlling it is the collective responsibility of citizens as well as the Pollution Control Board and the Government. It is the responsibility of the Government and the concerned agencies to create the requisite seriousness.

Pollution Control Board raises alarm only during Hindu festivals; it remains silent during the festivals of other religions !