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Delhi has become a gas chamber, say experts

An incompetent monitoring system, lack of transparency in disseminating information, and the lethargy of the masses have turned the national capital into a virtual gas chamber where more than 8,200 people die prematurely every year of air pollution alone, say experts.

Participating in a panel discussion on 'Has Delhi become a gas chamber?', organised by the Association of the Victims of the Uphaar Tragedy in New Delhi yesterday, renowned environmental activist and deputy director of the Centre for Science and Environment, Sunita Narain, held the government largely responsible for the present situation.

"There is practically no system to monitor environmental pollution. If at all there is one, it is not accountable and does not want to share the details with the public," she said.

Noted journalist Ramesh Menon, producer of an acclaimed documentary on pollution around the Taj in neighbouring Agra, was equally scathing on the lack of transparency in policies. "It is time we stand up and demand information," he said.

Pointing out that 3,000 tonnes of toxic material are emitted every day, Bhure Lal, chairman of the Environment and Pollution Control Authority, felt the explosive growth of population in the city contributed to the menace. Every year 700,000 people are added to the city whereas the monitoring system remains the same, he noted, citing the 60-year-old sewerage system as a typical example.

Interestingly, industrial pollution, over which a big hue and cry is made, is only the second biggest cause of pollution, said Bhure Lal who quoted figures to show that only 20 per cent of air pollution is caused by industry today. (The figure was 70 per cent in 1970.) On the other hand, vehicular pollution accounts for 70 per cent of the pollution in the metropolis. Delhi has 2.85 million vehicles, which equals the total number of vehicles in the three other metros put together.

I V Rao, participating in the discussion as a representative of the Automobile Manufacturers' Association, said 50 per cent of vehicular pollution is caused by poor maintenance. Poor traffic management also contributes to the problem.

The 12 million people of the city release about 5 million kilos of human waste every day and the municipal authorities require about 500 trucks to transport it daily, said K T S Tulsi, a senior Supreme Court advocate.

Although just 10 per cent of Delhiites smoke, "that means 13 million stubs a day, which weigh 13 tonnes a day and 5,000 tonnes a year'', he said, to show how the population figures add to the problem.

Highlighting the health problems caused by pollution, the panellists said more than 8,200 people die prematurely every year of sickness related to air pollution. About 400,000 are hospitalised for pollution-related illnesses. Every resident of the city suffers at least two incidents of minor sickness in a year because of air pollution.

Blaming the government machinery for its "secretive nature" of holding back data on pollution, the panellists urged those concerned to disseminate information widely to create greater awareness among the public. "Only a 'persistent anger' can bring in change," they said.

UNI

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