A recent report in the newspapers about how
fumes-spewing vehicles have caused 5, 71, 947 cases of acute respiratory
infections (ARI) in the state in a yea was alarming. The figure has been made
public by the Central Health Intelligence Bureau (CBHI). Commenting on these
figures an Associate Professor of Chest Diseases of Gandhi Medical College said
“Increasing
cars and two-wheelers in cities and rural areas might have become status
symbols but the vehicles are having deadly impact on people. Sudden outbreaks
like (that) of swine flu are one(s) to watch out for, as suggested by World
Health Organisation (WHO)”.
The CBHI has said that chances of deaths due to ARI are more in the state of MP on account of the want of adequate number of trained doctors. The side effects of increased pollution are asthma, cardiovascular diseases, change in lung function and even death. Children are at greater risk. Importantly, ARI is a disease group that includes pneumonia, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus – a respiratory virus and these cause, according to WHO, 4.5 million deaths annually
The CBHI has said that chances of deaths due to ARI are more in the state of MP on account of the want of adequate number of trained doctors. The side effects of increased pollution are asthma, cardiovascular diseases, change in lung function and even death. Children are at greater risk. Importantly, ARI is a disease group that includes pneumonia, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus – a respiratory virus and these cause, according to WHO, 4.5 million deaths annually
While Indore is reported to be more polluted than
Bhopal, yet we cannot wait till we catch up with our sister city. The numbers
of vehicles, including those propelled by diesel, are rapidly rising in the
city. What is worse, in the absence of any emission control old, reconditioned
two and three-wheelers, cars, delivery vans, trucks and buses that should have
been banished from the roads have currently free rein on them, particularly in
the older parts of the town and in commercial zones. Add to that the problem of
adulteration of petrol diesel, both for cars and two wheelers and you have a
lethal mix, something forbidding that can immensely harm regular commuters
exposed these noxious fumes. All of us have become vulnerable, more so the
children and the elderly. Emission control measures will not only protect such
groups but will also reduce public expenditure on healthcare.
ome feeble efforts were made to check emission from
cars almost a decade back but the whole thing was inexplicably wound up. No
reasons were assigned. Eventually one came to know that the question of
authority to check the vehicles and to impose penalties had not been finalised.
The men and machines were withdrawn and I once came across one of them in the
premises of Durga Petrol Pump. The government has never been serious about
controlling vehicular emissions. If it does not care about what happens to the
Planet Earth owing to global warming, it should at least care about its own
people.
Bhopal Citizens' Forum had taken up the matter regarding pollution check of vehicles in Bhopal with the Department of Housing & Environment a few months back. Although a substantial amount of time has elapsed neither has it been apprised of the action taken nor is there is any evidence on the ground of the government’s effort to curb vehicular emissions. Hopefully, the Form will soon remind the government.
Bhopal Citizens' Forum had taken up the matter regarding pollution check of vehicles in Bhopal with the Department of Housing & Environment a few months back. Although a substantial amount of time has elapsed neither has it been apprised of the action taken nor is there is any evidence on the ground of the government’s effort to curb vehicular emissions. Hopefully, the Form will soon remind the government.
Phoograph taken from the comments recorded by Gulrez Raza Khan in Facebook
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