Ditch that car

H. Kishie Singh

The Saturday my column ‘Car pooling: Now or never’ was carried in this paper, I was at a party at a friend’s place. There was a lively debate on limiting the use of cars and how it would help in dealing with climate change.

Next day, I met my friend again at a William Dalrymple show in Chandigarh. Apparently, I had made one convert last evening. 

“I took your advice,” he said. “It’s a Sunday and I did not start my car. I walked to the market, a brisk walk, did my shopping and as it was quite a handful, I took a cycle rickshaw back home. Great fun! My transport cost for the whole day was Rs 25. Had I started my car, the cost would have been 20 times. To get here, I hitched a ride with a friend. Will you please drop me home?” he asked.

What an incredibly sensible person.

I was delighted to drop him home. Here was one very concerned citizen who may have set a trend. He understood the implications and danger of what pollution is all about.

Pollution is not a technical issue that the government is responsible for and has to clean up. It is your mess.

I don’t think the Indian car owner has fully comprehended the disaster that has befallen us. You, the car owner, who goes to buy bread, butter and eggs in a 3-litre engine car, are responsible for this mess and it is you who should help clean it up. It is of great social concern to you; more importantly, your children and your children’s children.

I must emphasise one point. The government is not capable of cleaning up the mess alone. The active participation of each individual, each car owner is a must. 

Humanity is in danger. I do not exaggerate. More on this later.

So let us consider the wisdom of the ancients, “A drop at a time fills the ocean!”

‘Earth Day’ was only a few days ago. Did you make a contribution? The government radio has been blaring about making a contribution to control the disastrous air pollution under Swachh Bharat Mission. 

The 10 most polluted cities in the world are in India! And eight of them are in Punjab and Haryana!

In the days gone by, there used to be a day of fasting (food). There was also a day for ‘maun vrat’ (no talk day). How about ‘no car start day’? Just once a week. It worked for one person, it can work en masse. 

However, you can start making an immediate contribution as the government suggests. Switch off your engine while waiting at a red light. How does that help?

One , you are not polluting.

Two, you are not consuming fuel.

Both provide instant relief to Mother Earth, the government, yourself, your children and future generations. Here is why...

There are about 210 million cars on the roads in India.

If each car saves one litre a day, 210 million litres of fuel saved each day!

This will not be a drop, it will be a bucket full to fill the ocean.

Some manufacturers of hybrid cars have this inbuilt mechanism. Stop at a red light, the engine cuts off. The light turns green, step on the accelerator, the engine starts, the car moves off.

Happy Motoring!