Issue advisory on ‘bad air’ days, citizens’ body writes to Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, OP Soni

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, October 4

Members of Clean Air Punjab, a citizens’ collective of individuals and organisations concerned working on the issue of air pollution, have written to the Punjab Deputy Chief Minister, OP Soni, who also heads the Health Ministry, urging him to lead by example by taking up the issue of air pollution prominently.

The demand made by citizens, primarily mirrored their right to clean air and the right to breathe, underlining the reality that Punjab was home to some of India’s most polluted towns, including Ludhiana, Khanna, Mandi Gobindgarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Patiala.

To make sure people stay alert about deteriorating air quality, Clean Air Punjab has also urged the Health Minister to direct all the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to mandatorily issue timely health advisories publicly on ‘bad air’ days, which will help save vulnerable groups from severe health impacts of air pollution.

Punjab has a total of nine non-attainment/million-plus cities under the National Clean Air Action Plan (NCAP). A non-attainment city is one that does not meet the prescribed air quality standards set by the Union Environment Ministry.

Supreet Kaur, president of EcoSikh, said, “The issue of air pollution is just not limited to the Environment Ministry and it’s time for the Health Ministry to step in as well. It’s a well-known fact that air pollution poses severe risks to health. Recently, a first pan-India study conducted by scientists in India found that areas with poor air quality and higher emissions of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 are more likely to have Covid infections and related deaths.”

“The menace of air pollution can only be tackled by coordinated efforts of all stakeholders. The government being the apex body to frame policy guidelines and ensuring its successful implementation must pay attention to the issue of air pollution,” she added.

Ranjit Powar, member of Clean Air Punjab, said, “Clean air is crucial to health and performance. Each of us has a right to clean air and also an obligation to work for keeping the air clean. Most of all, the government, as the policymaker and regulating authority for keeping the environment pollution free, must own its responsibility to harness sources of air pollution.”

“What will people do with higher incomes and material progress that might come through the smoke-belching industry and units that diffuse poisonous gasses for miles around, choking their lungs and poisoning their innards? Let us safeguard our air and life,” he added.

The recent Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) released by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) for 2019 revealed that air pollution was likely to reduce the life expectancy of about 40 per cent of citizens by more than nine years.

“With over 4.2 million deaths per year, ambient air pollution continues to be the ninth leading cause of cardiopulmonary deaths in the world. In India, indoor air pollution also poses a threat accounting for over two million deaths, 44 per cent due to pneumonia, 54 per cent due to COPD and two per cent due to lung cancer. Children, adolescents, women and elderly are the vulnerable group for respiratory morbidity and mortality,” said Dr Zafar Ahmad, senior consultant, Department of Pulmonology, Sleep and Critical Care Medicine, Fortis Hospital.

Even during the lockdown under the second wave, when most industries were shut and movement halted, Ludhiana noted an average air quality index (AQI) of 135 whereas the good AQI is 0-50 and moderate is 51- 100.

Even Fazilka and Ropar, which were considered some of the greener regions in Punjab, noted an average AQI of 113 and 129, respectively. This alarming data focuses on the immediate need for an intervention and promoting actions to reduce the prevalent severe air pollution.

The air quality in Punjab continues to get worse. Air pollution accounts for almost one in 10 deaths in children under five years of age. It makes children vulnerable to the risk of chronic lung and cardiovascular disease, cystic fibrosis and increases the chances of hospitalisation and ICU admissions.

The WHO estimates that in 2016, six lakh children died from acute lower respiratory infections caused by polluted air. These children were innocent bystander victims of the public’s misadventures.