WAITING FOR A REVOLT ?

A  Smoke-Screen  around  Smog  ?

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Once again , Delhi is enveloped in smog ( - as it happens , year after year )

As usual , politicians are blaming each other for “ failing to act “ , when they were in power

In the meantime , experts are saying : Smog is caused by ,

·         Vehicular emission

·         Construction dust

·         Burning of agri-residue in Punjab

·         Coal-based Power Plant

·         Kilns

·         Factories belching chemical fumes….etc

They are also telling us : Life of a Delhi-ite gets reduced by 6 years on average , due to air pollution !

They are also repeating their old suggestions :

·         Stop construction / close down factories

·         Ban petrol / diesel cars and switch over to Electric Vehicles

·         Introduce ODD / EVEN rules for vehicles

·         Sprinkle road with water

·         Introduce much more public transport ( Buses / Metro )…etc

Here is what other countries are doing :

·         Here is what other countries are doing :

·         Singapore has stopped purchase of private vehicles from 1^st Feb 2018 . For many years now , Singapore charges private car owners , $ 3700 per year as “ Certificate of Entitlement “ ( valid for 10 years only )  and does not allow private cars to ply inside the “ Core City “ during peak hours

In Singapore , a Toyota Corolla ( 5 door sedan ) costs S$ 111,000 , which is about 4 TIMES what it costs in USA !

·         Since 2003 , London has levied a “ Congestion Charge “ of Sterling 11.50 per day.

Two weeks back , it has started charging an additional amount of Sterling 10 per day to drive in the city centre ( - a total of 21.50 pounds / day ). This charge will apply primarily to cars manufactured before 2005

According to London Mayor , Sadiq Khan , more than 9000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to poor quality air

He goes on to add :

#  Drivers make 6 million trips to London each day with a THIRD of them driving

    LESS THAN 2 Km

#  40 % of air pollution in the city comes from diesel vehicles

·         Madrid , Paris and Athens have announced plans focussed on cutting diesel emissions including bans , fines and restrictions

·         Beijing ( China ) regularly closes down polluting factories / construction

·         In Switzerland , you cannot buy a private car unless you prove that you have a place to park it , both at your home and at your office ( not on the road )

There is no dearth of examples from around the world that we can study – and emulate , if found suitable

So, what is holding us back ? Feel free to draw your own conclusion from following blog :

When Lawmakers Abdicate  [  10 May  2016  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.in/2016/05/when-lawmakers-abdicate.html

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Extract :

 

Is air pollution only affecting the people of Delhi ?

Is it not as bad in cities like Mumbai / Kolkata / Chennai / Bangalore etc ?

Why are MLAs of these States not enacting laws to control pollution ?

Why is Supreme Court passing orders ( diesel vehicles / taxies ) only for Delhi ?

Does Supreme Court think that citizens of these other cities are immune to the ill effects of pollution caused by diesel vehicles ?

Why are State Legislatures happy to " pass the buck " to Supreme Court ?

That is " Abdication of Responsibility " !

{  PS :  Why blame the Courts for “ Judicial Activism “ ?  }

 

10  Nov  2017

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs