Increasing pollution levels post-lockdown

1. Increasing pollution levels post-lockdown Air crisis, if not contained for long, could spiral into a long-term problem… Pradip burman said “Air crisis, if not contained for long, could spiral into a long- term problem”… In the initial days post lockdown; social media was flooded with images of nature such as clear blue skies, sparkling clear water bodies and many endangered species returning to their habitats. Many of the cities also witnessed a drop in air pollution, water pollution etc. Even the river have become clear; a refreshing change in the history of gray clouds that had always hovered over metropolitan areas. Alas!

2. But the truth couldn’t be farther from the reality. Till lockdown eased completely, citizens went back to work, factories reopened and restrictions relieved…the air quality levels fell dramatically, water quality becomes worst. Underneath masks, people are struggled to breathe. The condition of asthamatic patients, senior citizens and the already affected by Covid-19 worsened drastically. We have seen an all-time soar in the emerging cases and premature deaths. And why is that? One reason that shines as the underlying factor is the increasing pollution level.

3. There is a estimated that poor air quality aside of harming the ecosystem also indirectly increases the exposure of respiratory diseases like lung Cancer etc. Even Covid case have also increased. Currently Delhi and Kolkata stand as 2 and 3 in line of the air quality and pollution ranking with air quality indexes of 285 and 207, sometimes rising as high as 600. The range for moderate or healthy air quality is 51–100…let that sink in! If we still continue to turn a blind eye to the current predicament, we will be voluntarily letting our children’s future go up in smoke. We will let our wants of driving a swanky car home, going on a shopping spree every 2 weeks and still we are working on factories that dispose chemical waste in landfills. Our need clean air to breathe, and to live in a healthy ecosystem with our children. But we are not doing it, so its time to acknowledging our mistake and doing something about it, will help. But this can’t take a decade, this can’t take a year, this can’t even take a month… because we’re all running on a short to timeline. But in some ways each and every one of us can make a big difference, by carpooling whenever possible, conserving energy at home, at work, almost everywhere. Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products always. Let’s all not only hope, but ensure our children will breathe fresh air. Let’s all do our part!