Environment day, bandhs and Plan B
By Suhit Sen
We don't know yet whether the Left Front had one eye on World Environment Day when it called for a Bengal bandh after the hike in the prices of petroleum prices. Whatever the thinking in Alimuddin Street, the bandh did wonders for the environment.
Virtually empty roads meant a drastic fall in suspended particulate matter and a welcome downpour and a cloud cover from the morning meant a drastic improvement in air quality. With the sultry heat on hold tempers cooled all round and the city wore a washed look.
And, of course, for those who ventured out from their homes there was one big relief. If not exactly the sound of silence, something akin to that. No screaming hawkers, no insanely honking drivers, no growling diesel engines. Plans to observe a token no-honking hour was overtaken.
It has recently come to light that Kolkata has become the most polluted city in the country, overtaking Delhi. With the government making no discernible attempts to tackle the problem of air pollution ~ no switchover to CNG, no measures to make pollution control certification more stringent, no drive to crack down on fuel adulteration ~ one is tempted, just about, to believe that the state government in conjunction with the Left Front party bosses has hit upon a Plan B. Frequent bandhs could have the salutary effect of making the city's air somewhat more fit for breathing.
Perhaps, we can agree somehow to institute some more days celebrating the environment ~ maybe a national environment day and state environment day ~ to encourage the Left Front and sundry other parties in the state to clear the streets more often. Not, of course, that they need any.
(The writer is Senior Editor, The Statesman)
Virtually empty roads meant a drastic fall in suspended particulate matter and a welcome downpour and a cloud cover from the morning meant a drastic improvement in air quality. With the sultry heat on hold tempers cooled all round and the city wore a washed look.
And, of course, for those who ventured out from their homes there was one big relief. If not exactly the sound of silence, something akin to that. No screaming hawkers, no insanely honking drivers, no growling diesel engines. Plans to observe a token no-honking hour was overtaken.
It has recently come to light that Kolkata has become the most polluted city in the country, overtaking Delhi. With the government making no discernible attempts to tackle the problem of air pollution ~ no switchover to CNG, no measures to make pollution control certification more stringent, no drive to crack down on fuel adulteration ~ one is tempted, just about, to believe that the state government in conjunction with the Left Front party bosses has hit upon a Plan B. Frequent bandhs could have the salutary effect of making the city's air somewhat more fit for breathing.
Perhaps, we can agree somehow to institute some more days celebrating the environment ~ maybe a national environment day and state environment day ~ to encourage the Left Front and sundry other parties in the state to clear the streets more often. Not, of course, that they need any.
(The writer is Senior Editor, The Statesman)
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