The Big Picture: Pollution Alert

Delhi and Varanasi are among 14 Indian cities that figured in a list of 20 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM2.5 levels in 2016, data released by the WHO showed. The WHO data also said that nine out of 10 people in the world breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. On this edition of The Big Picture we discuss how to deal with the pollution problem?

Anchor: Frank Rausan Pereira

Guests:

Prof. C.K. Varshney, Former Dean, School of Environment Sciences JNU
Ajay Shankar, Distinguished Fellow, The Energy and Resources Institute

Ragini Bhuyan, Staff writer, Mint

Polash Mukerjee, Researcher, Air Pollution, Centre for Science and Environment

[himanshuparmar]

Please invite Prof. C.K. Varshney more often. His viewpoints are good and are very clear

[ay]

I live in Patna and with all the knowledge available with me I can confidently say that my state govt. has no roadmap to deal with the problem, they lack expertise, technologies and finally the willpower . Nowadays pollutants out of construction work is choking the city.

[divyanshusharma]

First time I have seen a debate like this shocked with the level of views, structure all is good didn't get bore for even sec ...thanks RS TV restored my faith in media

[Justfunwithdehati]

I think government should take the action imediatly and also be aware every person, how to protect from this problem ⚲⚲⚲

[VivekKumar-kytm]

People Awareness is most important to deal with pollution. We are people who are responsible for pollution not Government.
Yes of-course Government can Reduce it by taking but some preventive measure. But total eradication of problem is only possible with our contribution.And thanks to professor from JNU, I really enjoyed his points.
That's it for me for this Edition.

[VinayKumar-zbmc]

ban firecrackers on diwali, that will stop pollution.

[mohit_tiwari]

* 14 cities of India are on the list of 20 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM 2.5 levels in 2016
* 13 cities in terms of PM 10 levels. [ Report by WHO ]
* Public Health Emergency Situation
* Immediate issue compared to long term issue of global warming
* Effects pregnant women, elderly and children very easily
* No sustainable goal is possible to achieve without taking care of this
* coordinated and holistic efforts are needed
* part-time and peace-meal approach is not enough.Though gives complacency that something is being done but does not produce result.
* poor data sets regarding pollutants, their quantity, sources etc. not enough monitoring stations.
* motor vehicle population- BS6 needs to be implemented. No game plan for older vehicles yet.Old ones needs to be either retrofitted or phased out in a timely manner through tax incentives etc.Replacement of vehicles ( e.g taxi, three wheelers, buses) should be electric.public charging infrastructure is needed for that purpose.
* if not thought in a long term. knee jerk reactions will prevail e.g banning firecrackers, odd-even rules etc.
* no use of biomass for cooking in rural areas. clean cooking fuel ( gas or electricity) is needed.
* household air pollution contributes more than half of the deaths related to air pollution.use of solid fuels like firewood, cowdung cakes etc. modern way of living includes polymers and plastics which emit huge amount of BOCs.aerosols generated while cooking
* thin diffeence between indoor and outdoor pollution.dynamic situation.
* reports are not focusing on finer issues- e.g efficiency of nozzles at filling stations
* solid waste dumping
* urban waste management - major source of PM2.5
* technology - to go beyond incineration
* huge north-south divide
* particulate matters are the focus
* national clean air programme- differnt cities has been asked to prepare their own plan to tackle the local issues
* chronic obstructive diseases- asthma, heart attack, stroke, brain development
* dirty cities harbour more thefts and crime i.e it affects social tranquility as well
* srtict and honest implementation of the statutes that we have - zero cost
* national clean air mission to be ramped up.
* pollution needs to be a political agenda

[padhtehainchal]

Thnx for this one of the imp episode sir....

[dhirajbankar]

One thing that strike me is, if we use electric vehicles, then from where the electricity is going to come???
Is it from coal plants??If it is, then how to make way through it??

[gautamgunjan]

Awesome episode but frightening also seeing top Indian cities on the list..😖

[navneetkaur]

Before electrification of vehicles, i think firstly we should ensure the means of electricity.

[nirmalbasumatary]

exactly this needs to be made political agenda..we the public must question the political representatives regarding the control of pollution

[varghesereubenpaul]

Pollution is not a big deal guys.. painting everything saffron is important...

[vanishree]

The most important steps that need to be taken by public officials is that they implement the policy (in their daily life) they brings out ....specially the number of vehicles used by ministers and others, in the sake of their protection issue, must be reduce and if the vehicle, daily used by such government officials, are reduced it will definitely helps to curb pollution, even though its a little contribution ..Its mainly believe that little little efforts made to curb the problem will definitely add to bring large and better consequence not only common citizen but also government official should also contribute not only in the form of policy formation instead they should behave like common citizen to curb this problems

[maheshlondhe]

All the panal are concluded i.e " come out every problem in together on that solution "

[MohitKJha]

'Serious Health Emergency'
When these topics will come in debate of Political Parties.
A Brilliant episode by RSTV.
All the panelists where outstanding But Professor from JNU again proved old is gold.
Again 'Learn From China'

[pradeepkumargrandhi]

where is the representation from the GOI (Ministry of environment), They also should be included in the public debates, which brings more awareness to public and brings the ground reality to the public servants and gives them the new & practically possible solutions..!

[activeias]

did someone say ujjwala yojana which provided 37 million gas connection to rural women ....

[spandey]

public transport is increasing but many of people live in delhi they no conveyance to go anywhere but they have to go by the metro. In metro ticket price is increasing then they go by a bus or taxi, if govt. take setup and decrease the metro ticket price then its benefits people of delhi and they will safely travel in metro and health also good.

[AnkitYADAV-xnxx]

Frank seems to be biased towards South India...have observed in some episodes..