Dear Delhi, Don¡¯t Forget The Smog That Choked You When You Step Out To Vote

Political campaigns have taken centre stage in India¡¯s national capital as the much anticipated Delhi elections are around the corner. In what is being seen as a three-cornered contest between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the BJP and the Congress, all sides have upped their ante and have fielded their key members for massive outreach programme among the masses.

In doing so, numerous roadshows and election rallies will be held by them in the coming days even as the streets have been flooded with hoardings with each boasting about their own parties and leaders. What is more, the three key parties have sought to use memes and humour as instruments to criticise their rivals. Indeed, these are all collectively aimed at wooing voters and securing power in Delhi legislative assembly.

But in this slugfest, there is something very critical that we are currently missing. And for that, we do not need to go very far but only open our eyes and inhale a deep breath.

It¡¯s a fairly pleasant winter morning on Monday by Delhi standards and the citizens, accustomed as they are to living in this city infamous for its pollution, may not seem something really wrong or missing. But then you have to look closer.

The visibility is quite low and there is a pungent smell of sorts in the air. It¡¯s not the air we have grown up breathing and if you are lucky enough to escape the chaotic urbanscape, you notice the difference.

A fresh breath seems like a luxury in Delhi but that¡¯s not the only aspect. It¡¯s health hazards and the risks to life, particularly young children, are more worrisome as several doctors and environmentalists have repeatedly warned of the fatal impacts air pollution is having on us. According to one study, it was pointed out that the air quality is so bad here that it is equivalent to smoking 44 cigarettes a day.

Imagine that! We have dangerous warning signs that have been made mandatory on cigarette packets by the concerned authorities but apparently, nobody can be a non-smoker here, thanks to air pollution.

Researchers at the University of Warwick in Coventry, England have also found a link between memory loss and high levels of pollutants in the air. They have discovered that human memory deteriorates in places with high levels of nitrogen dioxide and air particulates.

Let us understand it this way: Choking air pollution in the Thai capital of Bangkok had prompted authorities to shut schools for a week until normal levels of air quality were reached. But that cannot be the case here since that¡¯s very low by our standards. Some reports last year suggested that neighbouring Ghaziabad recorded a reading of 2507 AQI, which is beyond index or in other words, it was so high that it could not be measured according to current standards.

Isn¡¯t this catastrophic? Do we not recall the scene during the days following Diwali? Despite our best efforts and outrage, did we succeed in controlling pollution?

So why do we not see or hear politicians talking with concern, or showing some sort of urgency to tackle pollution?

There is no denying that pollution is a result of our own doing and what better way to exemplify it than recalling the crackers that shot up in the air during Diwali despite a Supreme Court ban. Much of it is a result of our own doing and while it¡¯s important to learn, understand and practise what we preach, it¡¯s also binding upon us to urge the government and those in power to take up the issues that matter to us.

People and ordinary citizens can only take small steps, on an individual level, but it is the government's responsibility to use all resources and bring about change. That¡¯s not happening, that has not happened in the past and if we keep going in this way, it¡¯s not going to happen in the future too. Right now, the people of Delhi have a golden opportunity in their hands, if missed, this chance will only return after five years.

It¡¯s the time when people should hold the political parties accountable, put forth their demands in whatever way they can. Outrage on social media is fine but how many of us actually take time to send in our suggestions for the manifestoes of the political parties we vote for? Perhaps, few.

The politicians will use their murky tactics to fool and distract us but we should not forget the wrath we witnessed all through this winter. Pollution choked us, and we should make it binding upon all the three political parties to come up with their plans or proposals to tackle pollution in the national capital.

And when we go to vote on February 8, we should go with a will, and honesty, to never see the return of a city engulfed by the hydra-headed monster of pollution as we saw it unfold here last year. The battle will be long, it will not be fought overnight, but if there is political will and people¡¯s participation, this historic city once synonymous with greenery will return to its yesteryear glory someday.