No smoking in public place

It seems though, the focus is on eliminating smoking in public places which no doubt is a source of pollution. However, the decision-makers have to see to it that some other equally or even more potent sources of pollution are removed. We may point out at least three areas where the situation is going from bad to worse. First, a huge number of vehicles are regularly spewing black fumes which is a health hazard of great magnitude. Worse still, many of these ramshackle vehicles belong to different government offices and corporations. One may recall an old adage in this respect and hasten to add that charity begins at home and that the government and public sector corporations should quickly put their own black smoke emitting vehicles off the road to set the right example for the private sector vehicles. Then the large number of lorries plying the city roads at night are also polluting the air to a great extent.

Furthermore, we have a garbage disposal system which is but primitive. Many corners in the city look like an extension of the dustbins nearby, as filth and dirt spill over the roads. This has been identified as one of the reasons behind the spread of many diseases, but things are not improving. The Mayor says that he does not have an adequate number of sweepers at the DCC to smoothly carry out the cleaning operations. That may be true, but cannot be a plea for neglecting the very important job of keeping the city clean. Finally, the problem of industrial effluents being dumped indiscriminately is a serious threat to the environment.

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The earlier decisions to ban two-stroke engine vehicles and production of polythene bags were welcomed by all environment-conscious people. The ban on smoking in public places may have been long overdue, but so long as the other major pollutants of environment are not combated we do remain vulnerable to serious health hazards.