SOCIETY MUST PUSH GOVTS TO PRIORITISE POLLUTION FIGHT

THE winter pollution in the national capital has become synonymous with the burning of crop residues by farmers in the adjoining states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

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But the elephant in the sooty room is vehicular pollution. Studies show vehicular pollution accounts for more pollutants in Delhi than anything else. Its contribution to poisoning the air far exceeds that of stubble burning, construction dust and firecrackers. The measures taken by the government, including an early phasing out of vehicles and introduction of stricter norms, have clearly been inadequate.

The other big pollutant seeping into our soil and water is the flow of untreated sewage and industrial effluents into the Yamuna, once considered Delhi's lifeline. Together, these are the biggest polluters of Delhi's air and water.