Air pollution is detrimental to public health
Ever since globalisation set its foot in, one needs to take a critical look at activities that have taken place in the name of development. People have been able to access a lot of facilities in the name of modern technology. But the impact of this unabated development has been largely negative on the environment. Official statistics say one among eight deaths happens due to air pollution. Pure air is becoming dearer with every passing day.
A global survey indicates the average life of Indians is getting reduced by 1.7 years owing to pollutants in the air. Lung cancer, heart attack, difficulty in breathing, stroke, and diabetes are caused due to air pollution. Industrial effluents, unabated construction, dust emanating from sub standard roads, the carbon emanating from the vehicles, smoke that arises when garbage is burnt, all this has turned into a major threat to the prevailing quality of air in the country. Supreme Court has been issuing warnings to state and Central governments regarding this issue time and again.
Environmental experts and scientists, along with activists of social service organisations have been voicing their concerns in no uncertain terms regarding this. But the administrators who sit in AC chambers hardly care about this. Government issues license to businesses like mining which cause great harm to ecology. Influential politicians have license to those businesses that render irretrievable damage to atmosphere. Though this damages everyone, those who are sitting in corridors of power are totally deaf to this cause. Not just this, those sitting in corridors of power protect the wrong doers who are politicians and bureaucrats.
The level of this pollution may be less in Karnataka compared to other states, but Bangalore is all g those cities which suffers massively owing to air pollution. Compared to Delhi, Bangalore is home to more gardens and number of industries are very less too. But this city is home to over 80 lakh vehicles that can destroy the atmosphere. If this has to be checked, there has to be a cap on number of private vehicles that can be owned by people. In a city like Bangalore, a family of four members usually own four cars too with one car per member. This can lead to serious destruction to environment. Hence the government has to improve public transportation and reduce the usage and need of private vehicles. The wood fire stove used by people living in villages contributes significantly to air pollution.
North India has high instances of this. Hence the government has to provide every household with bio gas powered stoves or solar cooking units. If the waste part of crops is allowed to decompose in the soil, it would serve as a good fertiliser. Use of diesel generators have to be restricted. Pollution Control Board has a large role to play in this regard. But at the moment this agency is almost non existent. More than anything else, this issue has to become a prominent topic in election manifesto.
Without addressing these issues, spending thousands of crores on public health would be a total waste of resources. Not just the government, even NGOs and citizens groups have to be proactive in checking this menace. Mining is the most pertinent and majorly contributing factor to this menace. The result of unabated mining is not just plundering of resources, but also massive destruction of ecology. When mining took place in Bellary around the time when BJP government was in power, it rendered the whole area useless. Both legal and illegal form of mining thrived in this area. Since the most influential occupying high offices were involved in mining, it was difficult to catch and penalise them. Mining stopped only after relentless crusade by Justice Santosh Hegde and environmental crusader S R Hiremath.
Mining continues in many parts of the country beyond Karnataka as well. Influential politicians are behind this. Central government has entered into agreement on consuming the forest resources that was protected and safeguarded since many years in states like Odisha, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and other resource rich states. So the tribals who were settled in those areas since ages have been uprooted. Those who oppose this are being shot to death. If the government is really concerned about ecology, it should stop displacing the tribals. Lip service isn't enough to check air pollution. Effective steps have to be initiated to ensure this is done in letter and spirit. Checking air pollution leads to improved public health. A healthy citizen makes for a strong country. Modi government does not have a clear environment policy. At least in the coming elections environment has to be made the election manifesto.
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London, Nov 22: A bomb disposal squad deployed as a “precaution” to the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport concluded an investigation into a "security incident" on Friday after making a “suspect package” safe.
The South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow, which was briefly shut owing to the incident reopened following the incident.
The Gatwick is around 45 km south of London.
Two people detained during the enquiries have since been allowed to continue their journey as the airport was opened.
“Police have concluded their investigation into a report of a suspect package at Gatwick Airport. Officers from the EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team made the package safe, and the airport has been handed back to its operator,” Sussex Police said in an updated statement.
“Two people detained while enquiries were ongoing have subsequently been allowed to continue their journeys. There will remain an increased police presence in the area to assist with passengers accessing the South Terminal for onward travel,” the statement added.
Earlier on Friday, the incident caused severe disruption at the busy airport’s South Terminal, while the North Terminal of Gatwick Airport remained unaffected.
“Police were called to the South Terminal at Gatwick Airport at 8.20 am on Friday (November 22) following the discovery of a suspected prohibited item in luggage,” a Sussex Police statement said.
“To ensure the safety of the public, staff and other airport users, a security cordon has been put in place whilst the matter is dealt with. As a precaution, an EOD (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) team is being deployed to the airport. This is causing significant disruption and some roads around the South Terminal have been closed. We’d advise the public to avoid the area where possible,” it said.
Footage on social media taken outside the airport showed crowds of frustrated travellers being moved away from the terminal building.
Gatwick said it was working hard to resolve the issue.
“A large part of the South Terminal has been evacuated as a precaution while we continue to investigate a security incident," the airport said in a social media post.
“Passengers will not be able to enter the South Terminal while this is ongoing. The safety and security of our passengers and staff remain our top priority. We are working hard to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.”
Train and bus services that serve the airport were also impacted while the police carried out their inquiries.
In an unrelated incident in south London on Friday morning, the US Embassy area in Nine Elms by the River Thames was the scene of a controlled explosion by Scotland Yard dealing with what they believe may have been a “hoax device”.
“We can confirm the 'loud bang' reported in the area a short time ago was a controlled explosion carried out by officers,” the Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“Initial indications are that the item was a hoax device. An investigation will now follow. Some cordons will remain in place for the time being but the majority of the police response will now be stood down,” it added.
