Stop axing trees, promote electric vehicles: citizens

A Delhi is not far anymore, say Bengalureans. The Delhi smog has left warning bells ringing for the rest of the country. With vehicle numbers increasing like never before on Bengaluru roads and the pollution level rising, the day may not be far when we wake up to a zero-visibility atmosphere and a dense fog situation.

To avert a Delhi-like 'nightmare' closer home, Bengalureans share their solutions with DH. From using public transport to keeping a watch on the 'poisonous fumes' produced by industries, the solutions may look regular but could be attempted for effective results.

Search fulfilment specialist Bhavani C says, "It would be a nightmare if Bengaluru faces the same scenario as Delhi. It's high time that we start taking measures to avoid and reduce pollution. Being responsible citizens, it is necessary to take small steps such as walking to the shop on the next lane instead of riding, or planting a sapling in your area."

She says the government should take strict action against people who violate the rules. "We should be the change we want to see, instead of just waiting for people to do something. Do it yourself and inspire the people around you."

Most respondents did say that raising awareness about pollution is key. But they also stressed on the need to retain Bengaluru's image as a green city. "In the short term, advertisements (TV, radio, paper, and most importantly billboards) should be used to help the society internalize the value of using public transportation, especially metro and bus," Parsa Dorbeigi, a student of Applied Sociology.

Awareness about health issues is critical. "To reduce the number of vehicles and people on roads, we should highlight the time an average person wastes in the traffic which could be spent much more wisely on family or recreation," he points out.

The Namma Metro construction, he says, should be speeded up so that pollution from road traffic is reduced. "These are investments that will pay off in the long run. Long-term is also about providing even development across the State so that migration into the city reduces."

IT employee Vijay M U echoes the same sentiment when he says other smaller cities in the State should be developed so that the rush to Bengaluru is arrested. "Besides, people must use Metro as much as possible. IT companies should encourage employees to work from home," he suggests.

Large-scale pollution, he says, is also due to the ever increasing population. "More and more people are moving to Bengaluru for better job opportunities. This is directly contributing to air pollution as they acquire vehicles to move around," Vijay points out.

Sujata Surabhi, a science graduate, reiterates the need for gardens and use of public transport. She wants a halt on axing trees. "As far as I can remember, there was a proposal to create vertical gardens under flyovers to save Bengaluru from pollution. We should encourage the use of public transport and stop cutting in the name of development."

For Ameen Ahmed R, a production manager, the solution lies in alternative methods of transportation. "We can introduce electrical vehicles on a large scale and popularise their use. If properly planned, the Metro will not only help reduce the load on the roads and cut pollution, it can also help reduce road accident deaths," he explains.

He also suggests keeping a watch on industries that have no proper waste disposal methods. "Both large and small scale industries should be monitored to check the kind of harmful fumes they release into the air we breathe. Green energy and planting more trees is the best solution I can think of," he adds.