STUBBLE BURNING NOT THE ONLY CULPRIT

Nearly 30,000 people die every year due to the toxic air. 60% of birds have met the same fate. Stubble-burning is not the only culprit; vehicular pollution, rampant construction work, diminishing green spaces, lack of proper treatment of garbage and a general lack of civic sense also share the blame. The NGT and the Supreme Court have dubbed the ‘odd-even’ plan a farce and have instead suggested alternatives. A long-term plan needs to be chalked out. Usha Verma, Chandigarh