Consumer Voice

Similariti­es and solutions

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200 micrograms per cubic metres (approximat­e) from 20 to 27 January 2014, as per the data with Centre for Science and Environmen­t (CSE). According to Delhi was 183 in 2012, 225 in 2013, and 213 in 2014. These are in the ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ range in India but graded as ‘unhealthy’ as per the United States’ air quality standards.

So, if the ‘ moderate’ in India is ‘ unhealthy’ in America, what would ‘ unhealthy’ in India mean there? Also, the larger question is: are local authoritie­s taking any serious measures or have planned anything as yet to prevent these levels from reaching the ‘severe’ mark often?

to encourage a uniform approach to measuring and reporting on air pollution, with the objective of helping in tactical ‘implementa­tion’ of some measures. These measures are perhaps not yet planned and therefore not declared. Maybe the authoritie­s are awaiting more data—or, could they be waiting for Delhiites to follow the example of Beijingers and show up on the streets donning masks to protect themselves from pollutants and protest against inaction at the same time?

Lessons from Beijing: Some that Delhi Must Follow

The world has seen Beijing going through a similar cycle of air pollution from the late 1990s until 2013. While the city claimed that it managed to control the pollution in 2011, some of the worst instances of air

Polluting industries

Beijing and Delhi moved polluting industries outside the core city limits as a first response to their airpolluti­on problem. Beijing chose the fourth and later the sixth ring road as the limit within which polluting industries cannot operate. It also made concerted efforts to eliminate in-house coal burning and ran campaigns to convince residents to change their domestic heating systems from coal to electric ones. This is something that Delhi can replicate in terms of raising awareness about the harm of open-air fires and promoting the use of more efficient electric-heating systems. Beijing made concerted efforts to eliminate in-house coal burning and ran campaigns to convince residents to change their domestic heating systems from coal to electric ones. This is something that Delhi can replicate in terms of raising awareness about the harm of open-air fires and promoting the use of more efficient electric-heating systems.

Beijing banned the use of coal-fired ovens in the city’s kitchens. Will Delhi be able to do something

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