Breathing beautifully

THE DELHI GOVERNMENT RECENTLY TRIED TO ADDRESS THE CAPITAL’S ONGOING POLLUTION CRISIS BY ADDING VERTICAL PLANTS UNDER FLYOVERS. IS IT A CURE FOR POLLUTION OR A BEAUTIFICATION TACTIC? WE FIND OUT.

Just like the legendary tale of The Three Little Pigs who had their houses huffed and puffed by the Wolf, residents of the capital are facing a dire situation. The only difference is that the Big Bad Wolf in the case of Delhiites is the amalgamation of various sources of pollution in the air they breathe every day. And everyone knows that oxygen is needed to sustain mankind, and to create oxygen, one needs plants.

It was with the aim of curbing Delhi’s pollution crisis that the

Delhi Government recently built vertical gardens on various metro flyovers. Reports suggest that each square metre of these is good enough to generate sufficient oxygen supply for an individual to survive for one year. The reports also suggested that these vertical gardens can remove over 40 tonnes of harmful gases.

Entrepreneur Praveshh Gaur is of the opinion that the Government’s initiative is a great step taken, and it is also the need of the hour as air pollution is a consistent problem. Although many societies have parks and green covers, these are not enough to deal with the growing pollution concerns. He feels, “Vertical gardens can be a solution, starting from increasing oxygen levels to improving the urban ecosystem. It helps in the modification of temperature, improving air quality, increasing biodiversity and also the beautification of the current state of the area making it more refreshing. They just don’t look good, but also have several benefits.” Upasana Malik, a college student echoes the same sentiment. “It will definitely work only if these are maintained properly and proper care is taken by the government. After this, there will be a rapid fall in the air-borne diseases for sure,” she adds.

Even though tackling pollution is the main aim, these gardens serve more than just that purpose. There is an aesthetic side to it as well. “The vertical gardens create an aesthetically pleasing environment. The greenery creates healthy spaces for our mind, body and soul,” believes Khyati. However, some Delhiites feel that this move is just a drop in the ocean. Ambar, a recent graduate shares, “I thought this was just for beautification. I feel like these measures aren't drastic enough to solve pollution. It's also a bit too little for solving the pollution (problem).”

The reports also suggested that these vertical gardens can remove over 40 tonnes of harmful gases.

VERTICAL GARDENS CAN BE A SOLUTION, STARTING FROM INCREASING OXYGEN LEVELS TO IMPROVING THE URBAN ECOSYSTEM. IT HELPS IN THE MODIFICATION OF TEMPERATURE, IMPROVING AIR QUALITY, INCREASING BIODIVERSITY AND ALSO THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE CURRENT STATE OF THE AREA, MAKING IT MORE REFRESHING. — PRAVESHH GAUR, ENTREPRENEUR

TODAY, WE LIVE IN STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT, THUS IT HELPS TO BOOST OUR MOODS AND INCREASE OUR FOCUS, PRODUCTIVITY AND CREATIVITY. THEY INDUCE A SENSE OF CALMNESS AND HARMONY WITH NATURE. THEY HELP IN MAKING THE ENVIRONMENT BETTER,HAPPIER AND FRESHER. THEY PROMOTE DEEP BREATHING. — PRIYANKA BANERJEE, ART CURATOR AND CRITIC

I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST FOR BEAUTIFICATION. I FEEL LIKE THESE MEASURES AREN’T DRASTIC ENOUGH TO SOLVE POLLUTION. IT’S ALSO A BIT TOO LITTLE FOR SOLVING THE POLLUTION (PROBLEM) — AMBAR, GRADUATE

IT WILL DEFINITELY WORK ONLY IF THESE ARE MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND PROPER CARE IS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT. AFTER THIS, THERE WILL BE A RAPID FALL IN THE AIRBORNE DISEASES FOR SURE — UPASANA, STUDENT