This refers to the editorial, “The stubble and dust risk” (September 29). Come winters and the skies around major north Indian cities are murky. Citizens in the area are at the mercy of those who get rid of their agricultural wastes only to save some chips. Add to this, the toxic smokes created by the countless shop owners burning trash containing plastics, papers in front of their shops. Some distance from Delhi, entering any village or small town, cattle-keepers and villagers burn dung and other throwaways to unburden the area on the pretext of getting rid of mosquitoes and other insects. Do they not know that the smoke, the smog, and toxic clouds created by them is so disastrous to themselves and the whole populace causing grave health problems and serious disruptions to rail, road and air trafficIJ
The National Green Tribunal's diktats, application of space technology and satellite imageries locating exact culprits, pollution control authorities' warnings and fines remained ineffective. Are the people so ignorant and unaware of their own healthIJ Is people's awareness of their surrounding nilIJ Or simply, some economic gains are paramount to everything elseIJ Will some real punitive actions on the communities creating such senseless burning helpIJ Or possibly, some persuasive volunteers could turn around the situationIJ