Though prompt in denying free firewood to the poor for community bonfires, the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) has failed to include proposed action against known pollutants in its agenda for the December 13 meeting of the civic council.
This, despite the city’s air earning the dubious distinction of negative growth (-1%) in the concentration of microscopic contaminants that constitute the deadly PM2.5 and PM10.
Medical practitioners describe these breathable contaminants as hazardous to human health. The United Nations has identified both PM2.5 and PM10 as primary reasons behind the massive spurt in pollution-related deaths every year.
Global bodies estimate the number of annual pollution-related deaths at around 7–8 million. The Government of India launched the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) in 131 non-attainment and million-plus cities across the country. The programme incentivises civic bodies that show the best results in reducing air contamination, while linking this success to grants for the purpose.
In a first, the BMC discontinued its annual distribution of free firewood to the poor earlier this month. However, the civic body has stopped short of initiating credible action against business establishments known for using solid fuels.
Though civic body officials have promised action against eateries and wedding venues that use wood and coal to fire tandoors and bonfires, their reluctance to add this to the agenda for the Council Meeting on December 13 points to the contrary.
As per norms, the City Council meets every two months to discuss and ratify decisions taken by the civic body.
The next meeting will now be held in February—the end of the high pollution season in the state capital.
Meanwhile, eateries and other commercial establishments in the city can be seen burning wood and coal in blatant disregard for the city air and the health of high-risk groups, including those with suppressed immunity, underlying cardiopulmonary disorders, the elderly, and children under the age of five.
Speaking in the wake of the ban on community bonfires, people in the city had questioned the BMC's move to selectively place the burden of pollution on the poor alone. They had said that the civic body would hedge its bets when it came to acting against vehicles and businesses run by those who are financially and politically better off.