Focus on research

Sir — This refers to the article, “Pollution control, health policy convergence” (November 20) by Karan Thakur. While the writer has suggested some good measures to reduce and control air pollution, it is also essential that enormous research on the impacts of pollution on our health and the general environment be done.  

It is unfortunate that the talk of a healthy environment is still an anathema for most of our politicians, who parrot the song of development when a clean environment has always been a constant casualty. ‘Sab chalta hai’ attitude has happily placed our people in a state of somnambulism in spite of the toxic air. Realisation about pollution occurs to us only when reach an alarming stage. 

Issues of air quality and pollution in our cities are an existential problem which requires an appropriate systemic response from our policy-makers. Solutions on the spur of the moment and only in emergency will not do as has been our realisation over decades. Coordinated efforts from all stake holders are the urgent need of the hour.