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A couple of decades ago, the post-monsoon and the pre-winter period in Delhi used to be the best time of the year, the Supreme Court of India recently observed. But that has changed drastically now. For the last few years, Delhi has been missing the autumn scent… Dipping air quality has been a major concern.
Year on year, the Supreme Court has to serve reminders to the governments. If the air is unbreathable, the cities are unlivable… yet nothing changes.
Blame games happen, and die a natural death. Factors are counted – farm fires, vehicular pollution, industrial pollution and so on… and graphs are prepared till they are forgotten. The toxic air prevails.This is also the time when the Diwali festive spirit is in the air. But the haze — year-on-year — has been dimming the shine of the festival of lights, and how. Among the many traditions attached to Diwali is the deep cleaning of homes. Many people wait for this festive season to get their houses renovated and painted. They even buy new furniture. It is all done to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity in Hindu belief, they say.
“If you do a good job… the goddess would come home, and bless us” – this has been a familiar phrase from the elders in the family.
Yet, can the enthusiasm be sustained when we are struggling to breathe? Isn’t the severity of air pollution weighing us down.
That was the thought that came to my mind during the latest autumn cleaning drill. In the last few weeks, apart from relentless notifications of Diwali offers on the mobile, the news of “poor”, “very poor”, “severe” and “very severe” air quality in the National Capital Region has, goes without saying, had the attention hooked.
Measures are being suggested, some are being implemented. But no one probably wants to see the elephant in the room, least of all do something about it.
Our houses may be clean but do we also have to wait for the skies to turn blue for the goddess of prosperity to come and bless us?
