By: CHOPAN JAVID
Kashmir which has always remained second name of paradise, the splendid Mughal gardens around Srinagar resplendent with chinar trees and fountains, winter harboring sites to migratory birds like Hokersar; dazzling and magnificent Nigeen and Dal lakes cradled in the lap of famous Zaberwan of majestic Himalayan range; panoramic view of famous boulevard and Asia’s largest tulip garden by side of it in the foothills of Zabarwan mountains are a few among so many marvelous places.
Having a soul soothing experience of scenic surroundings will hardly make you believe that capital city of ours has been ranked at number 10 amongst 15 most polluted cities of the world. The hustle and bustle created by World Health organization’s report on quality of air and respirable suspended particulate matter in air wherein particulate matter 2.5 which is two and half micron in diameter has been stated at 113µg/m3. Permissible limit for the same is however at 60 µg/m3 for 24 hours and 40 µg/m3 for any day in the year. The cause of concern with this tiny pollutant i.e PM2.5 is its health hazards. Short term effects associated with this pollutant include eye, nose, lung irritation which causes coughing sneezing running nose and problems in breathing, because tiny hairs present in our respiratory track cannot block passage of these particles and they can penetrate into our bloodstream. Continuous exposure to it can impede normal functioning of our lungs and cause death due to cardiovascular failure. Besides having all these effect on human health the particles are also said to reduce the visibility to considerable limit.
Report released by WHO was altogether turned down by SPCB as the authority claimed that such data doesn’t belong to them. SPCB also said they had no such measuring device to measure PM2.5 in recent past and it was installed only in 2017 in response to the report of WHO from 2010-2016. However, it is interesting to note that renowned scientist at Kashmir university Dr. Shakeel Ramshoo stands with the report of WHO on air quality of Srinagar.
Let us set aside the contradictory remarks on the eye opening report of WHO and consider PM2.5 at permissible limit. Some experts believe that flood of 2014 may have been the culprit; the massive silt deposits caused by flood which turned into dust remained suspended in air for months. We also cannot deny the fact of accelerated accumulation by stone crushers, mushrooming of brick kilns in the surrounding of Srinagar and the ever-increasing automobile emissions. Emissions from cement factories coupled with increase in construction activity from past decade are some of the particulate matter generating activities and hence need a check.
Likewise proper disposal of agricultural wastes and avoiding traditional practice of foliar burning of trees in winters is our responsibility and need of hour. The law and law implementing agencies need to have effective and proper implantation in conjugation with remedial measures to control pollution of air. While debating WHO report, we the people of Kashmir need to take care of our place. The ecologically and geographically sensitive piece of land on earth called “ Jannat e bainazir” doesn’t deserves a mention or even last rank in any list of polluted cities be it from WHO, SPCB or other research journal report for that matter.
- The writer is pursuing his masters in Forestry at SKUAST K
