Hi Friends,

Even as I launch this today ( my 80th Birthday ), I realize that there is yet so much to say and do. There is just no time to look back, no time to wonder,"Will anyone read these pages?"

With regards,
Hemen Parekh
27 June 2013

Now as I approach my 90th birthday ( 27 June 2023 ) , I invite you to visit my Digital Avatar ( www.hemenparekh.ai ) – and continue chatting with me , even when I am no more here physically

Thursday 9 November 2017

#Smog #AirPollution #Delhi

#Smog  #AirPollution  #Delhi




 A  Smoke-Screen  around  Smog  ?


Once again , Delhi is enveloped in smog ( - as it happens , year after year )


As usual , politicians are blaming each other for “ failing to act “ , when they were in power


In the meantime , experts are saying : Smog is caused by ,


·         Vehicular emission
·         Construction dust
·         Burning of agri-residue in Punjab
·         Coal-based Power Plant
·         Kilns
·         Factories belching chemical fumes….etc


They are also telling us : Life of a Delhi-ite gets reduced by 6 years on average , due to air pollution !


They are also repeating their old suggestions :

·         Stop construction / close down factories
·         Ban petrol / diesel cars and switch over to Electric Vehicles
·         Introduce ODD / EVEN rules for vehicles
·         Sprinkle road with water
·         Introduce much more public transport ( Buses / Metro )…etc


Here is what other countries are doing :


·         Singapore has stopped purchase of private vehicles from 1st Feb 2018 . 

For many years now , Singapore charges private car owners , $ 3700 per year as “ Certificate of Entitlement “ ( valid for 10 years only )  and does not allow private cars to ply inside the “ Core City “ during peak hours


In Singapore , a Toyota Corolla ( 5 door sedan ) costs S$ 111,000 , which is about 4 TIMES what it costs in USA !



·         Since 2003 , London has levied a “ Congestion Charge “ of Sterling 11.50 per day. 

Two weeks back , it has started charging an additional amount of Sterling 10 per day to drive in the city centre ( - a total of 21.50 pounds / day ). 


This charge will apply primarily to cars manufactured before 2005


According to London Mayor , Sadiq Khan , more than 9000 Londoners die prematurely each year due to poor quality air


He goes on to add :

#  Drivers make 6 million trips to London each day with a THIRD of them driving
    LESS THAN 2 Km


#  40 % of air pollution in the city comes from diesel vehicles



·         Madrid , Paris and Athens have announced plans focussed on cutting diesel emissions including bans , fines and restrictions


·         Beijing ( China ) regularly closes down polluting factories / construction


·         In Switzerland , you cannot buy a private car unless you prove that you have a place to park it , both at your home and at your office ( not on the road )


There is no dearth of examples from around the world that we can study – and emulate , if found suitable


So, what is holding us back ? Feel free to draw your own conclusion from following blog :


 WhenLawmakers Abdicate  [  10 May  2016  ]

https://myblogepage.blogspot.com/2016/05/when-lawmakers-abdicate.html

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Extract :

 

Is air pollution only affecting the people of Delhi ?


Is it not as bad in cities like Mumbai / Kolkata / Chennai / Bangalore etc ?


Why are MLAs of these States not enacting laws to control pollution ?


Why is Supreme Court passing orders ( diesel vehicles / taxies ) only for Delhi ?


Does Supreme Court think that citizens of these other cities are immune to the ill effects of pollution caused by diesel vehicles ?


Why are State Legislatures happy to " pass the buck " to Supreme Court ?


That is " Abdication of Responsibility " !

{  PS :  Why blame the Courts for “ Judicial Activism “ ?  }

10  Nov  2017

www.hemenparekh.in / blogs








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