Editor's Note: Manisha Chakraborty is a freelance Indian journalist. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.
Over the last couple of years, the onset of winter in India's capital New Delhi brings to mind a famous line from Percy Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind" – except with a slight adaptation – if winter comes, can "pollution" be far behind?
It is a fact that in recent years, international media as well as social media, have reported the lethal levels of pollution descending on New Delhi as winter sets in. These reports reaffirm that public health is in crisis under the cobweb of pervasive air pollution, thanks to the Indian government's (both central and states) halfhearted non-eco-friendly policies in the name of progress, convenience, modernity and industrialization.
Indian school children wearing masks take part in the awareness drive "My Right to Breathe" to protest high levels of air pollution in New Delhi, November 6, 2018 /VCG Photo
While both India and China are pursuing a common goal to fulfill the dream of “Clean India” and “Beautiful China” respectively, it can be boldly said that only China is winning its war on pollution with concrete measures.
According to a recently released list from the World Health Organization (WHO), India has 14 out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world and New Delhi, home to nearly 19 million people, earned the infamous tag of being the world's most polluted city – visibly taunting our social media savvy Prime Minister Narendra Modi's “Clean India Mission.”
Air pollution is not a seasonal but a year-round problem in India. But Indian politicians have paid scant attention to the deadliest air pollution. Every winter, a thick blanket of smog engulfs our national capital and a dozen Indian cities, and people suffer from chronic respiratory diseases.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board of India, the overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi was recently recorded at 370, which falls in the "very poor" category. In the first week of November this year, as Delhi's air quality began worsening, thousands end up in doctors' clinics with respiratory problems, coupled with eye and nose irritation. In its advisory, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research has instructed people to avoid morning walks and outdoor activities.
It's a shame that despite the Supreme Court's ban on firecrackers during Diwali festival, the air quality of the capital gets so bad that many kids are now forced to stay out of school.
Although India generally dislikes comparisons to China, this needs to be acknowledged that China is miles ahead from India in reducing human-made causes for air, water, and soil pollution. It's fact that until 2013, New Delhi and Beijing were on the same level in terms of their air pollution levels. But in recent years China has been particularly active in trying to curb its air pollution. The WHO has also acknowledged China's efforts in this regard. India can take a lesson about how China has been working for “blue skies, lucid waters and lush mountains” since the launch of the clean air action plan in 2013.
With more key measures released (Air Ten, Water Ten, and Soil Ten) and practiced at all levels in China since 2013, the war on pollution has been fought as coal-fired power plants reduced emissions, fossil-fuel based power generation converted to renewable energy, cities restricted cars on roads and the planting of additional greenery. In addition, in 2013 China introduced a four-tier warning system for severe weather including smog with red, orange, yellow and blue.
Electric rent-a-cars recharge at a recharging station next to a temple in Beijing on January 16, 2018. China has become the world's biggest investor in electric cars. /VCG Photo
New data released by the Chinese government in March this year showed that the number of "severely polluted" days in Beijing dropped to 23 in 2017, compared with 58 in 2013. Surely, all these signal that China is getting more serious about green development on the premise of protecting people's basic rights and interests.
China's firm war on pollution has been reflected in its national development strategies. China has placed higher priority on cleaning up the smoggy skies, dirty rivers and intoxicated soil. During the 8th National Conference on Environmental Protection held in Beijing from May 18 to 19, 2018, President Xi Jinping called for winning the battle against pollution and emphasized the construction of an “ecological civilization with green development” to a new level.
As the air pollution in India worsens with each passing day, the poorest and most marginalized Indian people bear the brunt of the burden. China is willing to exchange and cooperate with India in the realm of fighting pollution. In order to fulfill the dream of Clean India by 2019, India would be well-advised to draw lessons from China's national strategies for tackling pollution and ecological advancement.
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