New delhi climate lockdown1/11/2024 ![]() The catch, however, is the fate of India’s many millions of rural and urban poor. “Never seen Dhauladar range from my home rooftop in Jalandhar.never could imagine that’s possible." The coronavirus shutdown has cleared the air around the world, and opening mountain visibility in places that hasn't been seen for decades. With everyone indoors, it has allowed Indians to envisage an alternative existence, one where they could enjoy a better quality of life, without having to migrate from their home country. Meanwhile, India’s rivers, usually clogged with effluent, garbage, oil and manufacturing residue, are cleaner than ever – with water even drinkable in some parts. This month, residents of towns in Punjab state reported an unfathomable sight: the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, specifically, the Dhauladar Ranges, almost 200 kilometres away. ![]() However, last weekend Delhi was listed as just 16th on the list of the world’s most polluted cities, below Taipei and Belgrade.Īnd it is not just in the cities that people are reaping the benefits. Millions of cars on the roads, combined with belching exhaust fumes from manufacturing facilities, added to the haze from burning crop stubble – all this has meant air quality in Indian cities is off-the-charts awful, with 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities located in India. Indians have long suffered the flow-on effects of the need for a level of economic activity that can sustain some kind of livelihood for 1.3 billion people. Independent monitoring bodies announced that levels of PM 2.5 – the dangerous one that gets lodged in people’s lungs and intestines – fell by up to 70% in the first week. In between sucking in great gulps of fresh air classed as only “moderately unhealthy”, rather than the usual “hazardous” level, Indians have spent the past few weeks endlessly posting photos of blue skies and car-free streets to social media. Millions of cars on the roads, combined with belching exhaust fumes from manufacturing facilities, added to the haze from burning crop stubble – all this has meant air quality in Indian cities is off-the-charts awful. ![]()
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