Open House: What steps should be taken by the Chandigarh administration to address the deteriorating AQI of the city?

Introduce odd-even scheme

The rise in registration of vehicles in tricity must be checked along with introducing odd-even scheme to reduce pollution levels. The Administration must install air ventilator shafts at all entry points. Burning of coal, wood should be banned. The authorities concerned should constitute high-level committee in this regard and take suggestion from public.

Kirpal Singh, Chandigarh

MAKE ALTERNATIVES ATTRACTIVE

The worsening air quality has really posed a big problem and become a burning issue for all. The main reason is the stubble burning. The governments have failed to control the fires. The farmers should be brought home the harmful effects of the polluted air and also taught to make other better uses of the stubble like making pellets, using for power generation, make paper and card board, use as packing materials and mixing with plastics. Thus the government agencies should assist the farmers in buying the stubble from them at nominal rates and putting to above stated uses.

NPS Sohal, Chandigarh

Promote eco-friendly practices

Stubble burning and vehicle pollution are significant contributors to environmental degradation and health issues. Addressing these issues requires a multi-faceted approach. Here are some strategies to mitigate these problem. There is a need to educate farmers, vehicle owners, and the general public about the hazards of stubble burning and vehicle pollution. To promote eco-friendly practices, such as carpooling, cycling, or walking. Only strict punishments can fetter farm fires and industrial, municipal and domestic pollutions.

Capt Amar Jeet (Retd)

Go for better public transport system

The city's air quality has was worsened due to stubble burning, vehicular pollution and atmospheric factors. Opt for better public transport system to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Educate the youth to protect the environment. Ultimately, we have to create an environment which is liveable and sustainable.

Garv Bhupesh Verma, Panchkula

Start using mobile anti-smog guns

The administration must start using mobile anti-smog guns to spray water on roads on the same lines as is being done in Delhi. A pilot project to see if drones can be used to spray water and control pollution should also be initiated. Such initiatives have been used to create artificial rain by China to counter smog in Beijing. The administration must issue guidelines for schools to be shut if AQI reaches a certain level so as not to expose the children to toxic air and advisory regarding mask usage for those suffering from asthama, respiratory ailments and other life threatening diseases. The administration should provide data on AQI of each sector and make it available to residents on a real time basis on a website or an app for the convenience of residents.

Gurnoor Grewal, Chandigarh

Install more air quality monitoring stations

For the improvement of worsening air quality short-term measures such as imposition of ban on stubble burning by neighbouring states, restriction of private vehicle usage, installation of more air quality monitoring stations to measure air quality on the real time basis be adopted. Other measures such as crop diversification, going for less polluting alternatives, expansion of electric public transport system, planting more trees, controlling industrial emissions and public awareness campaigns can be adopted as a long-term solution to reduce pollution.

Harinder Singh Bhalla, Chandigarh

Opt for sustainable solutions

To combat pollution, Chandigarh must promote electric vehicles by abolishing registration taxes, improve traffic management, and expedite its metro project. Incentivising cycling, carpooling, and pooled cabs can ease traffic. Industries and farmers contributing to pollution must be regulated, while stubble burning in nearby areas should be addressed with a mix of enforcement and support.

Vijay Katyal, Panchkula

Promote public transport

The administration should ban stubble burning and support farmers with eco-friendly alternatives. Promote public transport, carpooling, and electric vehicles to cut down vehicular pollution. Organise awareness drives on pollution's harmful effects and plant more trees across the city. Regularly monitor air quality to keep citizens informed. Together, we can make our city's air cleaner and healthier!

Vansh Saluja, Chandigarh

It's our collective responsibility

Every citizen should become a champion for clean air as it's our collective responsibility. It's time to change the mindset of "everyone's doing it, why shouldn't I?" Instead, let's contribute in our ways by reducing energy consumption, reducing the usage of vehicles, eliminating stubble burning, avoiding fireworks entirely, and planting more trees.

Maj Gen AK Sharma (Retd)

Expand electric vehicle infra

To combat the worsening air quality, the administration should enforce strict fines on stubble burning and promote alternate methods to manage crop residue. Expanding electric vehicle infrastructure and incentivising public transport can reduce vehicular emissions. Urban green spaces should be increased to absorb pollutants, while air-purifying towers in high-traffic areas would further curb toxins. A robust public awareness campaign on eco-friendly practices will drive long-term behavioural change, fostering a cleaner, healthier environment.

Gaganpreet Singh, Mohali

Subsidise crop residue management machines

The administration can address the city's air quality by implementing a multi-pronged approach. It includes subsidising crop residue management machinery, promoting crop diversification and strictly enforcing regulations on vehicular emissions. Additionally, encouraging public transport use, carpooling, and promoting electric vehicles can significantly reduce vehicular pollution. To mitigate atmospheric factors, the administration can implement green infrastructure initiatives like planting trees and creating green spaces, which can help absorb pollutants and improve air quality.

Amanjot Kaur, Mohali

Encourage use of public transportation

The administration can address the city's air quality by providing farmers with financial incentives and technical support to adopt sustainable crop residue management practices. They can also promote crop diversification and encourage the use of public transportation and electric vehicles to reduce vehicular pollution. Additionally, stricter enforcement of emission standards and the development of green infrastructure can help mitigate the impact of atmospheric factors.

Gurpreet Kaur, Mohali

Promote sustainable farming practices

The administration can address the city's air quality by aggressively promoting sustainable farming practices that reduce stubble burning, implementing stricter emission standards for vehicles, and investing in public transportation systems to reduce reliance on personal vehicles. Additionally, promoting the use of cleaner energy sources and creating green spaces can help mitigate the impact of atmospheric factors.

Gurdev Singh, Mohali

Establish green belts, urban forests

The administration must act swiftly to combat deteriorating air quality. Implement measures such as strictly enforcing ban on stubble burning and promoting biofertilisers. The authorities should focus on encouraging public transportation, incentivising eco-friendly vehicles, establishing green belts, urban forests, installing air purifiers in public spaces etc.

Sahibpreet Singh, Mohali

Enforce stricter emission standards

To combat worsening air quality, the administration should enforce stricter emission standards, promote electric vehicles and incentivise farmers to adopt sustainable stubble management practices. Additionally, expanding green spaces and implementing real-time air quality monitoring can help mitigate pollution and protect public health.

Sargunpreet Kaur, Mohali

Swift action essential to improve air quality

Promote alternatives to stubble burning through subsidies. Expand public transport and enforce stricter vehicle emission checks. Launch awareness campaigns on pollution control and increase urban green spaces. Enforce penalties for environmental violations to protect air quality and public health.

Rhythm Juneja, Chandigarh

INCENTIVISE CONVERSION OF CROP RESIDUE

Deployment of larger number of mechanical sweeping machines and water sprinklers at hotspots would be able to contain the vehicular pollution to a large extent. Intensive patrolling is needed to curb open burning of garbage in residential areas. In order to address issue of stubble burning, additional budget may be earmarked to buy machines like Happy Seeder. Farmers need to be elightened on spraying of Bio-enzymes on stubble to decompose it into manure. Technology like Pusa dispenser should be used to convert stubble into manure and sell it back to farmers.

BRIGADIER ADVITYA MADAN, CHANDIGARH

Ban crackers, Burning of farm residue

Stubble burning, environment and vehicular pollution are not the only constituent of bringing AQI level of tricity. Industrial pollution, fire cracker and construction activities have also added to the grim situation. Burning of stubble and crackers must be banned with strict orders to reduce smog in tricity. The other activities cannot be banned but can be restricted during the period to improve AQI level in tricity. Cleaning and watering of roads may also reduce the dust particle in air pollution.

Wg Cdr JS Minhas (Retd), Mohali

Promote use of biofuels

With India enroute to develop nation, taking care of the environment is a duty every person must fulfil. Adopting odd even scheme and electrification of public transportation can also help to serve the cause. Additionally, mixing of 20% of ethyl alcohol and 20% biodiesel in diesel should be compulsory and enforced.

Ruhin Gupta, Chandigarh

Strict penal action against violators

Poor air quality's & poor visibility is not only city's problem but also of North India. City has no major role as it is not emerging from city. The government has no plan to regulate crops and quantity required in coming years. Centre and states can play major role to stop paddy's glut with crop diversification, strict penal action against violators by not allowing them to grow paddy at least for 5 years and stopping free electricity to tubewells.

Bhupinder Singh Hira, Chandigarh.

Take cue from foreign nations

Annually, air pollution results in 6.5 million premature deaths globally. It's a chronic problem, not an emergency. However, governance response, especially in India, is lax. The authorities must learn from South Korea. The country has improved the air quality of large metros of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi. It was done within a legal structure that fixed targets and responsibilities and also by bringing environmental issues in mainstream politics by forming a Green Party in 2012. When air quality sways votes, changes are bound to happen.

SANJAY CHOPRA, MOHALI

Install air pollution control devices

Traffic congestion and rapid construction are the primary culprits behind pollution. Introducing large-scale public transportation systems can significantly reduce congestion and promote eco-friendly choices. Car-pooling is another effective measure, allowing individuals to share rides and reduce vehicle numbers. Installing air pollution control devices, upgrading to cleaner production technologies, and implementing dust-suppression systems can make a significant impact.

SK Khosla, Chandigarh

Time to take proactive measures

In order to improve the quality of air in the tricity, the UT needs to take timely proactive measures as the problem has serious repercussions on human health. To reduce the vehicular emissions, outdated vehicles should be banned to move on roads. Moreover, people should not burn waste material on the sides of roads as this process releases a lot of toxic gases. The passerbys with respiratory problems have to face difficulties while commuting. Also, the pollution control board should actively come forward to tackle this issue.

MALKEET KAUR VIRK, PATIALA

Concerted efforts needed

Concerted efforts are needed to deal with the problem as this is not only administrative issue but also a major concern for the common man. The MC should ensure sprinkling water on roads to suppress dust emanating due to vehicular movement and construction. The Transport Department should promote electric vehicles or carpooling system.

VK Garg, Chandigarh

Enforce stricter emission norms

Chandigarh's air quality has sharply deteriorated in recent years, plagued by stubble burning in neighbouring states, rising vehicular emissions, and unfavourable atmospheric conditions. As smoke from crop residue burning in Punjab and Haryana floods the region, vehicular pollution exacerbates the problem, creating a toxic haze. Atmospheric factors, such as low wind speed, further trap pollutants. As environmentalist Robert Swan once said, the greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it. To combat this, Chandigarh's administration must enforce stricter emission norms, encourage electric vehicles, and collaborate with neighbouring states for sustainable agricultural practices and better air quality management.

Devanjana

Complete ban on firecrackers

Provision of strict punishment and penalty should be there for stubble and dry waste burning. There should be a complete ban on the firecrackers as people are not taking any learning from increased AQI levels. The Metro can reduce vehicular traffic.

Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali

Stop all construction work temporarily

The factors polluting air should be addressed to keep it under control. Stubble burning is not an issue in UT but other factor can be checked. Vehicular pollution can be minimised by adopting odd-even formula, sharing of vehicles when going to office, avoiding short distance use of vehicles for odd jobs. Work from home where possible should be undertaken. Stop all construction and demolition work temporarily. Water can be sprinkled in the city area roads etc. Polluting vehicles must be banned from running.

Bharat Bhushan Sharma Chandigarh

Stubble burning leading cause

It is astonishing that Chandigarh which boasts of a gigantic tree cover features among India's most polluted cities. While stubble burning is a leading cause, lax implementation of the stipulated timings for crackers is also a reason. Moreover, increasing traffic in the city has also contributed to the pollution. Public transport and electric vehicles need to be promoted. A renewed system for public transport needs to be started to encourage more people to use this system.

Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh

QUESTION FOR NEXT WEEK

A QR code-based citizen review system has been introduced, enabling people to provide feedback on their interactions with cops. Should a similar system be implemented in other departments of the Chandigarh Administration?

Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com