Delhi's much-debated odd-even trial ended on Friday. Though the 15-day pollution-control experiment to allow cars with odd-numbered licence plates to ply on one day, and those with even numbers on the next, did little to improve Delhi’s air quality, it was widely acknowledged to be a valiant effort to find a solution to the horrendous problem.
Making use of this momentum, several groups decided to organise an event called “Help Delhi Breathe” at Jantar Mantar in central Delhi to raise awareness about the situation and to push for measures to mitigate it.
There was music from the Hindi band Astitva, stand-up comedy acts and a slam poetry. Participants showed up wearing anti-pollution masks and with posters demanding cleaner air. The organisers emphasised that this was not a protest but a plea to the government to continue the good work by implementing policies to cut air pollution.
The government has its work cut out for it, organisers said. Ensuring access to information on air pollution is a prime concern, along with a legal framework to implement measures on vehicular emission standards. Besides, a regional approach to air pollution needs to be developed to find solutions to crop burning in neighbouring states that cause smoke to waft over the capital, to limit polluting industries in Delhi and its adjoining areas and to push for clean and renewable sources of power, the organisers said.
"This event is a very good articulation of public concern," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy with Centre for Science and Environment. "It is public opinion that drives action in this city. So that's the best way to bring the change makers together. Odd-even was an emergency action and it has shown you that it is important to reduce traffic volume on the road. But we need to take systematic measures and not just emergency measure. Right now the government has to take many difficult decisions and come up with a clear time-bound action plan to work towards cleaning up all of the city's pollution source.,"
Greenpeace activists, who were also a part of the organising team, wandered around in T-shirts bearing the slogan "#ILOVEMYLUNGS". Greenpeace campaigner, Sunil Dahiya talked about the importance of taking this initiative to other metros as well. "Let's make Delhi an example to combat air pollution and spread this across Indian to clean the air at a national level," said Dahiya.