Health Gaurav Shukla Gaurav Shukla brandfaqs@gmail.com Gaurav Shukla AJK Mass Communication Research Centre 01/11/2010 Delhi Analysis

Is Delhi doing enough for its climate change pledge?

As pollution rears its ugly head again, Delhi is ready with a green pledge. National capital recently became the first Indian city to chalk out a concrete action plan on climate change. But, with contradictory measures, such as public transport fare hike, will the pledge work? Beth Potter bpotter@upi.com Gaurav Shukla AJK Mass Communication Research Centre 01/11/2010 Delhi Analysis

Is New Delhi doing enough to meet its climate change pledge goals?

As pollution rears its ugly head again, Delhi is ready with a green pledge. National capital recently became the first Indian city to chalk out a concrete action plan on climate change. But, with contradictory measures, such as public transport fare hike, will the pledge work? Smog down the ring road in New Delhi on Nov 23, 2009. While, the overall levels of gases like Carbon Monoxide have fallen, the amount of dust, petrol and diesel matter in the air had been on the rise for the past three years, leading to smog formation and its serious consequences on the residents. A view of dried Surajkund Lake on the New Delhi border on Nov 20, 2009. Excessive mining in the adjoining Aravalli hills have led the to drying of such lakes. Government is planning to revive the lake before 2010 Commonwealth Games. (Photo: Gaurav Shukla) Construction going on the floodplains of River Yamuna for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. Environmentalists and other activists fought a long legal battle against the construction of the Village, alleging disastrous consequences to the Yamuna river once the site is created. But after Supreme Court's nod, construction continues. (Photo: Gaurav Shukla) Auto-ricksaws lined up at a compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station. New Delhi is rapidly losing the air quality gains made after switching its diesel bus fleet to compressed natural gas six years ago due to increase in the number of diesel run private vehicles. According to the Society for Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), market share of diesel cars is expected to be 50 per cent of total car sales by 2010. (Photo: Gaurav Shukla) A metro train entering Tis Hazari station in New Delhi on Nov 20, 2009. With the expansion of metro rail in the Indian capital, Government is expecting to control Air pollution by giving Delhi residents cleaner mode of public transport.(Photo: Gaurav Shukla) A view of polluted water of River Yamuna on Nov 23, 2009 in New Delhi. With municipal waste and factory waste dumping in Yamuna everyday, river has turned from river to sewage drain. Over 22 billion USD (1000 bn INR) under Yamuna Action Plan have already been spent to clean the beleagured river, but without any result. (Photo: Gaurav Shukla). Ram Mohan, a ragpicker at Okhla Landfill tries to seprate plastic material from other garbage on Nov 21, 2009. Even after the ban on plastic use in the Indian capital, 31 per cent of total waste coming at three landfills Okhla, Bhalswa and Gazipur in New Delhi is plastic content.(Photo: Gaurav Shukla) Smoke coming out of chimney of Rajghat Thermal Power Plant in New Delhi on Nov 22, 2009. Power plants are the second largest source of air pollution after Vehicles in the Indian capital. (Photo: Gaurav Shukla) A general view of rush hour traffic in New Delhi. The ever-increasing number of vehicles on the road are the main reason for Air pollution in the Indian capital. According to Delhi based environment NGO Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), there has been a 132 percent increase in the number of cars in the past ten years, with around 1,000 new cars joining Delhi roads everyday. (Photo: Gaurav Shukla). Smoke coming out from the chimney of Rajdhani Power plant in New Delhi on Nov 21, 2009. These coal based power plant are the second largest contributer to Air pollution. (Photo: Gaurav Shukla). 2010-01-11 16:00:33 UTC 2010-03-10 23:12:31 UTC