Ahead of Bengal Elections 2021, as political parties release their election manifesto, it is quite interesting to see how prepared are our political parties in taking up air pollution abatement as a key area that needs critical address in the current scenario.
On 10th February, Bengal Clean Air Network (BengalCAN), a network of stakeholders concerned about the degrading quality of air in the State, launched a Clean Air Manifesto 2021-2026 followed with an online petition signed by over 8000 citizens and counting. The manifesto asked political parties contesting in the West Bengal assembly elections 2021 to include in their manifestos – the pressing issue of air pollution in the state by creating state policies and committing to reduce air pollution by 30% by 2024 from the 2019 baseline.
CPIM Manifesto:
The Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) have incorporated reduction in vehicular emissions in their manifesto alongside environment protection and conservation. This has not been covered in their previous manifestos.
Quotation:
Bengal CAN Team reached out to Shri Mridul De – CPIM Central Committee member – The Left Front’s election manifesto will focus on environmental protection and scientific awareness building in response to citizen’s demand for clean air as has been campaigned by BengalCAN.
TMC Manifesto:
Trinamool Congress (TMC) did not have any mention of air pollution abatement or any environment in their manifesto, neither this year nor in the manifesto from 2016 elections. Although the manifesto mentions water conservation, access to electricity, better roads and livelihood opportunities, no attention has been particularly given to air pollution reduction or environment conservation.
Quotation:
Bengal CAN Team reached out to Senior leaders of TMC and they said the following:
Shri Firhad Hakim, Minister of Urban Affair – Air pollution is indeed a cause of concern and unless the air quality of Bengal is improved, we are in a grave position. We are taking serious planning and discussion on Environment and Air pollution, with special emphasis on urban forests. To improve the air quality, we are focusing on increasing greenery. Regarding cycle lanes, Firhad Hakim said that specialists from France have visited Kolkata and concluded that narrow lanes are not suitable for cycle lanes but areas like new town are suitable for construction of cycle lanes and are already in the process of doing so.
Shri Partha Chatterjee, Minister of Education said that Air Pollution is an important table topic. Environment and air pollution are two such topics which are priority and our chief minister gives much importance to these discussions. In case of industrialization, emphasis would be given on environment friendly techniques of industrialization.
Manifestos of other major parties is yet to be released:
Bengal CAN response:
Kolkata, Haldia, Howrah and Durgapur have seen about 15 – 70% increase in the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the winter months as compared to the winter of last year. This clearly implies that the majority of Bengal’s pollution is local i.e., generated from vehicular or industrial emissions. Given the current pollution trends, Bengal is expected to experience a massive rebound in air pollution. We thank TMC and CPIM for acknowledging air pollution as a pressing problem and mentioning them in their political agendas. However, we are strongly requesting our political leaders to set stringent targets in pollution reduction and invest more on a post COVID-19 green recovery. We are urging our political leaders and parties to share with us Action Plans that include green action points to push forward a long term advocacy for environment advocacy and sustainable development. On 21st March, as a part of #VoteForCleanAir campaign, we are celebrating International Day of Forest to commemorate the importance of urban green spaces and parks in curbing air pollution. Youths, citizens and several others will be getting on the streets on this day to raise our voices so political parties provide clear action points to combat air pollution.
Bengal CAN Team quote:
- We urge your Political leadership in the State should strongly move with a strong balance between development and environmental security.
- As a response to Shri Firhad Hakim, of course streets in Kolkata are very narrow, which makes it even more relevant to promote NMTs and cycle as a means to decongest and limit motor traffic as has been done in Europe and London.
Some of the following key points included in the Clean Air Manifesto are:
- Develop sustainable mobility plans for Kolkata and other major cities – remove all cycle restrictions, promote trams and Electric Vehicles.
- Mandate waste segregation in all Urban Local Bodies.
- Develop more green corridors and enforce regulations for forest covers and biodiversity corridors.
- Low carbon-footprint lifestyle and Promote environment education in school and college curriculums
- Reduce emissions by 30% of the current air pollution levels by 2024
The full manifesto can be found here – https://bit.ly/bengalcan-citizen-cleanair-manifesto2021
Change.org Petition – https://www.change.org/Cleanairmanifesto2021
Change.org পিটিশনে : http://chng.it/2PyNhJDjsJ
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