Delhi has attained the infamous title of the world’s most polluted city and it’s taken a lot of mismanagement, procrastination, warped-up priorities, and misgivings about people-friendly solutions over several years to get here.
It’s not just the air. Water, sanitation, food, green belts, open spaces are also unsafe. Delhi’s children, elderly citizens, animals, and birds are all affected. To make the situation further grim & gloomy, climate change impacts in the form of excessive heat, water scarcity, and excessive rainfall-induced flooding keep affecting Delhi. Soon shortage of water in the rivers will affect electricity supply to Delhi from hydro-power plants.
The ‘People’s Green manifesto 2020’ presents 10 demands of the people of Delhi for the next 5 years of government to make the city state resource-wise and sustainable by 2025. The National Capital needs to set an example for the whole nation. Much more can be asked for and done in addition to the listed action items, nevertheless, this manifesto presents the demands as a starting point for a liveable city from United Residents Joint Action (URJA), with inputs from experts in various fields.
Pollution is yet to be dealt with at the root causes and the most suitable solutions are yet to be adopted wholeheartedly. Purifiers, ROs and burning waste for energy are not solutions. An honest action on root causes will create a healthy society that is prosperous, secure, and smart. Although this path to a liveable city will likely continue beyond 2025, it requires all of us to work together for it from now itself. We need our elected representatives to align with Delhi’s citizens on the vision, policies, laws, finances and action steps all the way for a holistic development of the city that meets local needs in a structured and transparent way.
