Kolkata’s
Air Quality : Navigating Solutions
Workshop
and Roundtable organised by The U.S. Consulate General Kolkata, in partnership
with banglanatak dot com
The air quality in Kolkata has
been a cause for concern for a long time now. The discussion on the causes,
effects and the creation of actionable plans to arrest further deterioration,
too, has been an ongoing process in which all the concerned stakeholders –
citizens, corporate houses, social organisations, media and policy planners
participate to chalk the way forward. It was in this backdrop that a workshop
was organised on September 15, 2016, by the U.S. Consulate General Kolkata, in
partnership with banglanatak dot com, a social enterprise specializing in
communication for development and the Global Change Program at Jadavpur
University to create a platform for discussing the possible solutions to
address the air quality challenges of the city.
The workshop was attended by representatives from British Deputy High
Commission, Consulate of the Netherlands, Department of Environment GoWB, Department of Urban Development and
Town Planning GoWB, CPCB, Jadavpur University, NEERI, IISWBM, CESC, Coal India
Limited, Symbio Greentech Pvt. Limited, Centre for Environment Education, NEWS,
Concern for Kolkata, Association for Social and Environmental Department-
Calcutta Medical College, ASSOCHAM, FICCI, Yes Bank, TOI, ABP, The Telegraph,
Hindustan Times, Ei Samay among others.
Seeking to identify the root cause of the problem, participants
deliberated on issues like the air quality indicators and the causes behind the
bad air quality bin Kolkata; necessary steps to improve the quality of air before
moving on to identify the entities who can take the rectifying measures.
The deliberations led to the creation of a detailed matrix on actions
to be undertaken and the identification of individuals, institutions and
organisations that can and should take the required steps. The most interesting
aspect of this process was the use logic of rights and responsibilities by the
participants who also took the next logical step of identifying the key
constituents who can help bring about the desired change on both their
individual levels as collectively. The discourse was extended to the end which
saw the setting up of a five year time period to restore the air quality of the
city.
The key
observations of the workshop was presented in a Round Table on Saturday, September 24, 2016. The objective of
the exercise was to further codify the divergent thoughts and arrive at a
definitive action plan. Representatives from Department of Urban Development
GoWB, WBHDCL, Department of Health and Family Welfare GoWB, Department of Power
and Non-Conventional Energy Sources GoWB, Department of Environment, GoWB,
IPHE, CPCB, NEERI, Jadavpur University, CESC, Symbio Greentech Pvt. Ltd, WWF,
SAFE, The Green Bench, ICC, TOI, PTI, ABP, Hindustan Times, Asian Age etc were
present in the round table.
Representatives from the
Governmental departments talked about the various schemes aimed at improving
the quality of air that are at different levels of implementation. They also
dwelled upon the future course of action as has been earmarked by the concerned
authorities. Participants were also vocal, not only about the need to put a cap
on carbon emissions, but also underscored the need to move towards sustainable
lifestyles that would include among others, the increasing of the green cover
and the greater use of non-conventional energies. Creation of awareness,
especially though the use of emerging media was also identified as a part of
the solution.
The Round Table closed with
commitment by the participants to continue the dialogue. It was decided that a
monthly meeting will be hosted and at least five organisations volunteered to
take matters forward.
KOLKATA’S AIR QUALITY NAVIGATING SOLUTIONS WORKSHOP |
Kolkata’s Road Map to Clean Air:
There is no magic button by
pressing which the quality of the air we breathe can be improved overnight. On
the contrary, what is needed is sustained and multiple-pronged effort by all
the stakeholders over a period of time, was the feeling of the workshop.
Accordingly, an inclusive, though not comprehensive, road map was drawn up that
sought to crystallize the action points and assign the responsibilities:
Lifestyle changes – use of biomass stoves, bio-fuel / electricity
powered vehicles – to be adopted by families, small businesses using stoves,
kilns etc.
Increasing green cover, including but not restricted to the plating of
more trees – to be spearheaded by Individuals, Housing Societies,
Municipality, KMC, KMDA and other concerned citizens / bodies.
Regulation on use of vehicle and fuel to ensure reduced carbon
footprints – to be taken up by the Transport Department, Transport
Corporation, Manufacturers and other statutory bodies.
Improvement of Polluted Canals - to be taken up by the Irrigation
and Waterways Department.
Improvement of Construction Processes to make a concerted move towards
Green Buildings – to be embraced by the PWD, WBHDCL, KMC, KMDA,
Construction sector.
Increase Awareness & Advocacy, especially among the youth - to
be taken up as a cause by the Education, Health & Environment Department,
Schools, NGOs, CSOs, Media.
Data,( including Big Data and Analytics) and Knowledge dissemination
– to be facilitated by the Pollution Control Board, NEERI, Research and
Academic Institutions.
Proper implementation of laws & regulations – to be ensured by
the Pollution Control Boards, Relevant Departments, KMC and the Judiciary.
What is already being done to ensure better air quality:
- Green City Mission is covering 127 cities and towns of West Bengal and targets addressing use of appropriate technology, improving walk-ability, promoting innovation, plantation of trees and being energy positive.
- “Sobujshree” encouraging planting a tree by family when a child is born
- Demonstration site on using waste compost and rain water harvesting for rooftop urban farming
- Study for understanding optimal car concentration, source appropriation
- Building green highways
- Pollution monitoring sites by CPCB
- Introduction of waste segregation in New Town and Salt Lake area
- Improved soli management in Kolkata and 6 municipalities
- Power generation from municipal solid waste, kitchen waste
- Alosree scheme for grid based rooftop solar panels
- Initiation of project to understand opportunities, options and capacities for electric vehicles
- Solar Grid connections to institutional consumers with an intake of more than 5 KWs, subsidy for use of solar power by social Institutions.
- Green capping at Dhapa
- Spreading of awareness in urban slums to address lung problems
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