If one goes for a drive in our colony one can see such nice cars right from luxurious cars to SUVs to sedans. One must have seen at least one of the neighbour’s buy a new car in the past few months or neighbour’s fighting over parking issues.
According to an article by TOI, 2022 saw sale of 6L new vehicles in Delhi, 32% jump since last year. Somehow I can’t avoid thinking of a time post Diwali when I saw so many people in the locality complaining about air pollution, how their young kid is on nebuliser and what the government is doing about it?
Well, what are you doing about it? Does one realise that cars are a major contributor to air pollution producing significant amounts of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. 80-90% of cars’ environmental impact comes from fuel consumption and emissions. There is a reason why odd-even gets imposed so that number of cars go less.
Yes, you may say that there are many other causes, however one has to start with some change to create a ripple.
Do you remember when we were all sitting inside during pandemic and how our environment changed, and sky was so clear, who was responsible for this? Our government? no, it was what we all did, though out of compulsion.
But why are we not doing that by choice, if one family can do with one car then why are we buying multiple cars. Can we make better use of our financial resources than just buying a branded car or more than one car? Why are we not open to public transport? why can’t we walk till our market to buy groceries? why can’t we have our own odd-even rule?
We don’t do these things till rules are imposed but maybe it’s time to impose self-imposed rules for a better environment and better health for your family if not others.
It’s your choice, complain about what all is wrong or start with doing something right. Remember, one to change a few, a few to change many, many to change the world hence it all starts with that one.
by Sukhmeen Kaur Cheema (Counselling Psychologist, R block, 9818329251)S
