Report on waste burning in Pune submitted to PMC

The Pune Air Action Hub released a report on the incidence of waste burning in the city and a review of the grievance redressal mechanism of PMC for the same. The report includes a citizen survey indicating that waste burning is rampant in most areas of the city, along with observance of chronic spots. Even so citizens seem unaware of the complaint mechanisms, pointing to the need for awareness about the same. That being said, an independent analysis of complaints lodged showed delay in response to waste burning complaints and other gaps in the process.

Survey Report: How the most vulnerable groups see and understand Air Pollution in Pune

Parisar conducted a air quality perception survey, with a focus on the four vulnerable groups, namely - wastepickers, traffic police, hawkers and rickshaw drivers in the city. This survey evolves from a similar one done by Parisar in 2018, the major difference being the focus on the different stakeholder groups this time. The driving force behind designing the survey differently this time  was the fact that air pollution affects everyone, but its impacts vary with exposure. We wanted to understand how these four vulnerable groups understand and perceive air qualityFor cities to be liveable, a number of civic issues have to be addressed and planned for. While transportation, water supply, solid waste management have been the more visible, urgent matters for a long time, air quality is fast becoming a civic issue which demands and deserves urgent attention owing to the fact that it has now become a public health emergency.

SAFAR’s Emission Inventory finds transport emissions up by 91% - Parisar asks PMC to rein in vehicles

Pune based NGO Parisar which works on sustainable transportation has written to the PMC with recommendations to relook at the transportation policy of Pune. The letter states that while the city continues to take on road infrastructure projects irrationally, the problems that manifest from lack of a holistic vision are taking a turn for the worse.

Less smoke with fire

The report by Lancet Planetary Health published in December 2020 estimates that air pollution claimed the lives of 1.7 million in 2019 in India. Till date,1.4 lakhs have died due to Covid-19 since March 2020.While the Corona virus managed to get the entire country's health system and the state machinery in an overdrive, the insidious air pollution carried out its dastardly feat without so much as a public outcry. 

Air pollution does get attention in the national capital though, especially in winters.

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