Pollution In India
Lawmakers have long been talking about reducing pollution in India and consequently, the country’s attitude towards a “cleaner and greener” future has been put on top gear in recent times. But why is that the government keeps banging on about pollution that comes from cars and bikes alone?
After all, there are many other ways pollution comes from and the recent crop of passenger vehicles are among the cleanest vehicles on the planet. Yet, they are still seen as evil things.
The reality is that the world cannot survive even a day without fossil fuel or items that stem from it. Almost every item people use are derived from it and we cannot just throw them away without coming up with alternatives.
Sticking strictly with cars and bikes, it is the alternative, or the lack of a convincing one, that is the problem now. Yes, there are electric cars, but they are not in the affordable category yet and costs play a major role in the adoption of new technology.
Those who say “Oh, what about saving the planet?” should pause for a moment and analyse certain parameters. The most important component in an EV is the battery pack, which uses rare earth metals that are mined (children work in such mines in Africa even today), chemically processed, shipped to be made into the final product before being shipped to a factory to be installed onto a vehicle.
Even charging EVs is not clean as people would make you believe, because most countries depend on coal powerplants to produce electricity. More EVs means more electricity generation and more pollution.
We can set up solar panel powerplants you say? Do some research online and you will find out just how unfeasible such a thing is. Pound for pound, fossil fuel beats it by miles.
Pollution in India comes in many different ways, including from multiple coal powerplants that we depend upon to power our nation. But somehow people in power always pick on passenger vehicles.
I would openly admit that ill-maintained vehicles are among the worst polluting machines out there. So what are we going to do about old trucks? Well, they are India’s lifeline and cannot be stopped. But what about farmers who burn stubble and pollute so much? Well, that has to be overlooked because, you know, politics.
Just because an EV does not have an exhaust pipe, it does not mean it is good for the environment. The hypocrisy around the matter is, frankly, beggars belief.
Our country has to look at our needs and not blindly copy what Westerners do. It is like wearing a full suit in Chennai during the month of May when it is blazing hot. One must be mad to do it.
Indian people are what should matter to the government and not some law made by Europeans (who have been using cars for nearly a century now) because they think we are all going to die in 12 years’ time.
Today, Indians are unsure about how long they can keep their vehicles. Why should they be denied the right to use a thing that they purchased by duly paying taxes?
Let me tell you an open secret – the government can’t run properly if you and I stop using fuel.
If they can, then most State governments would not have opposed bringing automotive fuel under GST and the Centre would not have increased fuel tax rates to deal with rising costs related to the disruption caused by COVID-19. As I said, the hypocrisy is just beggars belief.
