Ludhiana students join 8000 students from across Punjab seeking right to breathe clean air

Ludhiana: Concerned over the impacts of deteriorating air quality on their health, over eight thousand school students from Ludhiana and other cities across Punjab on World Environment Day have written to Chief Minister, Capt. Amarinder Singh. The students through their letters urged him to immediately initiate steps by acting on the rising air pollution, which will help safeguard their health.

The demands from students predominantly echoed their right to clean air and the right to breathe at the same time highlighting the fact that Punjab has some of the most polluted cities in India like- Ludhiana, Khanna, Mandi Gobindgarh, Amritsar, Jalandhar, and Patiala.

Jaskiran Kaur, Principal of Amrit Indo Canadian Academy shared, “The quality of air we breathe has deteriorated. Through this initiative, the students who believed that the air quality in Punjab is not as bad in Delhi were sensitized about the reality. It was an awakening for the students that the day is not for when we may all have to struggle to breathe in natural clean air or carry our own personal oxygen cylinders which is a very worrying thought for all of us.”

Even during the lockdown under second wave, when most of the industries were shut and movement halted, Ludhiana noted an average air quality index (AQI) of 135 whereas the good AQI is 0-50 and moderate is 51- 100. Even Fazilka and Rupnagar, which are considered some of the greener regions in Punjab noted an average AQI of 113 and 129, respectively. This alarming data puts focus on the immediate need for an intervention and promoting actions to reduce the prevalent severe air pollution.
Amarjit Singh, a grandfather of a 12-year-old from Ludhiana said “Most of us feel very sad that we cannot allow our grandchildren to go out and play due to the current Covid 19 conditions. We need to also think that if the air in our state keeps getting toxic due to air pollution we will always be worried and will be forced to keep them indoors with air purifiers. It's a good move by students to understand the value of clean air and demand their right to breathe clean and healthy air.”  

The initiative of creating awareness amongst students on Air Pollution was carried out under the Clean Air Punjab project by EcoSikh.

In line with its restoration and conservation activities, Ecosikh along with Clean Air Punjab wanted to call attention to the Government through the voices of children to safeguard their future by taking strong measures and securing their health and wellbeing said Supreet Kaur, President EcoSikh India. “Thousands of children have written to the Honorable CM, Capt. Amarinder Singh, expressing their concern about the air pollution in Punjab and the respiratory problems associated with it. The students have shown strong will and determination for their safe future,” she said.

Kaur added that on behalf of the seven thousand concerned children, they urge the State Government to come up with an action plan to tackle all sources of pollution in a time-bound manner- thereby ensuring that Punjab breathes freely.

Dr Prabhjyot Kaur Sidhu, HOD, Climate Change and Agricultural Meteorology, PAU said even during the month of May 2021 the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Punjab is 113, which is not in a good or satisfactory category and unhealthy for sensitive groups. “Though it is the cleanest time of the year when there is no residue burning. Moreover, due to lockdown conditions, the vehicular traffic is at its lowest level. The industrial pollution is also minimal.”

Gurpreet Kaur Chandok, Principal, Millennium World School: “The quality of the air we breathe in now-a-days is deteriorating with every passing day because modernization has made us compromise on so many things. We really need to be serious about it and think of the ways we are in our comfort zones, we devise ways to improve the air quality. We are the one's living on this land of Punjab and we only have to take some committed, defined steps towards 'Pollution Free Punjab 'and become pioneers in this field too, like the way we are in many other fields."