A Conventin was organized in Delhi under the aegis of AIPF on the topic ‘Pollution and Public Transport in Delhi: A Burning Concern for Every Citizen’.
A Concept Note issued by AIPF Delhi was put forward at the Convention calling for a detailed discussion on ‘Public Transport and Pollution’ in Delhi-NCR. The Concept Note underlined, at all levels, the root of the problem, negligence, research, haphazard policy determination, ways and means and public participation to overcome these problems. Chandan Negi presented the Concept Note on behalf of AIPF Delhi.
Hundreds of audience members specifically identified the dire condition of public transport in Delhi-NCR and the growing fearful effects of steadily increasing pollution on residents of Delhi and neighbouring areas.
Main speakers and experts in the field Prof Dunu Roy, Prof Geetam Tiwari, Prof Anita Ghai, along with AICCTU’s Santosh Rai and AISA activist Kanwalpreet Kaur, helped the audience to get a better understanding of this important issue and identified the role of the common public in the struggle to find ways out of this problem.
Director of Hazard Centre Prof Dunu Roy said that the direction of urban development and construction always gives priority to one particular section. Capital is being invested in development and town planning in such a way that a particular section benefits financially but a large section of urban dwellers and the common people get nothing but trouble and problems. Based on his research, Prof Dunu said that Delhi and neighbouring areas have highest levels of dangerous PM 2.5 and PM 10 in the mornings and evenings respectively with ups and downs throughout the day, clearly indicating the number of vehicles present on the roads. He said that apart from dust particles, various kinds of gases are constantly acting as slow poison for the residents of Delhi. He linked this directly to the dearth of public transport and the increasing number of private vehicles. Children, the elderly, and women are worst affected by the increasing pollution. Research has shown that 8 out of 10 children have weak lungs and most of these children are those who live in rehabilitation colonies and slums and who study in government schools; ironically, their contribution in polluting Delhi is almost zero. Prof Dunu Roy also spoke about the 2002 Master Plan whose term expires in 2021, according to which 60% people in Delhi and nearby areas should have been travelling by bus, 18% by cycle, and a mere 17% by private vehicles; but what is actually happening is the opposite. Cyclists and pedestrians in Delhi are becoming ill due to the smoke emitted by other people’s vehicles. Prof Dunu stressed that discussion on this topic should not be limited to schools, colleges, and auditoriums, but should be taken to rehabilitation colonies, slums, and to every common man, and we all need to stand firm in front of policy determiners on this issue.
TRIIP and IIT Delhi Prof Geetam Tiwari said that the transport system of any city influences its civil society and its economic progression; great care is required in policy determination because the ill-effects of the transport system like pollution, accidents, and health problems caused by pollution are beginning to take on gigantic proportions. She discussed the transport policies of governments and said that there is a big difference between making policies and implementing them. Policies are often implemented in a hurry and without proper research. She indicated towards the increased amount of NOX (Nitrogen Oxide) in the air after the introduction of CNG buses. Prof Geetam questioned the constant production and sale of private vehicles and said that the participation of people’s organizations, research institutes, experts, and government institutes in a city’s public transport system and policies to combat pollution is very important. Referring to a 2011 survey, she said that most of Delhi’s working population use buses, cycles, or walk despite the existence of the Metro. Given this, it is very necessary to improve buses and make them convenient in order to improve the public transport system. She expressed concern over the indifferent attitude of governments. She also expressed grave concern that there is no provision for pedestrians and cyclists in the Delhi road system and said that this is a cause for the increasing number of accidents.
Ambedkar University Prof Anita Ghai said that the insensitivity of the Delhi-NCR public transport policy towards the disabled (newly termed ‘divyang’ or divinely abled!) is not just inhuman but immensely hurtful to their dignity. She said that ramps at bus stands for wheel-chair users are only for name’s sake, and persons who are speech/hearing/sight-disabled find it impossible to use public transport without help. She expressed concern over last stop connectivity from Metro stations and said that the disabled are not kept in mind during government and institute policy determination. Prof Ghai demanded that city policy makers as well as society should be more responsible towards disabled persons and said that they also have an equal right to the city, its roads, and its transport system.
President of DTC Workers Unity Centre Santosh Rai spoke about the contribution of private vehicles to pollution and accidents and also condemned the condition of DTC buses which are Delhi’s main public transport; he also condemned the government’s callous attitude to DTC workers. He said that the running of cluster buses by the Delhi government is a profiteering business for private companies and demanded that 11000 new buses should be added to DTC as soon as possible. He said that there are about 5600 cluster and DTC buses. Of these, 10% remain under break-down, and 21% have reached the last stage of their utilitarian life. He demanded proper work terms and conditions for DTC workers, regularization of temporary workers, and humanitarian duty hours. He appealed to the people of Delhi to adopt the slogan of ‘My Delhi-My DTC’ and to help in putting pressure on the government to increase the number of DTC buses in order to make the city transport convenient, affordable, and available in every corner of the city.
AISA Delhi President Kanwalpreet Kaur discussed the condition of the Delhi public transport system from the viewpoint of students. She spoke of the dearth of University buses and increased Metro fares. She narrated the students’ struggles for student bus-passes and against Metro fare hikes. Kanwalpreet stressed the need for civil society to put pressure on governments on the issues of public transport and pollution.
All the speakers at the Convention welcomed this initiative by AIPF Delhi and assured support the movement to improve public transport and combat pollution. AIPF Delhi will work together with civil society and organizations active in this field to establish public transport and pollution as political issues.
The ‘Sangwari’ team mesmerized the audience and set the tone for the Convention with energy-filled and inspirational songs. The proceedings of the Convention were conducted by AIPF Delhi convener Manoj Singh.
