Facebook post — 08 December 2015

facebook 08 December 2015

The author has so accurately captured both the dilemmas that I face as a parent bringing up children in the Delhi/NCR area. First, exposing my children to constant and life threatening pollution. Second, taking away from my children the most basic human right - freedom. The freedom to wander fearlessly in their own neighbourhood.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/opinion/sunday/holding-your-breath-in-india.html

One of my boys has struggled with his adenoids since early childhood. Today, while visiting a pediatrician, I casually enquired if adenoid enlargement and pollution are linked. "Of course", said the doctor. Then, almost secretively, he told me this - every single "doctor family" he knew, was looking to move out of Delhi/NCR as soon as they could. Many had already invested in homes in safer places.

Delhi's pollution levels are so mind bogglingly high... and so persistent is the pollution... that no study comes close to predicting its consequences. My children, the child I was accompanying, and all the other children in that doctor's clinic, were suffering from either pulmonary infections, adenoid enlargement, or cough and cold. Including myself. As soon as the winter set in, everyone around me seems to be going down with a cough.

It's a game of skittles, and we all must fall down.

16 comments

Sid MallickCapital Punishment! Hide
Saurabh JBeijing is shutting down because their air quality index hit 253 once: http://www.nytimes.com/.../beijing-pollution-red-alert.html Delhi is merrily chugging along with business as usual, while our indexes have been above 253 for days: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/.../arti.../50077811.cms Some of our indexes are above 500. There isn't even a rating for above 500. It's off the scale. Off the charts! NYTIMES.COM Beijing Issues Red Alert Over Air Pollution for the First Time Beijing Issues Red Alert Over Air Pollution for the First Time Remove Preview
Saurabh JThings are almost as bad in Gurgaon: http://indianexpress.com/.../october-november-witnessed.../ Here I was assuming Gurgaon would have better indexes. While PM2.5/PM10 are at 397/382 right now in Delhi, they were 362/115 in Gurgaon in October. Since PM2.5 is the big killer here... we are all being killed slowly but surely. I am literally losing my sleep over this. INDIANEXPRESS.COM October, November witnessed ‘unhealthy’ air quality levels in Gurgaon too October, November witnessed ‘unhealthy’ air quality levels in Gurgaon too Remove Preview
Saurabh Jhttp://safar.tropmet.res.in/map_data.php?city_id=3... has real time AQI data for Gurgaon and Delhi. PM2.5/PM10 at 362/273 at 3am in the night in Gurgaon. At 309/204, 312/254, 419/351, South Delhi is only marginally worse. Especially given that the station in Gurgaon is in an isolated area, up in the Aravalli hills, next to a wildlife sanctuary. What if the station were where people actually lived?
Sid Mallicktake a deep breathe (or actually don't) and relax...... its been this bad for a long time now...but yeah... it sure is not a good but then how bad are other cities when compared to this? Bombay, b'lore, madras, hyd any better? Hide
Lavanya Marlahttp://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2015/12/03/is-it-worse-to-exercise-in-air-pollution-or-not-to-exercise-at-all/ Hide
Bipin Preet SinghSaurabh Jain what can we do to improve this ? Hide
Sushant SinhaI am happy to be Bangalore but surely the situation is alarming in Delhi. Transport still around 20% contribution. Road dust contribute 31% for PM10. https://twitter.com/ARangarajan1972/status/672853180544212993 Hide
Sid MallickSid Mallick · 10y · by authorCapital Punishment!LikeReplyHide
Saurabh JSaurabh J · 10yBeijing is shutting down because their air quality index hit 253 once: http://www.nytimes.com/.../beijing-pollution-red-alert.htmlDelhi is merrily chugging along with business as usual, while our indexes have been above 253 for days: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/.../arti.../50077811.cmsSome of our indexes are above 500. There isn't even a rating for above 500. It's off the scale. Off the charts!NYTIMES.COMBeijing Issues Red Alert Over Air Pollution for the First TimeBeijing Issues Red Alert Over Air Pollution for the First TimeLikeReplyRemove Preview
Saurabh JSaurabh J · 10yThings are almost as bad in Gurgaon: http://indianexpress.com/.../october-november-witnessed.../Here I was assuming Gurgaon would have better indexes. While PM2.5/PM10 are at 397/382 right now in Delhi, they were 362/115 in Gurgaon in October. Since PM2.5 is the big killer here... we are all being killed slowly but surely.I am literally losing my sleep over this.INDIANEXPRESS.COMOctober, November witnessed ‘unhealthy’ air quality levels in Gurgaon tooOctober, November witnessed ‘unhealthy’ air quality levels in Gurgaon tooLikeReplyRemove Preview
Saurabh JSaurabh J · 10yhttp://safar.tropmet.res.in/map_data.php?city_id=3... has real time AQI data for Gurgaon and Delhi. PM2.5/PM10 at 362/273 at 3am in the night in Gurgaon. At 309/204, 312/254, 419/351, South Delhi is only marginally worse. Especially given that the station in Gurgaon is in an isolated area, up in the Aravalli hills, next to a wildlife sanctuary. What if the station were where people actually lived?LikeReply
Sid MallickSid Mallick · 10ytake a deep breathe (or actually don't) and relax...... its been this bad for a long time now...but yeah... it sure is not a good but then how bad are other cities when compared to this? Bombay, b'lore, madras, hyd any better?LikeReplyHide
Lavanya MarlaLavanya Marla · 10yhttp://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2015/12/03/is-it-worse-to-exercise-in-air-pollution-or-not-to-exercise-at-all/LikeReplyHide
Bipin Preet SinghBipin Preet Singh · 10ySaurabh Jain what can we do to improve this ?LikeReplyHide
Sushant SinhaSushant Sinha · 10yI am happy to be Bangalore but surely the situation is alarming in Delhi. Transport still around 20% contribution. Road dust contribute 31% for PM10. https://twitter.com/ARangarajan1972/status/672853180544212993LikeReplyHide