Pollution Is Necessary This Diwali

YES, ever since they put a ban on crackers, there has been a spurt in the incidence of malarial diseases. Till a few years ago, nobody in Delhi had heard of Dengue and Chikanguniya.

But once pollution control measures were initiated and a campaign to educate people to restrain them from bursting of crackers was launched, the mosquitoes have had a gala time, breeding mercilessly to extract the last drop of human blood.

Earlier, people used to get into Diwali mood right from Dussehra. Houses used to be white washed with lime, not with plastic and enamel paints as is the trend today. Large-scale use of Chuna and Safedi immediately after the rains was an effective method to control the mosquito menace.

An additional contributing factor has been the love for greenery. Households today have all kinds of ornamental plants right into the bedrooms. While we are callously denuding the forests, we have introduced small jungles in our homes, which provide the mosquitoes a safe haven. The wide-spread use of air conditioners and desert coolers appears to have made life comfortable for both man and his new permanent companion the ubiquitous mosquito which keeps making its presence felt through myriad avatars.

What now? Some rethinking needs to be done about the safe limit of pollution. A degree of pollution seems necessary. The improvement in Delhi’s ambient air quality, particularly after the use of CNG was made mandatory, has some relationship with the increase in the incidence of mosquito borne diseases. Right now the number of households using the traditional Chulha or Angeethi which used to belch smoke and fire has reduced significantly, in favor of LPG. This has also made life comfortable for the mosquito.

Research to study the impact of all these changes has to be conducted to develop effective antidotes. Also we should develop gardens, parks and forests. But for heaven’s sake don’t green your homes by filling every nook and corner with potted plants that need to be watered daily. Keep ferns and cacti or mosquito repelling plants like Tulsi.

Resume the annual practice of white washing houses with lime and Chuna. Remember India is a tropical country with climatic features that are different from those of Europe or America.

So this Diwali, forget what the experts say, Go all out and start bursting crackers non stop and light candles and Diyas, but refrain from electric illumination which does not serve any environmental purpose.

(brij.khandelwal@mediabharti.com )