Monday, 2 April 2012
For some time before coming to India, I did what most people would do before they go on a trip somewhere...check the weather. It always intrigued me that, besides the near hundred degree weather, it always said "smokey." After spending a few hours here I know understand what The Weather Channel meant by the term smokey.
A majority of the smoke comes from those who live where ever than can in what ever kind of shelter they can piece together with scraps of metal, wood, and tarps...to create the fire they need to cook, make hot water for bathing, or just to stay warm when the weather is colder. Seeing some these hovels makes you wonder about what will happen to those who live in them when the monsoon season arrives.
More of the smoke comes from some of the holy places in New Delhi. Some of them keep an eternal fire burning in honor of their Gods while followers pray in a circle surrounding the fire waving what looks like a long horse tail like fan in homage to their God.
Regardless of the utilitarian and religious smoke that lifts towards the heavens to carry the prayers of hopes and dreams of the impoverished or oblations to the Gods, the pollution in New Delhi is not what I expected it to be. In fact, it has improved over the past several years. Public transportation whether it be a bus or auto ricksha must be powered by CNG: compressed natural gas. If we are concerned about the pollution levels in our own cities in America, maybe we should try CNG in more of our public transportation.
For some time before coming to India, I did what most people would do before they go on a trip somewhere...check the weather. It always intrigued me that, besides the near hundred degree weather, it always said "smokey." After spending a few hours here I know understand what The Weather Channel meant by the term smokey.
A majority of the smoke comes from those who live where ever than can in what ever kind of shelter they can piece together with scraps of metal, wood, and tarps...to create the fire they need to cook, make hot water for bathing, or just to stay warm when the weather is colder. Seeing some these hovels makes you wonder about what will happen to those who live in them when the monsoon season arrives.
More of the smoke comes from some of the holy places in New Delhi. Some of them keep an eternal fire burning in honor of their Gods while followers pray in a circle surrounding the fire waving what looks like a long horse tail like fan in homage to their God.
Regardless of the utilitarian and religious smoke that lifts towards the heavens to carry the prayers of hopes and dreams of the impoverished or oblations to the Gods, the pollution in New Delhi is not what I expected it to be. In fact, it has improved over the past several years. Public transportation whether it be a bus or auto ricksha must be powered by CNG: compressed natural gas. If we are concerned about the pollution levels in our own cities in America, maybe we should try CNG in more of our public transportation.
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