Pollution in India drops so much you can see the Himalayas for the first time in 30 years
There’s no lack of bad news during these days. And it’s difficult to hear about some of the things going on. Plus, people are struggling to stay at home while under a mandate to practice social distancing. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t any good coming from this horrible situation.
In countries around the world, pollution is dropping to the lowest levels recorded for decades. It’s a reminder of how much of an impact we have on the earth just from everyday activities. Now, people all over the planet are experiencing their cities in a new, unpolluted, and totally beautiful way.
That’s true for the Jalandhar district of Punjab in India
Pollution has been especially bad in India for years. Because the country has such a large population, it’s hard to get that kind of problem under control. But India has been shut down for 21 days to help curb the spread of coronavirus.
The city is looking much different
When people venture out on the streets, it’s much emptier than it was before. There’s barely anyone outside. Not only has individual travel shut down, but also, most industries are no longer in operation.
That helped reduce pollution
There’s so much less pollution that people from Jalandhar can see the Himalayas in the distance. That’s not been possible for 30 years. Former cricket player Harbhajan Singh took to Twitter, saying this, “Never seen Dhauladar range from my home rooftop in Jalandhar. Never could imagine that’s possible. A clear indication of the impact the pollution has done by us to mother earth.”
There’s proof in the data
According to a report from the India Today Data Intelligence Unit, “…on average, Indian cities had an AQI of 115 between March 16 and 24. The air quality started showing improvements from the first day of the 21-day lockdown. The average AQI fell to 75 in the first three days of the lockdown.” Not only can residents see the difference in the air, but the numbers back it up as well.
It’s getting safer to breathe the air
Judging by the World Health Organization’s standards, the particulate matter in India’s air is five times the level deemed safe for humans. That’s not surprising considering there are 1.4 billion people in the country. But now, people are enjoying fresh air for the first time in ages.
A cause for hope
Balbir Singh Seechewal, an expert in these environmental issues, says this should be taken as a wake-up call. He said, “I had never imagined I would experience such a clean world around me. The unimaginable has happened. It shows nothing is impossible. We must work together to keep it like that.”
This is happening all over the world
Dropping pollution levels in India are great news. But this kind of thing is happening all over the world. From cleaner water in the canals of Venice to the fresher air in China, the whole world is seeing what happens when we stop our destructive environmental habits…even for a short time.
Hopefully, this good news inspires people to stay positive during this otherwise challenging time. And perhaps it’ll help us all become more environmentally aware.
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