Hyderabad:It is not known what weapons will be used in World War III… but as the great genius Einstein theorized; only firewood and stones would be used in World War IV.
Einstein made those remarks in view of the expanding nuclear competition with extreme trends.
His wise foreword reveals the stark reality that man will ultimately lose his existence in the competition of development.
Leaving aside the issue of war between nations, pollution has been waging war on humanity over the past few decades on an unprecedented scale.
In fact, the devastation caused by air pollution is far greater than the total damage caused by the First and Second World Wars!
The Lancet Journal recently reported major damage caused by pollution to the world.
More importantly, the study revealed shocking facts that air pollution has evaporated 1.4 per cent of India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), or about Rs 2.71 lakh crores.
In these conditions that threaten the very survival of mankind, man must wage another war for the survival of his existence. Discernment and rationality must be his weapons in this war!
Damage to the north
‘Covid’ proved the extent of disaster caused due to negligence of the environment.
The latest report from the Lancet reveals how the environmental crisis affected public health and damaged economies.
The report, which estimates that pollution is responsible for nearly 17 lakh deaths in India, makes it clear that it is equal to 18 per cent of the total deaths across the country.
It is noteworthy that most of the northern states are trapped in the grip of pollution and lost public health and economic growth.
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Delhi and Haryana, which are already economically and socially backward, have to pay a heavy price due to the pollution.
In the north-eastern and northern Indian states, more than 70 per cent of the population depends on solid fuels for cooking resulting in increased air pollution in these areas.
These states are already experiencing severe backwardness in terms of development and expansion of infrastructure. The increase in pollution has further widened the gap of inequalities between them.
There is no other way but to come up with special strategies for pollution control state-wise and move forward to avoid significant damage to the country's integrated development due to health disruption and economic slowdown.
Due to increase in pollution over the years, respiratory problems, lung cancer, heart attack, diabetes, nerves weakness, eye diseases; problems such as allergies and low birth weight babies are increasing alarmingly in the country.
These are having an impact on employment, and employment productivity across the country. Studies show that the world economy is losing more than $ 23 trillion due to health problems.
Health problems due to the use of fossil fuels have caused a loss of 50 crore working days worldwide.
Air pollution from burning these fuels is estimated to cause a loss of 5.4 per cent of GDP to the Indian economy.
Health costs are rising at the same rate as pollution is booming. The per capita health expenditure incurred by the Government of India in 2015 was Rs. 1,008 and recently it rose to Rs. 1,944. Although the increase in government spending on health is welcome development.... it is said that pollution is the cause of this increase.
On the corrective path
The central government has allocated Rs 4,400 crore in the latest budget to control air pollution in 46 cities in the country with a population of over one million.
Efforts to curb air pollution will not bear fruit unless governments prioritize modernizing the country's electricity sector and moving towards solar and wind alternatives!
The wildfires, the floods, and the famines; have nothing to do with countries or their boundaries.
The battle of the man with awry and out of control environment always begins to an end.
Instead of himself becoming an engine, draw unlimited energy from the environment, spoil it and perish in the process, he must realize his mistakes and accept them.
Then he can take the first steps towards finding the solution to the challenges posed by pollution.
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