KING C BHARATI
Jammu, Dec 15|15: The alarming levels of pollution in Delhi baffled the state government so much that a decision to implement odd-even formula was conceived overnight without pondering over its practicality to make a last ditch effort in handling the uncontrollable pollution levels lest it too has to shut schools and colleges like Beijing. This knee jerk reaction was due to the fact that the successive governments over the years conveniently slept over the issue and instead of taking precautionary measures paid a lip service thus endangering the life of Delhites. Back home our govern- m e n t s too have i m i t a t e d the Delhi government not in overnight implementation of odd-even type formulas but preferring to sleep over the issue conveniently perhaps waiting for a bigger jolt to wake it up without giving any option. The air pollution coupled with chaotic traffic has added to the woes of Jammuites who are on the verge of plunging into a quagmire of traffic generated pollution in near future as the data available reveals that all is not well with the increasing and unchecked pollution levels in Jammu city. According a recent report in a local daily, “The intensity of the air pollution is such that both Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) levels in Jammu city air are not only beyond the permissible limits but are continuously 
increasing with every passing year. As per the monthly average, the permissible limit of RSPM is 100 mg, SPM is 200 mg and SO2/NO2 is 80 mg while as per annual average, the permissible limit of RSPM and SPM is 60 mg while as that of SO2 and NO2 is 50 and 40 mg respectively”. The report further adds that “the annual average data of State Pollution Control Board, during the 2014-15, this centre recorded RSPM at 132 mg and SPM 238 mg, which clearly establishes sharp increase in levels of RSPM and SPM in the air. However, there was no major change as far as NO2 and SO2 are concerned as the same were recorded at 3.2 mg and 13.9 mg during 2014-15”. This data shows an alarming trend like Delhi where similar reports were ignored by the government letting the situation go out of control reaching to such a point that it has started competing Beijing not in development but in pollution. The government here is pushing the issue under the carpet but who is ultimately going to suffer as it is always the common people who suffer due to the follies of the inept administrations. The chaotic traffic in Jammu city is only adding confusion to chaos and one wonders whether Jammu will be next in line after Delhi in combating air pollution.
