E-Paper
Delhi can breathe easy now
HT-CSDS survey shows that most Delhiites believe air pollution levels in 2003 are lower than what they were five years ago.
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Most Delhiites who spent an uncomfortable Diwali night because of the smoky, heavily pollutant-laden air, must be thankful things are so much better on other days. This isn’t something that you could say in the 1990s. The HT-CSDS Survey shows that there is a general belief among a majority of Delhi’s voters that air pollution levels in 2003 are considerably lower than what they were five years ago, in 1998.
Forty-four per cent of Delhi’s voters believe that levels of pollution in the city have gone down since the last time assembly elections were held. Less than half that proportion — 21 per cent of voters — feel that the levels of pollution have actually gone up.
The perception that levels of pollution have fallen is shared, by and large, by all sections of society.
The considerable numbers of Delhiites who travel long distances to work every day are the ones who suffer the most from air pollution. Even among this group, a majority agrees that pollution has gone down over the last five years.
Forty-eight per cent of those who use public transport to commute to work feel things are better. However, among those who cycle to work or use a rickshaw, the feeling is shared by just 37 per cent.
The perception changes by degrees from the higher to the lower classes. More rich people (50 per cent) than poor people (37 per cent) feel pollution levels are lower now than they were in 1998.
Perceptions change by Delhiites’ places of residence as well. Between 52 per cent and 55 per cent people living in Group Housing Societies, government and DDA flats express the opinion that pollution levels have declined over the past five years.
By contrast, only 48 per cent of the people living in slums and in the villages feel that same.
Voters’ perceptions on the issue change from constituency to constituency. In areas like Sarojini Nagar, Kamla Nagar, Gole Market, Rohtas Nagar, Qarawal Nagar and Seemapuri, over 50 per cent of the electorate believes that pollution levels have come down over the past five years. In Bhalswa Jahangirpuri, Badarpur and Gandhi Nagar, however, a significant proportion of voters believes levels of pollution have gone up.
MLAs, give us your feedback
MLAs whose report cards are being published in these columns every day are invited to write to us, saying what they think of the assessments. Their views — and criticisms — will be published in the
Hindustan Times
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