Cleanse the air before launching bicycle-sharing project in Chandigarh; Saurabh Joshi

AQI marked “poor” for the city Chandigarh, June 30, 2019: The UT Administration had planned a project to make Chandigarh bicycle-friendly by the year 2018, however the project is yet to see its completion. In a press statement issued here former municipal councilor and Chairman Mazdoor Sena Saurabh Joshi stated that with the project in limbo, it's surrounded by controversies now after the reports about poor atmospheric health of the city beautiful. According to the report the air quality of the city i.e. AQI has been marked as Poor as well as ‘Unhealthy’ with AQI (Air Quality Index) between 101-300. The city except its posh areas i.e. from sector 1-10 has maligned air causing breathing problems especially among young kids and the elderly. The foremost question that raises its head is whether the ‘cycle-sharing project will prove to be boon ar a bane for the existing and future cycle commuters of the city, he said. He said that before giving a thumbs-up to the cycle project to administration should make sure that the AQI of the city equals the safe levels. The concerned Joshi suggested that before giving free reins to project a trial of riding bicycle should be first initiated by concerned officials of the U.T Administration. To check its viability and its affects on health, the officers should for check workability of project by riding the bicycles in morning from 9-11 am and in the evening 5-7 pm for at least 2 months. According to the data gathered and the surveys made it is mostly the children, youngsters or the underprivileged/ poor who use the bicycle or the paddle rickshaws. They are also the ones who are directly exposed to the atmosphere of the place. Thus before launching any such projects, it becomes the prime and foremost duty/concern of the Administration to control and correct the status of the air pollution of the city. It is important as being exposed to polluted air may cause serious health hazards esp. to the ones who are and will be directly exposed to such tarnished and unclean air. Before giving a go to such a project steps and remedies should be taken to create a ‘bicycle-friendly’ clean environments so that it should be enjoyed and not repented.