Mexico City smog alert – Cars restricted

The problem of pollution has long been plaguing the major industrialized cities of the world and, though it is a phenomenon of global proportions with all authorities including the United Nations making all-out efforts to the ticklish problem.

 

While the international fraternity is seized of the problem and no cost or effort is being spared to ensure that the quality of life, of which the air is an important ingredient, is enhanced.

 

Amidst this, comes the news that the authorities in Mexico City have ordered that all cars should remain off the roads at least one day of the week; the city is witnessing. All metropolitan cities are facing the problem of population, pollution, traffic jams, smog and serpentine queues.

http://biophysics.sbg.ac.at/mexico/air.htm

This city of more than 21 million residents is almost always battling with high pollution levels since the Valley in which it is situated is surrounded by volcanic and other mountains. It remains a highly polluted city and is on par with Los Angeles but has been a model of pollution management since the picture has vastly improved since the peak in the 1990s.

 

The city has managed to pull down the levels of Carbon Monoxide and the levels of Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulphur-dioxide had been brought down to one third by 2014 over the 1990s level.

 

Other steps included closure of factories, monitoring of the levels of Ozone, banning cars from roads twice a week and changing of timings of schools.

 

The metropolitan authorities had earlier exempted holders of smog-check centers; his time over, such exemptions have been disallowed. All vehicles will now remain off road on every Saturday.

 

Air pollution is known to cause the following:

1. Acid rain
2. Asthma
3. Water pollution
4. Global warming
5. Lung Cancer
6. Acne
7. Headaches

This reminds us of a novel plan that the government of the state government of Delhi capital of India, one of the most polluted cities in the world which is battling smog, fog and unprecedented pollution; the scheme which was launched from January 1, 2016 by the state government for an experimental period of 15 days.

The plan envisaged that vehicles with number plates ending with odd and even digits would remain off the roads; some exemptions were granted and the scheme was a considerable success. It is again being re-introduced without the previous exemptions, we hear.

But, this time around, the Environmental Commission of the Greater Mexico area has put its foot down to tackle the annoying problem with a direction that no exemptions, except for emergency and essential services, would be available. It is known that the air quality has seen an improvement since the 1990s.  A million cars throng he roads daily.

The parameters for the levels of issuance of alerts are stated to be headed southwards to provide succor to the struggling atmosphere of the megalopolis; this follows some of the worst smog scenes for a decade. It is now learnt that the terms of the ban in outlying areas of Greater Mexico may be relaxed following a re-assessment.

The restrictions imposed since Tuesday will remain till June 30; the air quality improves when rains arrive.

After a decade, a Phase 1 alert, resulting from increased ozone levels and trapping of the heat by the valley surrounded by volcanoes and other mountain ranges, was issued.   The Environmental Commission also revealed ambitious plans to upgrade the technology at smog checking centers with the validity period being six months.

The environmental lobby was up in arms last year when the Supreme Court when it overturned a regulation prohibiting cars over eight years old from plying on the roads. This resulted in an increase of about 1.5 million vehicles onto the roads per day.

There was a improvement with the pollution index registering 108 units but this could be attributed to  the exodus of the citizens from Mexico City owing to Easter holidays; however, it was not a rosy figure and  still above permissible limits by late Wednesday.

The rampant corruption in the country is also a stumbling block since the payment of a $ 20 bill can make an invalid certificate pass for genuine.

The strict implementation of the weekly ban and the introduction of new rules are some of the innovative steps being adopted to bring down the smog, the pollution and ensure a clean environment for the citizens.

Improvements to the transportation systems and other long-term steps are in the offing to aid in this effort.

Author: Umrao Singh

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