Air pollution: Silent killer in JK

The air pollution has proven a silent killer in the society while the figure revealed by a top medico in Kashmir has put a huge responsibility on the shoulders of the government in controlling air pollution at earliest. Director of one of the premier health institutions of Jammu and Kashmir, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Dr Parvaiz Koul has claimed that around 10 thousands deaths in Jammu and Kashmir are attributed to air pollution every year. Such a statement is a glaring example that the air pollution is rapidly turning out to be a silent killer in the Union Territory. The figures indicate that the air pollution has not remained confined to other busiest states like Maharashtra and Delhi only, but it has impacted Jammu and Kashmir as well. One needs to understand how the people at the helm of affairs are controlling the situation. The government should take concrete steps to ensure that the impact is reduced at a large extent so that the precious lives as indicated by the topmost medico are saved on priority. Moreover, there is a need to come up with the awareness camps, events and programmes all across Jammu and Kashmir including in departments, health and educational institutions so that the people are made aware about the circumstances prevailing within the society. Also, it is a time when the government should make sure that the people also cooperate in every manner in the efforts regarding controlling the air pollution at an earliest. Any further delay in creating awareness among the masses can prove disastrous in future. Thus, the government should immediately take steps in this regard and make efforts to reduce the pollution.