By Dr AP Maheshwari
India is witnessing significant efforts to address climate change, both at the central and state levels. The success of any environmental initiative, as past campaigns like anti-smoking drives and voter pride movements have shown, often hinges on one critical factor: community participation.
A growing movement is pushing to transform our cities into sustainable and environmentally friendly spaces. Indore, Mysore, and Surat are already setting examples, with residents taking immense pride in their clean city rankings.
These achievements reveal a truth we can no longer afford to ignore: systemic interventions matter, but an aware and engaged community holds the power to drive lasting change.
In recent discussions about public health, one issue stands out: solid waste management. The problem is nowhere more evident than in Lucknow, where a decade’s worth of waste, piled 30 kilometres away, releases dangerous levels of methane. For perspective, the hourly methane emissions are equivalent to 50,000 cars running simultaneously. This not only worsens air quality but also raises the risk of fires, making cities hotter and more hazardous to live in.
What many people don’t realise is that the environmental threat doesn’t end with the air we breathe. When solid waste isn’t segregated, the chemicals it releases seep into groundwater, contaminating the very resources that sustain life. The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in some areas have soared to levels ten times higher than what most sewage treatment plants can handle. These pollutants find their way into our food chain, making it impossible to trace the origins of contaminated produce in today’s globalised market.
Lucknow’s Gomti river tells a grim tale of pollution. Every day, 750 million litres of untreated waste water flows into the river. This isn’t just a local issue. Across the country, hospitals are seeing a surge in patients with serious respiratory and cardiovascular problems, many of whom have never smoked or engaged in other high-risk behaviours. The link between air pollution and chronic illness is no longer speculative—it’s a well-documented reality.
What’s the solution? Blaming others won’t clean our cities or safeguard our health. It’s time for each of us to step up. Segregating waste at home, composting organic material, and supporting local green initiatives are steps within everyone’s reach. Holding our elected officials accountable for waste management policies and supporting sanitation workers is equally critical.
The path forward also requires a shift in how we consume resources. Minimising electricity use, opting for public transport, and actively participating in reforestation efforts can all help reduce our collective carbon footprint. Trees, after all, are nature’s most efficient carbon converters.
Public health awareness must become a community effort. Local leaders, NGOs, and responsible citizens should work together to foster a culture of accountability and sustainability. Even small actions, if widely adopted, can spark a chain reaction.
India’s towns are known for their rich legacies. It’s time we added environmental sustainability to that list. With community involvement, it’s entirely possible. The question is no longer `if’ we can do it, but `when’ we will make it a reality.
The author is Patron, Lung Care Foundation, Advisor, DigiSwasthya for cancer care.
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