JORHAT, Dec 15 - To protect the environment of Jorhat from vehicular pollution, a group of sensitive citizens of the city today appealed to all the local residents and administration to observe a no-car day in the urban areas in a week as such a programme can sensitize people across the State.
Addressing a press conference here today members of Sanmilita Nagarik Mancha, Jorhat said that the air of the city has been polluted by carbon-dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur-dioxide and many other pollutants because of the rising number of private vehicles. They also said that police and the officials of State transport department have not been equipped to control the movement of older vehicles � most of which emit polluting chemicals into the air every minute.
It is to be mentioned that air is polluted directly by many cars as they emit carbon-monoxide, sulphur-dioxide and many other pollutants after combustion of fossil-fuels .
�Through this press conference we appeal to the local citizens and the district administration to observe a no-car day in a week in our city. If this initiative is implemented, everyone of us will be able to fight air-pollution,� said Gopal Goswami, president of Sanmilita Nagarik Mancha, Jorhat.
Expressing serious concern over the alarming level of pollution in the environment, adviser of the citizens� forum and the principal of Jorhat College Dr Debabrat Sharma requested everyone to be a part of the pollution reducing measures.
A senior citizen of Jorhat and retired engineer Bhaba Chetia also expressed his concern over the rising level of pollution across the globe and urged both the government officials, media and local people to create massive awareness across the city so that everyone can take preventive measures to protect the environment in the district.
�We all know that carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are poisonous gases which have already made our environment polluted. If we inhale air for two seconds containing one per cent of these gases we will die instantly,� said Chetia.
Working president of the citizens� forum advocate Hemen Bora, joint secretary Dr Jayanta Madhab Dutta, Rofique Ahmed also urged the public and the officers concerned of district administration to announce a no-car day in a week in the city.
However, they also said that movement of public vehicles including the school buses should not be stopped during that day.
�Let us observe a no-car day here in our Jorhat first. Later, the other cities of our State will follow us,� said Dr Jayanta Madhab Bora.
The citizens� forum also demanded visible action of the administration against the law-violating drivers and owners of vehicles which cause serious threat to the environment.
Along with them several other members and office-bearers of the forum including Rofik Hussain were also present in the press conference.
