Air quality in Kabul city on Monday was reported to be the most polluted in the world. Air pollution becomes alarmingly hazardous in capital Kabul each year as the winter falls. While filthy air has long been a major problem, particularly in Kabul city, Afghan government has still not taken the initiative that can truly help correct the situation. The government promised some actions to fight the air pollution a while ago, but it is yet to take any measures that can tangibly improve the air quality.
It is right that every single citizen is duty bound to take part in keeping the air and environment of cities clean, but more responsibility rests on the government. Despite billions of dollars in aid to Afghanistan over the last two decades, the government has not provided clean energy for warming up residences and offices in Kabul. The government has not been able to supply enough electricity to people nor has purged the market of liquid gas mafia so that people can buy gas at an affordable price, thereby enabling them to use clean energy for heating their homes in lieu of burning coal or other air pollutants.
People need to warm up their homes in the cold winter. If they don’t find any affordable source of heating, they are forced to burn materials that will lead to the gradual death of the residents of cities. No doubt there is a lack of public awareness about environment and air pollution, it also should not be overlooked that Kabul residents have no any better alternative for heating their homes.
Kabulis understand that air pollution is the silent killer, yet they need to burn things that pollute the air. They prefer gradual death to immediate death as they know they will immediately die of the cold if they don’t warm up their homes. But if they use air polluting materials for heating, they will have the chance to survive for some time.
Air pollution in the capital is a serious crisis that threatens the lives of millions of people. The government has to mull over finding alternative sources of heating as soon as possible, or at least impel the main air polluters for now to install equipment that can help reduce air pollution.