Gurgaon: A group of doctors will take to the streets to spread awareness about the harm caused by pollution on Monday. They will also launch a CNG bus "Clean Air Express," on the occasion.
The bus will travel through major junctions and traffic signals in the city on Monday and Tuesday to mark the World Asthma Day on May 3. It will be flagged off from a hotel on Jharsa Road and will visit all important areas of city, including Huda City Centre Metro station, Iffco Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Sector 56, Sushant Lok I, Sikanderpur, UdyogVihar and PalamVihar.
Some 20 volunteers — including a team of street play artists — will educate people about the rising levels of pollution in the city.
Interestingly, the initiative that is part of Clean Air India Movement — a nation-wide campaign to spread awareness about air pollution — has started from Gurgaon. The campaign will be taken to many cities across the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata.
According to city-based doctors, over 30% families in Gurgaon have at least one person suffering from asthma or other respiratory diseases. "Though people are now talking about pollution, especially after the implementation of odd-even scheme, There is a need to spread awareness about pollution. For instance, small gestures like putting off your car engine at a traffic signal, not burning waste etc. are crucial in controlling pollutionThe campaign will help do that," said Dr Himanshu Garg, a city-based pulmonologist.
Dr Jatinder, a senior pulmonologist, said, "Of all organs, lungs need most caring as they not amenable to any interventions. Thus, prevention is the key to a healthy life."
"Through the initiative, we will bring out a strong link between air pollution and asthma. We will tell people the importance of making simple changes in their their lifestyle that can contribute in lowering air pollution levels," said Vijay Kannan, who is leading the Clean Air India Movement.
