New Delhi, December 17: Pointing out that noise pollution was a major hazard being faced by Delhiites, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said Indians were ”a noisy lot”.
Inaugurating a three-day conference on ‘Preventing Emerging Occupational and Environmental Risks in South Asia’ at Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) here, Ms Dikshit said ”We, Indians are a noisy lot, be it loud weddings or honking on the streets.” ”Silence talks to us. We do not realise this because of the amount of noise that surrounds us andnoise pollution is a major problem being faced by Delhi,” she stated.
As the world eyes Copenhagen talks with an optimistic lens and hopes for a consensus, the Chief Minister, however, said, ”I know a consensus at Copenhagen is difficult. Some agree with certain things, some do not. But, neither can we be healthy nor happy unless we give something back to the earth.” She asked, ”IfIndia and China reach the level of growth that the developed countries have, what will happen? Shouldn’t we measure a country’s growth in terms of the health of its people rather than GDP?” ”The emergingoccupational and environmental risks are more pronounced in India and China due to their large population,” she observed.
The Chief Minister added that the Delhi government was deliberating on the idea of adopting Compact Fluoroscent Light (CFL) bulbs and Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology to save electricity.
”CFL and LED are technologies which can save about 25 per cent of electricity,” she explained.
Addressing the gathering, Delhi Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Kiran Walia, who was the guest of honour, said, ”This conference aims to come out with solutions to benefit humanity sinceoccupational hazards and poverty are a deadly combination.” ”The health of the workers of a country is extremely important for the health of the entire country,” she added.
The conference, in which more than 50 international delegates are participating, aims to come out with suggestions to take forward the environmental and occupational health movement in India.
MAMC dean Dr A K Agarwal, MAMC Occupational and Environmental Management programme director Dr T K Joshi and associate organiser Ramazzini College, Italy, president Philip J Landrigan were among those present on the occasion.
–Agencies