Bharat Bandh Agitators In Bhubaneswar Show Concern For Environment, Shun ‘Burning Tyres’ Routine

Bhubaneswar: Life came to a standstill in the Odisha capital during the 24-hour Bharat Bandh on Wednesday.

Trade union activists and Congress workers blocked NH-16 at Rasulgarh, Vani Vihar, Jayadev Vihar and CRP squares. Besides, Congress workers staged picketing at Master Canteen Square. All shops and business establishments at Janpath, Bapuji Nagar, Lewis Road, Cuttack Road, Saheed Nagar and Unit-IV areas also downed their shutters.

Everything about the bandh was usual,. However, for a change no tyres were reportedly burnt to obstruct traffic movement in the city.

A day before the bandh, CPI (M) Janardhan Pati had said that the agitators would not indulge in burning tyres. “We have appealed to all not to burn tyres as it causes pollution. Pollution is already high and we do not want to add to it,” he had said.

Secretary State Unit of CPI (ML) Judisthira Mahapatra said that it was a rule that they had made and everyone abided to it. “No tyre has been burnt in Bhubaneswar,” he asserted.

According to reports, emissions from tyre fire are far more dangerous than residential wood combustion and coal-fired emission. Open tyre fire emissions include pollutants such as particulates, carbon monoxide (CO), Sulphur oxide (SO2), Oxides of nitrogen, volatile organic compounds, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, dioxins, furans, hydrogen chloride, benzene, polychlorinated biphenyls. These pollutants cause air pollution and also short-term and long-term health hazards, including skin and eye irritation, respiratory problem, central nervous system depression, and cancer.