West Bengal Municipal Affairs and Urban Development Minister Agnimitra Paul has proposed an unusual initiative to address Kolkata's pollution concerns by mixing rose water with the water used for mist spraying across the city. The proposal has triggered criticism from environmentalists, who argue that the city needs effective pollution-control measures rather than cosmetic solutions.
In a social media post, Paul said the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) regularly sprays water mist in areas recording relatively high Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. According to the minister, the initiative helps reduce airborne dust particles and provides some relief from deteriorating air quality. She added that rose water would be mixed into the spraying water on special occasions and during festivals, including Kali Puja, to create a pleasant fragrance while continuing dust-control activities.
Paul also expressed concern over Kolkata's pollution levels, comparing the city's air quality with London, where she observed significantly lower AQI readings during a recent visit.
However, environmentalist Somendra Mohan Ghosh strongly criticised the proposal, describing it as a cosmetic intervention that would not address the actual causes of pollution. He argued that rose water might temporarily improve the smell of the surroundings but would do little to clean the air.
Ghosh identified ageing diesel and petrol vehicles, roadside coal-fired cooking and suspended dust as major pollution contributors. He recommended shifting roadside vendors towards LPG or electric cooking systems and deploying around 100 water cannons to clean roads, flyovers and dust-prone areas.
The debate has renewed questions about Kolkata's pollution-control strategy and the need for sustainable environmental action.
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