It is time citizens stopped waiting for the authorities to carry out their responsibilities. For instance, when taxi unions take a stubborn stand against any efforts to curb pollution, it is the citizens who can put an end to their mischief quickly by employing the same weapon that these unions do. If the taxi unions undertake a strike, the citizens can very well organise a boycott of all non-PUC taxis and autorickshaws for, say, three days in a week. Such a step will puncture the wrong belief of the taxi and automen that they can hold the city to ransom anytime they want and force them to take positive steps to control pollution.

It is also a challenge to theconglomerates like Hindustan Petroleum, Bharat Petroleum, Reliance, Indian Oil and IBP to prove to the public that not only are their intentions noble but also that they make and sell oil products which are well in keeping with the specified standards.

However, instead of undertaking any public-friendly exercise, most of the conglomerates are busy spending crores of rupees on all kinds of plastic sings, fancy lights and other such outwardly attractive paraphernalia. All of this is clearly designed to try and obscure the polluting nature of their products.

However, one has to give them their due. After all, the Indian petroleum companies are the only ones in the world which exhort their consumers to `save oil and save the nation.' In other words, these companies exhort us to use less petroleum products. (Is that why they adulterate, knowing that otherwise they would get less returns on sales?)

We must also ask the government why we cannot obtain alcohol fuel. As a huge number of sugar factories areunable to sell their molasses to distilleries due to restrictions on industrial alcohol, and as several big companies using alcohol as raw material (such as those making synthetic rubber) have closed down, there is enough raw material to make fuel alcohol. In fact, if the government decides to make fuel alcohol available, some of these `sick' companies could well be able to revive themselves.

Alcohol engines run without creating much noise pollution and emit water vapour. Above all, alcohol comes from a renewable source, sugarcane. Thus we can have less noise and air pollution. An ideal example of less is more.

Automobile manufacturers must be pointedly asked why they are so reluctant to give India better and more efficient engines. And they should not be given more than six months to get their two to four stroke engines upgraded for gensets and two and three wheelers. These companies should similarly make suitable modifications for four wheelers, LMVs, MCVs and HCVs and must publicly state their planslike they do their audited accounts.

And why should we follow Euro norms? Does India not have its own Bureau of Indian Standards? We should also show some respect for the environment of our rural areas and not direct the Regional Transport Authorities to shunt polluting vehicles to the outskirts of the city and into the countryside.

Only such an integrated and coordinated `pollution under control' programme will help us arrive at a substantive and effective solution to pollution.

(Jagdeep Desai is vice-chairman of the Mumbai centre of the The Indian Institute of Architects)