Today.... the Sky is Blue again !

(Himalaya seen from Jalandhar)

Amidst Corona Pandemism, a ray of hope to mankind.... “The sky is blue again” though for short, but for sure!

With all unnecessary movement of humans and traffic restricted for over a month, a slowdown in construction activities due to the lockdown and the onset of spring, the quality of air has improved.

Rainfall, western disturbances, local temperature and surface wind speed are contributing factors in the air quality. Now, lockdown has emerged as the strongest among them all in quick and drastic change towards positive. PM 2.5 levels in Delhi halved in 12 hours of the “Janata Curfew” on March 22 and Bengaluru, Kolkata, Lucknow witnessed AQI in double digits.

 Not just in India, satellite images have shown marked fall in global nitrous oxides produced from car engines and power plants in countries like China, Italy, South Korea and UK.

(Air Quality Weather Map)

Certainly, the lockdown and curfews are going to have a gradual impact on the economy. The coronavirus has already caused mayhem in the stocks markets, but the lockdown has sparked creativity in people and social isolation has gradually increased productivity. Companies that always denied work from home, are now mandated to do so, in effect saving time, energy and money of employees spent in commuting. Nature is taking its place back......though for short, but for sure.

Social distancing helped to  build a social community. We are all together in isolation. Quarantine has allowed people to spend quality time with family too. Spending time alone has allowed people to engage in community service and charity activities with people arranging for meals for the needy and encouraging their domestic help to stay home and take paid leaves. Many people even spent their festivals without attending public gatherings.

We know, as the lockdown will be withdrawn, everything will revert back to “NORMAL” but we are fortunate enough to show our future generation, the original colour of sky and flowing water in rivers. Only God and time will testify, if someone from the young bloods has taken some oath to take science to such heights, where mankind would be fortunate enough to see these changes in a permanent manner. A hope.......I hope, will be fulfilled in recent future.