With reference to Shyam Ponappa's piece, "A systems approach to clean air" (January 7), more than the ultimate efficacy of the odd-even vehicle rationing formula to curb air pollution in Delhi, the bigger takeaway is that the mindset of the urban citizen has evolved. It would be churlish to credit the high level of compliance with the formula to the steep fine of Rs 2,000 for violators.
Usually, the rural folk are believed to have more respect for the preservation of nature than their urban counterparts - one example of this is the Chipko movement. But the urban citizen, too, has done his part and risen to the occasion.
Urban pollution has to be tackled on several fronts. This puts far greater onus on elected bodies and the larger polity. Just as Supreme Court judges car-pool to work, a similar effort by Delhi's bureaucrats would be a redeeming gesture. I am not aware if they have done so already.
R Narayanan Ghaziabad
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