Taxi Sector is doing away Traditional Economic Sectors of Tangkhuls raising Air Pollution By Pamkhuila Shaiza

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How Taxi Sector is Doing Away Traditional and Modern Economic Sectors of the Tangkhuls, while raising Air and Noise Pollution of the District to the Brink

Pamkhuila Shaiza *

How Taxi Sector is Doing Away Traditional and Modern Economic Sectors of the Tangkhuls, while raising Air and Noise Pollution of the District to the Brink

Developmental changes affect the lifestyle of a society, and for the Tangkhuls, Taxi Sector has become the gamut of change. Not that taxi sector has done away the underdevelopment that existed among the tribe; rather it is contributing towards annihilating many developmental sectors in Ukhrul.

Although it appears that " taxi drivers or owners" share economic platform of the community, staggering expansion of the taxi sector has contributed towards building their economy alone. Potential youths are also driven towards this sector without considering other jobs, allowing “taxi driver” to become the main form of profession among the Tangkhul men. Many considers "working for others", as becoming employer's servitude, while associating with taxi sector guarantees drivers and owners with sustenance and enables them to gain control over their lives and become economically independent.

Although many sectors have their share of influencing and changing the economic system, the overall contribution of taxi sector towards the economy of the Tangkhuls rather looks bleak. The affluent self-employed taxi drivers or the taxi owners in the meantime will contribute towards bringing economic imbalance in the district, where the exorbitant hourly rate and controlled-price systems build towards only their economy, victimizing the passengers or consumers in return.

Fascinating data (charges) of the Taxi Association shows that it is one-third cheaper to take a Europe Trip for a week than go across Ukhrul District by taxi. These luxurious charges will continue to affect the rising prices of food and necessities of the Tangkhuls, and the sector will eventually come to control the economy of the society. The controlled economy is simply the embodiment towards upscaled capitalism and breakdown of the lower rung of the society.

Clogging the dusty street of Ukhrul in space and air is another symptom of the taxi sector. This week’s average Air Quality Index's (AQI) numerical value of Ukhrul reads 158, which is the result of dust and gas emissions of the vehicles.

NO2	69.9 μg/m³ (high)
O3	32.62 μg/m³ (moderate)
PM2.5	74.0 μg/m³ (high)
SO2	15.64 μg/m³ (normal)
PM10	158.9 μg/m³ (high)
CO	680.0 μg/m³ (high)
Humidity	74.0%
Barometric Pressure	1011.0 hPa

Under Environmental Protection Agency, the 158 Air Quality Index shows the unhealthy air condition of Ukhrul that impacts the human health in terms of causing bronchitis, tuberculosis, fever, and asthma among others.

Air Quality Index Levels of Health Concern	Numerical Value	Meaning
Good	0-50	Air quality is considered satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
Moderate	51-100	Air quality is acceptable; however, for some pollutants there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups	101-150	Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is not likely to be affected.
Unhealthy	151-200	Everyone may begin to experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
Very Unhealthy	201-300	Health alert: everyone may experience more serious health effects.
Hazardous	301-500	Health warnings of emergency conditions. The entire population is more likely to be affected.

These challenges come together with "noise pollution" caused by vehicle sounds (traffic volumes), where an average walking person encounters 7 vehicles every one minute, that causes 100 decibels (a) at 10-20 feet away from vehicle sounds, causing permanent damage in the hearing system.

The sector is also contributing towards people becoming lazier to walk, which is a hallway to causing diabetes and obesity.

For sustainability of all economic sectors, and balancing economy-health-environment in the District, mobilization of the public is the need of the hour – in terms of running public transport system, and making one day in a week as "taxi-free day".

* Pamkhuila Shaiza wrote this article for e-pao.net
The writer is a Freelancer and can be contacted at pamshaiza(AT)gmail(DOT0com
This article was posted on November 05, 2017.

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