Smog in the brain.

United Airlines suspended its flight from Newark in the US to New Delhi yesterday, citing poor air quality in India's capital city. "Due to air quality concerns in Delhi, India, we anticipate possible delays and cancellations throughout the weekend. For the safety of our employees, we may also need to close outdoor work areas at times," said the airlines. Any criticism from a white western country is very painful for us. Most of the pollution is due burning of stubble in Punjab after the rice harvest. Why do farmers burn stubble? Because rice stubble has a high silica content, making it toxic for animals, and it is too expensive to uproot because labor has become very expensive. With so many poor people why is labor so expensive? Because of the floor set by MGNREGA, which pays the rural poor for 100 days a year, said the Reserve Bank. Now the Punjab government in Pakistan urged a quick end to stubble burning. We understand. Pakistan sends terrorists into India, we hit back with pollution. Revenge. Of course, aircraft use an enormous amount of fuel to get over 500,000 kg off the ground, and thousands of cars have to drop or pick up passengers everyday, adding significant amounts of pollution. A Boeing 747 needs up to 5,772 pounds of fuel just for takeoff, 50 times a full tank of a SUV. However, our VIPs and VVIPs may need to travel abroad first class, with family, to see Christmas decorations, so a second airport is planned close to Delhi. But, something needs to be done, so the Delhi government closed all schools, banned all construction activities and announced odd-even scheme for cars with male drivers. The ban on driving did not apply to women and two-wheelers. Unfortunately, the National Green Tribunal ruled out any exemptions to women, two-wheelers and government officers. Banning two-wheelers will bring Delhi's economy to a complete stop, and since they are mainly used by the vote-bank, it is unthinkable. Women demanded better alternatives to public transport because of safety concerns. Another incident like the gang-rape on a Delhi bus in 2012, will result in riots and may result in loss in a future election. Horrible thought. As for government officers, how can our masters travel in buses with the plebs? Anyway, Delhi has only 4,000 buses, totally inadequate to carry so many additional people. Delhi makes a loss of over Rs 34 billion each year running its buses. Any addition to its present fleet will only add to its losses. The good thing about the odd-even scheme is that the government could have added to the Rs 1 billion in penalties from hapless drivers. Poor fellows. Cannot take any action without losing revenue or alienating the vote-bank. No wonder they fly first class with family to see Christmas decorations in western countries. Need to relax.