Every Breath at Risk: Before It’s Too Late, Scrap the Old and Save West Bengal’s Future

Every breath we take in West Bengal is under threat. From the bustling streets of Kolkata to the quieter towns and highways, air quality has steadily declined. A major culprit? Old, polluting vehicles that continue to run despite being unsafe and outdated. Unless immediate action is taken, the future generations of Bengal may inherit nothing but toxic air, rising health problems, and unsafe roads. The solution lies in a powerful, yet often overlooked, step-vehicle scrapping.

1. The Urgency of the Issue

Old vehicles emit far higher levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter compared to newer models. According to studies on urban air pollution, transport contributes nearly 30-40% of total air pollution in Indian cities, with Kolkata being one of the worst affected.

Health Impact: Children and the elderly face the highest risk, with rising cases of asthma, lung infections, and heart diseases linked to vehicular pollution.

Economic Burden: The state loses crores every year in healthcare costs and productivity losses due to polluted air.

Road Safety: Outdated vehicles are not only polluting but also unsafe, leading to higher accident risks.

If Bengal delays action, the situation will spiral into a public health emergency, where every breath is truly at risk.

2. The Meaning Behind “Scrapping the Old”

Scrapping is not merely about dismantling vehicles-it carries deeper symbolic meaning.

In Bengal’s cultural fabric, renewal is a recurring theme. During Durga Puja, households clean and replace the old with the new as a symbol of purity. During Kojagori Lakshmi Puja, farmers store newly harvested paddy, discarding what is stale and old. The message is clear: to welcome prosperity, one must first let go of the past that no longer serves.

• Vehicle scrapping carries the same essence:

• Letting go of polluting machines that harm society.

• Recycling and reusing valuable materials instead of wasting them.

Creating space for rebirth and transformation, much like Bengal’s festivals celebrate.

3. Modern-Day Relevance

The Government of India’s Vehicle Scrappage Policy is a step toward making roads cleaner and safer. For Bengal, it has tremendous relevance:

• Financial Benefits: Vehicle owners can get attractive incentives, discounts on new purchases, and tax rebates by scrapping old vehicles.

• Cleaner Air: Phasing out polluting vehicles directly reduces toxic emissions in cities like Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur, and Siliguri.

• Safer Roads: Scrapping removes outdated, accident-prone vehicles from highways.

• Circular Economy: Metals, parts, and materials recovered through scrapping enter the recycling chain, creating jobs and reducing raw material imports.

Globally, scrapping aligns with India’s climate goals and Bengal’s aspiration for a healthier, greener future.

4. Emotional & Social Angle

The fight against pollution is not about statistics alone-it’s about people. Imagine a child walking to school, breathing in toxic fumes every day. Imagine elderly parents struggling with respiratory problems because of polluted air. Imagine families spending more on medical bills than on their children’s education.

This is the stark reality Bengal faces. Scrapping is not just a policy-it is a responsibility. Every citizen who scrapes an old vehicle contributes to cleaner air and safer roads. It is about protecting loved ones and ensuring that future generations inherit fresh air, not polluted skies.

And let’s not forget-scrapping doesn’t mean loss. The materials from your old vehicle are reborn as new steel, new products, and new opportunities. What seems like an ending is actually a new beginning.

West Bengal stands at a crossroads. One path leads to worsening pollution and declining health, while the other leads to renewal, cleaner air, and a sustainable tomorrow. The choice is ours.

If Bengal acts today through responsible scrapping, awareness, and collective effort-it can secure a future where children play under clear skies, families breathe without fear, and prosperity thrives in every corner.

Scrap the old. Save the future. Let Bengal breathe again.