Reporters Without Orders Ep 87: Air pollution, Haryana Assembly elections, Ayodhya, and more

Host Snigdha Sharma and Newslaundry correspondents Ayush Tiwari and Basant Kumar are joined by Siddharth Singh, an energy, mobility and climate policy expert and author of the book The Great Smog of India for this episode of Reporters Without Orders.

The panel extensively discusses the persistent matter of air pollution. Snigdha thinks the issue does not get its fair share of coverage by the Indian media. Siddharth talks about his book and what led him to write it. He explains how India’s use of outdated technology and fossil fuels, together with its geographical conditions, compound the problem of pollution. He bemoans the lack of a consolidated approach in dealing with the issue. In this context, the panel talks about China’s Blue Sky Initiative and the immediate need for making climate a political issue.

The panel discusses the important news stories of the week. Speaking about his visit to Haryana to cover the elections, Ayush explains how ground issues were absent from both the campaign and media’s coverage. In the same vein, Basant says he is disappointed with the media’s coverage of the Ayodhya dispute.

References

The Great Smog Of India

Why Haryana’s Jats are disillusioned with the BJP

Ram Ke Naam

Recommendations

Ayush: Ram Ke Naam

Amid oppressive patriarchy in Haryana’s Mewat, a young Dalit woman is fighting to keep her dream alive

Basant: Quissa Quissa Lucknow

Snigdha: Bloodlust TV: Calling out India’s hate media

Produced by Parikshit Sanyal, recorded by Anil Kumar and edited by Samarendra K Dash.

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