Only when the last tree has died and the last river poisoned and the last fish caught, will we realise that we cannot eat money”. This old proverb couldn’t be more apt for people living in the capital. It explains relentless destruction of the environment and people’s avarice and glaring disconnect with nature.

With mercury decreasing, viral infections and respiratory problems are showing an increasing trend in the capital. After dengue and chikungunya, viral infections are now keeping city doctors on their toes. Respiratory medicine clinics have already seen a 30% increase in asthma cases.

The blueline buses, which earned notoriety for reckless driving, will be off the Delhi roads completely from December 14.

This was announced today by Delhi Transport Minister Arvinder Singh Lovely after a meeting he had with blueline bus operators here.

Ten years back it was the boondocks. Across the river — Yamunapaar — as they called it was an area of darkness. Narrow and bumpy roads, traffic jams, stinking nullahs, slums, illegal factories and a daily influx of migrants from UP and Bihar. It was as if hope ended with the river which had gradually gone beyond salvation. Beyond it was just misery.

And then the unthinkable happened.

The makeover of east Delhi has not happened in a day. And it has not happened cheap.
According to conservative estimates, a slew of infrastructure projects of big and small scale — all aimed at making commute easy for that part of the city — have cost the state exchequer in the range of Rs 1,500-2,000 crore in the past four-five years.