A Cardiologist Waging A Heartfelt War Against Pollution

Two years ago, Rane noticed an alarming trend. Respiratory ailments, chiefly among children, were on the rise. "It was truly a pathetic sight." As president of an organisation that calls itself the Smoke Affected Residents Forum, he knew it was his business to go into the heart of the matter. Encouraged by the Supreme Court directive last year on the Euro norms, Rane filed a public interest litigation in the Mumbai high court in the middle of last year. Not only that, he even went on a hunger strike in front of a suburban regional transport office.

In a country where one waits almost a lifetime for a verdict, the court's quick decision came as a surprise. Within six months, on December 15, it passed some stern directives. Among them, the strict following of puc norms, increasing the number of the traffic commission's flying squads to 12 and the setting up of an apex committee for future directives. "The verdict was a gun I could point to authorities who didn't care about pollution," says Rane. Traffic commissioner V.M. Lal, who is looked upon in this city as a Seshan-on-the-roads, swung into action. Cabs, rickshaws and trucks went on strike in protest. The city breathed easy for a while till the illogical strike was called off. Rane had won. But he is quick to point out that he doesn't like confrontation. He looks very much like a man who will apologise to the lemon but drink the lemonade if he must.

"I was sympathetic towards the cab drivers. Because they were aggressive and they lost," says Rane. "In the battle between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins. Not by brutal force but by perseverance." The good doctor is also willing to show the biblical other cheek. "We're planning to initiate health check-ups for cab drivers."

One of his other plans is to initiate a body of volunteers who will stand at all octroi points, checking the puc status of the trucks that ply in the city. He also wants senior citizens to stop briefly at petrol stations during their morning walk and make sure that gas stations use proper methods while issuing the puc certificates. "The court has ordered that petrol pumps found to be careless while issuing these certificates can be penalised severely."

It's not the first time Rane has gone to the court. In 1995 he had filed a pil against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's improper garbage burning practices in Deonar. He had got a verdict in his favour even though the BMC had hastily proceeded to plant five trees and told the courts that it was keeping the surrounding environs green. The court, however, did lay out long and short-term goals for the BMC.

Dr Rane is obsessed with the who slogan 'health for all', something he has begun at home. In Pestom Sagar where he lives, he conducts health camps for the 6,000-odd hutments in the area.

His next target is industrial pollution. He has already started research. "But I need more volunteers." says he. "Nobody seems to have the time." He certainly does, despite being a practising doctor and a father of two. He is already getting ready for another battle. "Going to the court is the last resort. I'll explain sweetly to the concerned parties first," he says. But if they don't listen, he will have no other option but to move the courts. The courts too, one hopes, will move.

To contact Dr Sandip Rane, write to

Rane Hospital

Pestom Sagar

Chembur

Mumbai-89

or call 5220277.