Pollution has become a great menace in life. All the countries whether developing or developed, suffer from environmental crisis. The environment today is under severe threat from the pressure generated by the growth of human and animal population, poverty and the misuse/unplanned use of natural resources. During the last century, this problem has become so acute that people of all classes belonging to all walks of life (i.e) scientists, academics, poets, lovers of wild life etc., have been called to discuss man’s responsibility in this connection. No doubt, some fragmentary legislative and administrative steps have been taken to meet this challenge but the size and seriousness of the problem have been increasing day by day at a higher pace. This problem is so acute that the hope of humanity will be able to meet this challenge, seems to recede. In fact, the impact of pollution is so alarming that according to Wealth Health Organisation’s estimates, as much as 90% of the world’s diseases are traceable to water pollution. Jaundice, typhoid, cholera and other gastroenteric diseases are attributed to water pollution.
Sudden respiratory distress, difficulty in breathing, respiratory cancer, lung cancer, asthma, increased bronchitis, coughs, eye irritations and general malaise have all been found to be associated with polluted air. Apart from the health costs, air pollution corrodes buildings and industrial materials. Steel deteriorates two or four times faster in polluted environment, as well as silver, leather and paper. State Government should have an action plan for a clean and green air and a public private partnership on this count will help out to reduce pollution and give a chance to breathe freely all the time round the year.
The major and foremost is the need for disaster management cell. Disasters are inevitable, however human interventions in taking up precautionary measures will help in minimising the loss to a great extent. Clean and healthy neighbourhood is a blessing in disguise. Solid waste management through smart solutions to make roads clean and to ensure a healthy environment is considered as an important factor for smart cities. Recycling of waste will produce renewable energy, ensures safe disposal of solid waste, prevents soil and environmental pollution and reduces depletion of resources. Thus pollution is spoiling health atmosphere and causing health hazards.
After toxic froth, toxic fumes causes pollution in the air. Illegal dumping of debris near the river and sea side cause utmost pollution. Toxic fumes chokes the city and dried weed puts lake’s edge on fire. Further, chemicals dumped in lake from nearby Industrial Units are responsible for pollution. Unauthorised urbanisation has flora and fauna of the area and a threat to human life as well. Pollution control board should act in the best way possible to make things move in proper direction to pave way for pollution free atmosphere mainly for metro cities.
This type of indifferent attitude is shocking as the governments at the Centre and the States are typically not concerned about increase in pollution level. While relatively smaller issues occupy centrestage in the election to State assemblies and parliament, pollution is far from being an issue on which concern is voiced but well ignored. Shocking apathy over air pollution in India is main cause for worry as the future generations will pay price for being so careless in a health conscious country like ours.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
