Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

National Pollution Control Day, there is a greater significance for this day especially, when the country’s capital is engulfed in a blanket of toxic air.

The day aims to raise awareness about the cleaner environment and the pathways to pollution of air, water, soil, light as well as noise.

It is a remembrance to protect the same through educating people on how to control and manage our wastes and toxins.

On these lines and occasion, the Supreme court has given 24-hours to the Central Government as well as the one in Delhi and neighboring states to clear this mess or at least work towards it.

With degrading air quality because of industrial and vehicular pollution, every soul is struggling to breathe and clean air has become a privilege.

The Court has asked: “When hearings on the issue started there was a certain AQI (Air Quality Index). If as many efforts as you are claiming have been made then why is pollution increasing?”

Well, every December 2nd, this day finds relevance because of the painful memoirs of the lives lost in Bhopal Gas Tragedy.

On its night, in 1984, there was a gas leak in the Union Carbide Factory that dealt in producing pesticides.

This worst nightmare led to early 5 lakh people being exposed to methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas, which is a powerful toxic gas.

Out of these, 3788 people lost their lives due to the gas release and 5,74,366 got injured and sustained injuries. This tally is only based on the official records of the government of Madhya Pradesh.

This tragedy, that has troubled almost every mind, has led to greater number of changes in regards with safety of Industrial operations and pollution including the formation of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Along with curbing pollution, this day even calls for greater control of industrial disasters through regulation and greater sustainability of industrial processes.

These unfortunate events only foretell the importance of pollution control acts.

CPCB covers it all, the water pollution that needs to be overlooked, the streams those need to be cleaned, to oversee the strict implementation of waste management and effluent release guidelines by authorities, industries and municipalities etc.

India faces a great challenge to its development, social as well as economic, health and well being of its residents because of pollution.

According to the data available on National Health Portal, around 7 million people lose their lives every year alone because of air pollution.

This happens because high levels of air pollutants can add up to 20% higher risk of lung cancer related deaths s compared to the risk on people living in lesser polluted areas.

Problem is that such grave and persistent air pollution also contributes to the climate change and the challenge is this will only worsen.

For instance, vehicular emission has been known to be majorly responsible for Air pollution. About 500 million cars are already running on roads and by 2030, the number will only rise to 1 billion.

The news is only bad because when deaths occur, they remain biased in most perspectives. World Health Organization has explained how most of the pollution related deaths i.e., 94%, take place in low and middle income countries.

These countries like India, are already battling these perils with their lives.

With no suitable technology, most of the development undertaken in these countries does not complement with the motives of environmental protection.

We need to understand that humanity can only prosper if pollution and its sources are curbed, minimized and negated.

These messages had been made loud and clear always, at Conferences, National level summits and even authoritative guidelines.

But this day dictates what can actually happen if we continue to underestimate our own capability to destroy ourselves.

When it comes to Climate Action, India has proved to be a responsible Nation. Lets keep the pride and our greater works in action!

By Alaina Ali Beg

I am a lover of all arts and therefore can dream myself in all places where the World takes me. I am an avid animal lover and firmly believes that Nature is the true sorcerer.

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