Essay on Hazards of Environmental Pollution
India is the second most populous country in the World and home to over 1.3 trillion people. It is a land
of gorgeous and spectacular landscapes, abundant natural resources, and one of the most sought
after holiday destination. But the biggest concern of today’s time is the grave challenge of large-scale
environmental pollution faced by the country. Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago
(EPIC) has stated India as the world’s second most polluted country in the world. The horrendous
condition of environmental pollution in the country has resulted in the shortening the life of an average
Indian’s by over four years. The Indian government has declared a state of emergency for
environmental pollution in the urban areas.
Scientists from India’s most renowned cancer institute unconcealed awful statistics that approximately
half of the school going children in Delhi are growing up with the irreversible lung impairment
condition. The level of dangerous and toxic pollutants in the air, water and soil has gone way above
the safe limit. Heavy industrialization, urbanization and some age old practices like burning agricultural
waste have equally contributed to the miserable environment condition in India.
Factors of Environmental Pollution:
1. Air pollution:
New Delhi, the capital of India, made global headlines recently when it turned up in the top 10 mostpolluted places on earth. Supreme Court of India has imposed a ban on old petrol and diesel vehicles
in Delhi. Despite numerous efforts by the government to manage polluting emissions from the
industries and use alternate traffic mechanisms, the air condition continues to deteriorate. The major
sources of air pollution are traffic, power plants, industry, burning waste, cooking using wood and
charcoal. Emission of greenhouse gasses poses a real time threat to the concentration of toxic
elements in the air.
2. Soil pollution:
As the industrial sector in India is witnessing a prolific growth. As a result soil pollution is becoming a
major concern in all parts of the country. Soil pollution poses an alarming threat to agricultural
productivity, food safety, and human health. The area of fertile land is deteriorating every passing day
by the use of chemicals for gaining better produce. The growth of cities in India has used soil as a sink
for perpetually greater amounts of municipal waste. Cities like Bangalore & Chennai, famously called
the IT hubs of the country are facing a grave issue of large amount of e-waste piled in the dump yards.
Large amount of land is wasted as dumping grounds both within and at the outskirts of cities. These
dumping grounds can be seen treated as pastures for cattle which can result in numerous health
hazards.
3. Water pollution:
In India, we are not new to water pollution. Agriculture is the prime necessity for the country and
apparently environmental impact on the climate has hugely affected the monsoons. Huge amount of
waste, including metals like lead, toxic chemicals coming from Industries is dumped in rivers and
water-bodies. The largest source of water pollution in India is the untreated sewage water. Some
villages in India still practice defecation in the open which further pollutes the nearby water bodies.
Ganga and Yamuna are ranked amongst the top 10 the most polluted rivers in the world.
4. Noise pollution:
Noise pollution is another burning issue of Modern India. Traffic congestion on roads, maddening
sounds of honking horns, factory sirens, shuddering sound of the running of machines and loud sound
of loudspeakers majorly contribute to the tremendous increase in noise pollution. Environmental
pollution has resulted in the outbreak of so many health issues for an average Indian.
Measures taken
India signed the historic Paris climate agreement on 24th November 2017 along with 170 Nations at
the United Nations Headquarters in New York. India has committed itself to the effective
implementation of the Paris agreement on climate change. Prime Minister of India Shri. Narendra Modi
and French President Emmanuel Macron inaugurated Uttar Pradesh’s biggest solar power plant in
Mirzapur district on 12th March 2018. India has also signed an agreement with Germany on technical
cooperation under the Indo-German Energy Program – Green Energy Corridors (IGEN-GEC). The
Indian government is taking serious steps to restore the sanctity of Ganga and Yamuna rivers by
implementing the ‘Clean Ganga’, ‘Namami Gange’ and ‘Yamuna Cleaning Program’.
As plastic is a major pollutant, the State Government of Maharashtra has compete ban on plastics
bags from 23rd June 2018. The notification issued by the Maharashtra state government banned
manufacturing, usage, sale, circulation and storage of plastic materials such as bags, spoons, plates
and other disposable items. The ban also includes packaging material and thermocol. However the
plastic used for packaging of medicines and drugs, milk and treatment of solid waste is exempted from
the ban. Stringent laws are enforced to control Noise pollution.
Various NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) are working day and night to educate the average
Indians about the ill-effects of pollution on their mental and physical health. The Government is
running rigorous campaigns through television, movies, print-media and other such outlets to
encourage people to practice environmentally friendly lifestyle.
Conclusion
One cannot deny that the polluted environment in urban India is a ticking time bomb. Prolific
industrialization for growth of the National economy has apparently put at risk even a breath of fresh
air in the Indian cities. Lack of public participation in the implementation of stringent laws to fight
environmental pollution is another huge concern. The public health in India is at serious risk. The
Indian government is working to implement the solutions on a larger canvas, for example, switching to
clean energy, regulations to reduce the emissions of harmful pollutants, and campaigning to spread
acquaintance about the adverse effects of environmental pollution. The most significant aspect is
encouraging the Indian people to give away their age-old practices which are by and large hazardous
to the environment. The Sanskrit phrase “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which means that ‘the world is
like a family’, must come alive in the minds and hearts of each one of us to save this beautiful and
serene land of traditions.