ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION IN ODISHA

AND ITS REMEDIES

(A Project report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement for
the degree of BACHLOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE)

SAMBALPUR UNIVERSITY

Supervisor: Submitted by:

Mr. Premchand Duan Name – Sachin Sa

Department of political science Roll No – SO5620PSC001

Sohela College, Sohela Sohela College, Sohela

DEPARTMENT OF POLITICAL SCIENCE SOHELA COLLEGE, SOHELA , 768033

SUBMITTED TO SAMBALPUR UNIVERSITY

SRI PREMCHAND DUAN
Dept. of Political science
Sohela college,sohela

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the project work entitled “ ENVIRONMENTAL

POLLUTION IN ODISHA AND ITS REMEDIES” is prepared by Sachin
Sa in partial fulfillment for the degree of Bachlor of Arts in Political Science
of Sohela college. This work is carried out by him under my guidance and
supervision. This work is original and has not been submitted anywhere for the
award of any degree or diploma.

To the best of my knowledge and belief he bears a good moral character.

I allowed him for submission of this report work.

Place:

Date: SRI PREMCHAND DUAN

DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the declaration entitled “ENVIRONMENTAL

POLLUTION IN ODISHA AND ITS REMEDIES”embodies the originality
of the work carried out under the supervision of Sri Premchand
Duan,Department of Political Science, sohela college, sohela. This work has
not been submitted to any university or institution for any degree and diploma.

A Project report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirement

for the degree of BACHLOR OF ARTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE.

Signature of the student

Name.- Sachin Sa
Enrollment No.-S05620PSC001
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

It gives me divine pleasure to acknowledge my indebtedness and deep sense of

gratitude to my esteem guide and Supervisor Sri Premchand Duan, Department
of Political science, sohela college, sohela, for this valuable guidance and
constructive suggestion, encouragement, timely advice, ceaseless inspiration for
the completion of this project paper.

I would like to thank other teachers of my department, Sri pratap chandra

mishra and Sri sudam sahu for their being with me.

In addition to this, I eager to thank all my friends, my family members for

providing me moral support continuously throughout the preparation of this
project report.

Sachin Sa

Investigator
CONTENTS

Declaration

Certificate

Acknowledgement

Abbreviations

Chapter I: Introduction

Chapter II Environmental pollution: meaning and overview

Chapter III: Environmental pollution: types and sources

Chapter IV: Environmental pollution: remedies

Chapter V: Findings and conclusion

Bibliography

APPENDICES
1

CHAPTER I

INRODUCTION

Environmental pollution is a major issue facing the world today. It

refers to the presence of harmful substances in the environment, which can
cause damage to the natural environment and harm human health.
Environmental pollution can take many forms, including air pollution, water
pollution, soil pollution, and noise pollution. The impact of environmental
pollution is far-reaching, affecting ecosystems, wildlife, and human populations
around the world. In this project, we will explore the causes, effects, and
solutions to environmental pollution.Environmental pollution is the presence of
harmful substances in the environment that can cause damage to the natural
world and harm human health. Pollution can take many forms, including air
pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, and noise pollution. The sources of
environmental pollution can be natural, such as volcanic eruptions or forest fires,
or human-made, such as industrial processes, transportation, and waste disposal.

India today is one of the first ten industrialized countries of the world.
Today we have a good industrial infrastructure in core industries like metals,
chemicals, fertilizers, petroleum, food etc. what has come out of these?
Pesticides, detergents, plastics, solvents, fuels, paints, dyes, food additives etc.
are some examples. Due to progress in atomic energy, there has also been an
increase in radioactivity in the biosphere. Besides these, there are a number of
industrial effluents and emissions particularly poisonous gases in the
atmosphere. Mining activities also added to this problem particularly as solid
waste.
2

Thus, pollution is a necessary evil of all development. Due to lack of

development of a culture of pollution control, there had resulted a heavy
backlog of gaseous, liquid and solid pollution in our country. It is to be cleaned.
Thus pollution control in our country is a recent environmental concern.

Environmental pollution is a significant problem in India, with air,

water, and soil pollution levels among the highest in the world. Rapid
industrialization, urbanization, and transportation have contributed to the rise in
pollution levels in India. Air pollution is primarily caused by transportation,
industrial emissions, and burning of fossil fuels for power generation. Water
pollution is caused by untreated sewage, industrial effluent, and agricultural
runoff. The Ganges river, considered sacred by Hindus, is one of the most
polluted rivers in the world. Soil pollution in India is primarily caused by the
use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and industrial waste disposal. Heavy
metal contamination is also a significant concern in areas with industrial activity.
Environmental pollution has severe health, environmental, and economic
impacts in India. It is crucial to implement policies and regulations to reduce
pollution levels, promote clean technologies, and raise public awareness and
education to address this issue.
3

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

 Review of literature refers to a critical evaluation of existing published

research on a particular topic. In the case of environmental pollution, a
review of literature would involve examining the existing research on the
causes, effects, and solutions to environmental pollution.
 Numerous studies have been conducted on environmental pollution in
India, with a focus on air, water, and soil pollution. A study by the World
Health Organization estimated that around 7 million deaths globally each
year are attributable to air pollution, with India accounting for a
significant portion of these deaths.
 Research has also highlighted the impacts of water pollution on public
health, with the contamination of water sources leading to the spread of
waterborne diseases. A study by the Indian Council of Medical Research
found that around 37.7 million Indians are affected by waterborne
diseases each year.
 In terms of soil pollution, research has shown that the excessive use of
chemical fertilizers and pesticides has led to soil degradation and reduced
soil fertility. A study by the Central Pollution Control Board found that
around 30% of India's agricultural land is facing the problem of soil
acidity.
 Researchers have also evaluated various policy initiatives and solutions to
address environmental pollution in India, such as the National Clean Air
Programme and the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. However, the effectiveness
of these initiatives in reducing pollution levels has been a subject of
debate.
 Overall, a review of literature on environmental pollution in India
highlights the complex nature of the issue and the need for concerted
efforts from various stakeholders to address the problem. The adoption of
4

clean technologies, responsible waste management, and public awareness

campaigns can play a crucial role in mitigating the impacts of
environmental pollution in the country.

Some books on environmental pollution in India:

1. "Polluted India: An Environmental History" by Kanchanmoyee De and
Madhumita Dutta
2. "India's Environmental History" by Mahesh Rangarajan and K.
Sivaramakrishnan
3. "Environmental Challenges and Governance: Diverse Perspectives from
Asia" edited by Naren Chitty and Liang Fook Lye
4. "Air Pollution in India and Its Impact on the Health of Different Income
Groups" by Kiran Tota-Maharaj and Pradeep Khanna
5. "Pollution and Policy in India: Transport, Industry, and the Environment"
by Anant Sudarshan and Ashok Sreenivas
6. "Environmental Pollution and Management in Developing Countries: Case
Studies from India" edited by D. N. Rao and L. D. Khodke
7. "The Politics of Climate Change and the Global Crisis: Mortgaging Our
Future" by Praful Bidwai and M. V. Ramana
8. "The Great Smog of India" by Siddharth Singh
9. "Environmental Pollution in Odisha: An Appraisal" by B. B. Mishra
10."Pollution and Its Control Measures in Odisha" edited by S. P. Mishra and
S. K. Dash
11."Environmental Health Perspectives: Water Pollution and Health Risks in
Odisha" edited by Siba Prasad Rath
12."Ecological Status and Pollution of River Mahanadi in Odisha" by Nihar
Ranjan Mishra and Pramod Kumar Panda
13."Environmental Impacts of Coal Mining in Odisha" by Pramod Kumar
Singh and Dev Raj Shukla
5

14."Environmental Pollution and Its Management in India: A Case Study of

Odisha" edited by S. K. Rath and S. C. Mohanty
15."Air and Noise Pollution in Bhubaneswar, Odisha" by Jagannath Mohanty
and Deepak Kumar Mishra
16."Industrial Pollution and Its Impact on Biodiversity in Odisha" by Srikanta
Sahu

Some recent news articles related to environmental pollution in India:

1. "Air pollution in India linked to increased risk of stroke and heart
disease" - Reuters, March 16, 2022
2. "India's Mahanadi river ranked fifth most polluted in the world" -
Hindustan Times, February 18, 2022
3. "Toxic foam spills into Indian river, prompting water supply warning" -
The Guardian, January 12, 2022
4. "India's national capital has the highest pollution levels among world's
mega-cities" - The Economic Times, December 7, 2021
5. "Illegal dumping of hazardous waste causing environmental pollution in
Chennai, India" - The Times of India, October 21, 2021
6. "India's tiger reserves facing severe environmental pollution" - Mongabay,
September 6, 2021
7. "Farm fires causing spike in air pollution in northern India" - Al Jazeera,
April 19, 2021
8. "Odisha's Chilika Lake facing environmental pollution due to human
activities" - Down To Earth, March 1, 2021
9. "India's water crisis: alarming levels of arsenic found in groundwater" -
The Guardian, September 15, 2022
10."India's Ganges river heavily polluted with microplastics, says study" -
BBC News, August 22, 2022
6

11."India's plastic waste crisis: The challenge of recycling" - Al Jazeera,

June 28, 2022
12."India's power plants among world's biggest greenhouse gas emitters" -
The Economic Times, May 3, 2022
13."Indian cities are drowning in waste. Here's how they're fighting back" -
CNN, March 28, 2022
14."India's mining industry causing environmental pollution and
displacement" - Mongabay, February 9, 2022
15."Indian villagers protest against construction of steel plant, citing
environmental concerns" - Reuters, December 30, 2021
16."India's coal-fired power plants continue to pollute despite new
regulations" - Al Jazeera, November 3, 2021
7

Methodology:
This project work applies normative method of social science research. This
project work is based on primary and secondary sources as well as on library
work. Relevant primary data have been collected from governmental reports
from both government of Odisha as well as Government of India. Relevant and
reliable secondary data have been collected from the authentic text book,
journals, articles, newspaper and internet sources in order to address the
research problem effectively and efficiently.
8

CHAPTER II

ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION: MEANING,OVERVIEW

What is pollution ?

Pollution is an undesirable change in the physical, chemical or

biological characteristics of air, water and soil that may harmfully affect the life
or create a potential health hazard of any living organism. Pollution is thus
direct or indirect changes in any component of the biosphere that is harmful to
the living component(s), and in particular undesirable for man, affecting
adversely the industrial progress, cultural and natural assets or general
environment.

What are pollutants?

Any substance which causes pollution is called a pollutant. A

pollutant may thus include any chemical or geochemical (dust, sediment, grit
etc.) substance, biotic component or its product, or physical factor (heat) that is
released intentionally by man into the environment in such a concentration that
may have adverse harmful or unpleasant effects.

Overview of Environmental Pollution:

What is Environmental Pollution?

The Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control defines
environmental pollution as any activity, by corporations or individuals, which
9

compromises the health and/or environment of other persons in a localized area,

where the causal
link is clearly established. There are seven categories of environmental pollution.

Change Over Time in Environmental:

The history of pollution and pollution control measures in Japan,
divided into eight distinct phases from before the Edo Era (1603~1868) up to
the present day1. For the purposes of this document, the eight phases have been
grouped into four main periods to clarify the past experiences of Japan that are
of relevance to developing countries today. Below we present an overview of
the social background in each period and the development of pollution control
measures.

Beginning of Environmental Pollution (1600s~1945):

The first known instance of pollution damage in Japan involved

emissions of wastewater containing heavy metals by mining operations back in
the 1600’s, before the Edo Era. Affected farmers and fishermen launched bitter
protests against the environmental pollution and sought compensation for
damages, and their efforts generated widespread public interest. From the Meiji
Era through to the beginning of the First World War (1868~1914), a strong
emphasis on national prosperity, military power and industrial growth saw
considerable resources devoted to development of the three core industries of
mining, cloth spinning, and steel manufacturing.These policies led to
environmental problems such as smoke, noise and water pollution.
Environmental damage was not confined to the areas surrounding such
operations; city dwellers were often affected too. Local governments were the
10

first to take the initiative to address the situation, introducing a range of

regulations and restrictions. At the national level, however, the government
welcomed pollution as evidence of progress and prosperity, and consequently
very few of the environmentalpollution control measures contained in the
Factories Act (1911) and the Mining Law (1905) were actually enforced.
From the commencement of the First World War until the end of the
Second World War (1914~1945), priority was given at the national level to the
development of industries to meet the demands of the military—in particular
steel production and heavy industries. Increased production levels generated a
range of problems including atmospheric pollution, water pollution,
noxious odors, noise, and land subsidence of fields and other areas. These in
turn prompted efforts to create pollution reduction initiatives such as the
world’s first ever pollution prevention system, developed by Sumitomo Metal
Mining. Given the overriding emphasis on national prosperity, however,
public health issues received scant attention and protests by victims of pollution
were largely overlooked.

Social Awareness of Environmental Pollution (1946~1964):

The main priority in the aftermath of the Second World War was nation
rebuilding; consequently, economic growth was the top priority from the late
1950s onwards. Considerable effort was put into the development of heavy
industries and the construction of petrochemical plants. The steel, oil, aluminum
and power industries generated huge quantities of a range of pollutants, which
in the absence of effective pollution countermeasures led to a rash of health
problems on a scale unprecedented in the world at that time, including
Minamata Disease, “Itai-Itai” Disease and pollution-related asthma. In the year
1960, the city of Osaka recorded smog on 156 days, and the rivers resembled
open sewers.
11

Post-war environmental pollution control measures were initiated

in Japan at the local government level during the 1950s. The first formal
measures were the Factory Pollution Control Ordinance, enacted by the Tokyo
Metropolitan Government in 1959. Unfortunately, these regulations were
largely ineffective, due to the lax criteria and the level of opposition from
industry. This experience prompted local governments to take a tougher stance
on imposing emission standards, building treatment and processing facilities,
monitoring pollution emissions, and providing administrative guidance where
necessary. Taxation and other incentives were also introduced to encourage the
adoption of environmental pollution control measures by industry.
In response to the increasingly strident protests of pollution
victims, the national government also began preparing legislation to control
environmental pollution, building on the work of local governments. The
process was delayed, however, by difficulties in obtaining consensus among the
relevant ministries and agencies, compounded by fierce opposition from
industry groups. When it finally arrived, the legislation was largely ineffectual.
In 1961, the first national environmental pollution control laws were enacted, in
the form of the Two Water Quality Regulation Laws for the regulation of
pollution sources. Here again, the legislation lacked teeth, and environmental
damage continued to worsen. It should be remembered, though, that the
pollution control measures were introduced in the context of the main priority at
that time of promoting economic growth, and were therefore designed to
avoid conflict with this overriding objective.

Environmental Pollution Control Measures

Commenced in Earnest (1965~1974):

The combination of rapid industrial development (particularly in the

petrochemical and heavy industries), strong economic growth, and
12

unprecedented urban expansion led to a tremendous increase in pollutant

emissions. A succession of new and different pollutants began to appear, and
the problems worsened. For example, in 1971 sulfur dioxide emissions in the
three major municipal areas in Japan were three times the national average, and
nine times the 1955 level of 16 t. On some days it was not possible to go outside
at all. Afflictions such as Minamata Disease and “Itai Itai” Disease began to
appear in other areas of the country. Japan became known as the pollution
capital of the world.

Public protests became increasingly vociferous and were taken up by the

mass media, which had the effect of raising general public awareness and
concern about pollution issues. Scientists and other academics began organizing
environmental assessments and resident awareness meetings. Interestingly,
residents’ groups focused on local governments rather than the national
government, a strategy that proved most effective. Mounting public
dissatisfaction at the unwillingness of the national government to take proper
action on pollution issues impacted on approval ratings, and
the government was eventually forced to give priority to public health and
lifestyle issues.
The early 1970s saw a steady succession of legal actions against
polluters, resulting in victories in the four major pollution trials (Minamata
Disease in Niigata, Yokkaichi Asthma, “Itai-Itai” Disease and Minamata
Disease in Kumamoto). The findings in favor of the victims prompted a revision
of environmental standards and compensation plans, and caused a fundamental
shift in thinking on pollution, from being considered acceptable for the
overall public good to being considered generally unacceptable.
The combination of rising public opposition and the success of the
pollution trials prompted a flurry of activity on the part of the government,
13

resulting in a range of measures such as the Basic Law for Environmental

Pollution Control, a special pollution session of the national diet, and the
Environment Agency. This period also saw a reversal of the approach adopted
in environmental regulation. Instead of imposing emission limits on
specific pollutants, regulations now sought to provide target environmental
standards as the ultimate objectives to be achieved. Environmental
standards for sulfur dioxide emissions were released in 1969, followed by
vehicle exhaust and water pollution level limits in 1970, noise pollution limits
in 1971 and carbon dioxide and photochemical oxidant emissions limits in 1973.
As a result, atmospheric and water pollution levels were improved significantly
in a relatively short period of time.

Pollution Control Measures Lose Momentum, Increased Awareness of

Environmental Problems (1975 onwards):
The combined impact of the “oil shock” and an economic downturn in
the latter half of the 1970s led to increased criticism of and opposition to
pollution controls in business and economic circles, and the
government was obliged to modify its stance. The level of public protests had
also weakened somewhat. Domestic companies began looking to
set up offshore operations, primarily in Asian countries with less stringent
pollution controls.
Legislation to impose an environmental impact assessment system to
prevent environmental pollution at the outset was proposed in 1984 but
then shelved; it would not be until 1997 that the Environmental Impact
Assessment Law was finally enacted. Environmental standards for NO2
emissions were relaxed, designation of Type 1 regions for pollution controls and
compensation were lifted, and a number of other environmental controls were
put on hold; and at the same time the criteria for recognition of pollution-related
health damage were tightened. Under 1973 legislation on compensation for
14

health problems caused by environmental pollution, new claims from victims of

atmospheric pollution were dismissed, and many victims of Minamata Disease
went unrecognized.
From around 1985, mass consumption began to emerge as the root
cause of many forms of environmental destruction. Road vehicles, synthetic
detergents, chemical fertilizers and insecticides were all identified as pollution
sources, which meant that ordinary citizens were no longer the victims, but were
in fact the unwitting perpetrators of environmental destruction. At the same time,
environmental pollution had become a much more complex problem, as
exemplified by chemical substances such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)
and dioxins that are not conducive to treatment or processing.
In the 1990s, prompted by rising awareness around the world of the
need to protect the global environment, the government returned to
environmental policy with renewed vigor, enacting the Waste Management and
Public Cleaning Law, the Recycling Law and legislation for the
conservation of plant and animal species. In 1993, the Basic Law for
Environmental Pollution Control and the Nature Conservation Law were
integrated into a single piece of legislation, the Basic Environment
Law, detailing basic environmental programs, requirements for environmental
impact assessments, and financial penalty systems.

Promulgation of the Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control:

The Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control was enacted in

1967 in recognition of the need for coordinated environmental pollution
legislation and government policy based on a set of consistent principles. This
legislation was prepared by a liaison committee for environmental pollution
control measures, with vice-ministerial representatives from the relevant
ministries, based on the
15

report of an advisory body to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control was the first
legislation in Japan to set out a comprehensive framework for environmental
pollution control measures. This law supplies definitions of environmental
pollution; delineates the responsibilities of business, government at the national
and local levels, and residents; describes the basic features of strategies for
preventing environmental pollution; and provides an overall structure for
environmental pollution legislation and strategies. In its initial incarnation, the
Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control was designed to complement
healthy economic growth and development, and not from the perspective of the
residential environment. To this end, the law contained the so-called economic
harmonization articles, and did not include any pollution controls with the
potential to obstruct economic progress. As a result, environmental damage
continued to escalate. The economic harmonization articles were subsequently
removed in 1970 in the face of mounting criticism of the Law.
The main features of the Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control are:
1. Numerical standards for environmental pollution
2. Regulation of emissions of polluting substances
3. Regulation of the manufacturing sector
4. Land use regulations
5. Monitoring and measurement regimes
6. Pollution prevention programs
7. Pollution prevention facilities and systems
8. Subsidy schemes for businesses to reduce pollution levels
9. Compensation for pollution victims
10. Dispute resolution mechanisms
The Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control served as the basis for a
number of other pieces of legislation. Starting with the 1969 Law Concerning
Special Measures for the Relief of the Pollution-related Health Damage, the
16

government sought to provide legislation for reconciliation and compensation of

victims of pollution. The legislative framework represented an important
breakthrough, because many civil compensation cases for pollution damages
had foundered due to the difficulty of proving a causative relationship between
negligence on the part of the perpetrator and the damages suffered by the victim.
Such legislation enabled victims to claim medical expenses and treatment and
nursing care allowances from the public and private sector. Under the 1970 Law
for the Settlement of Environmental Pollution Disputes, pollution committees
were set up at the national level (reporting to the Prime Minister’s Office) and
in all prefectures to provide mediation, arbitration
and reconciliation services.

Environmental Pollutants :

The various principal pollutants which pollute our air, water, land are as
follows :

(1) Deposited matter – soot, smoke, tar, dust, grit etc.

(2) Gases – Oxides of nitrogen (NO, NO2), sulphur (SO2), carbon monoxide,

halogens, (chlorine, bromine, iodine),

(3) Acids droplets – sulphruric, acid nitric acid etc.
(4) Fluorides
(5) Metals – Mercury, lead, iron, zinc, nickel, tin, cadmium, chromium etc.
(6) Agrochemicals – Biocides (pesticides, herbicides, fungicides,
nematicides, bactericides, weedicides etc), and fertilizers.
(7) Complex organic substances – Benzene, ether, acetic acid, benzopyrenes
etc.
17

(8) Photochemical oxidants – Photochemical smog, ozone, peroxyacetyl

nitrate (PAN), peroxybenzoil nitrate (PBzN), nitrogen oxides, aldehydes,
ethylene etc.
(9) Solid wastes
(10) Radioactive waste
(11) Nois
18

CHAPTER III
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION:TYPES AND
SOURCES

Kinds of Pollution

Various types of pollutions are classified in different ways. On the basis of the
type of environment being polluted, we may recognize air pollution, water
pollution, land soil pollution, marine pollution etc. on the basis of the kind of
pollutant involved, we may have sulphur dioxide pollution, fluoride pollution,
carbon monoxide pollution, smoke pollution, lead pollution, mercury pollution,
solid waste pollution, radioactive pollution, noise pollution etc. Of the variety of
pollutants, we recognize the following two basic types of pollutants: non
degradable and biodegradable.

(1)Air Pollution:

History of air pollution: The origin of air pollution on the earth can be traced
from the times when man started using firewood as a means
of cooking and heating. Hippocrates has mentioned air pollution in 400 BC.
With the discovery and increasing use of coal, air pollution became more
pronounced especially in urban areas. It was recognized as a problem 700 years
ago in London in the form of smoke pollution, which prompted King Edward I
to make the first antipollution law to restrict people from using coal for
domestic heating in the year 1273. In the year 1300 another Act banning the use
19

of coal was passed. Defying the law led to imposition of capital punishment. In
spite of this air pollution became a serious problem in London during the
industrial revolution due to the use of coal in industries. The earliest recorded
major disaster was the ‘London Smog’ that occurred in 1952 that resulted in
more than 4000 deaths due to the accumulation of air pollutants over
the city for five days.
In Europe, around the middle of the 19th century, a black form of
the Peppered moth was noticed in industrial areas. Usually the normal Peppered
moth is well camouflaged on a clean lichen covered tree. However the peppered
pattern
was easily spotted and picked up by birds on the smoke blackened bark of trees
in the industrial area, while the black form remained well camouflaged. Thus
while the peppered patterned moths were successful in surviving in
clean non-industrial areas, the black coloured moths were successful in
industrial areas. With the spread of industrialization, it has been observed
that the black forms are not only see in Peppered moth, but also in many other
moths.This is a classic case of pollution leading to adaptation.

Air pollution began to increase in the beginning of the twentieth

century with the development of the transportation systems and large-scale use
of petrol and diesel. The severe air quality problems due to the formation of
photochemical smog from the combustion residues of diesel and petrol engines
were felt for the first time in Los Angeles. Pollution due to auto-exhaust
remains a serious environmental issue in many developed and developing
countries including India.
The Air Pollution Control Act in India was passed in 1981 and the
Motor Vehicle Act for controlling the air pollution, very recently. These laws
are intended to prevent air from being polluted.
20

The greatest industrial disaster leading to serious air pollution took

place in Bhopal where extremely poisonous methyl isocyanide gas was
accidentally released from the Union Carbide’s pesticide manufacturing plant
on the night of December 3rd 1984. The effects of this disaster
on human health and the soil are felt even today.

Structure of the atmosphere:

The atmosphere is normally composed of 79 percent nitrogen, 20
percent oxygen and one percent as a mixture of carbon dioxide, water
vapour and trace amounts of several other gases such as neon, helium, methane,
krypton, hydrogen and xenon. The general structure of the atmosphere has
several important features that have relevance to environmental problems. The
atmosphere is divided into several layers.
The innermost layer the troposphere extends 17 kilometers above sea
level at the equator and about 8 kilometers over the poles. It contains about 75
percent of the mass of the earth’s air. The fragility of this layer is obvious from
the fact that if the earth were an apple this particular layer would be no thicker
than an apple’s skin. Temperature declines with altitude in the troposphere.
At the top of the troposphere temperatures abruptly begin to rise. This boundary
where this temperature reversal occurs is called the tropopause.
The tropopause marks the end of the troposphere and the beginning of
the stratosphere, the second layer of the atmosphere. The stratosphere extends
from 17 to 48 kilometers above the earth’s surface. While the composition of
the stratosphere is similar to that of the troposphere it has two major differences.
The volume of water vapour here is about 1000 times less while the volume of
ozone is about 1000 times greater. The presence of ozone in the stratosphere
prevents about 99 percent of the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation from
reaching the earth’s surface thus protecting humans from cancer and damage to
21

the immune system. This layer does not have clouds and hence airplanes fly in
this layer as it creates less turbulence. Temperature rises with altitude in the
stratosphere until there is another reversal. This point is called the stratopause
and it marks the end of the stratosphere and the beginning of
the atmosphere’s next layer, the mesosphere.
In the mesosphere the temperature decreases with altitude falling up to
–110 oC at the top. Above this is a layer where ionization of the gases is a major
phenomenon, thus increasing the temperature. This layer is called the
thermosphere. Only the lower troposphere is routinely involved in our weather
and hence air pollution. The other layers are not significant in
determining the level of air pollution.

Types and sources of Air Pollution:

What is air pollution?
Air pollution occurs due to the presence of undesirable solid or gaseous
particles in the air in quantities that are harmful to human health and ral causes
such as volcanoes, which release ash, dust, sulphur and other gases, or by forest
fires that are occasionally naturally caused by lightning. However, unlike
pollutants from human activity, naturally occurring pollutants tend to remain in
the atmosphere for a short time and do not lead to permanent atmospheric
change.
Pollutants that are emitted directly from identifiable sources are
produced both by natural events (for example, dust storms and volcanic
eruptions) and human activities (emission from vehicles, industries, etc.). These
are called primary pollutants. There are five primary pollutants that together
contribute about 90 percent of the global air pollution. These are carbon oxides
(CO and CO2), nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds
(mostly hydrocarbons) and suspended particulate matter.
22

Pollutants that are produced in the atmosphere when certain chemical

reactions take place among the primary pollutants are called secondary
pollutants. Eg: sulfuric acid, nitric acid, carbonic acid, etc.
Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odorless and toxic gas produced
when organic materials such as natural gas, coal or wood are incompletely burnt.
Vehicular exhausts are the single largest source of carbon monoxide. The
number of vehicles has been increasing over the years all over the world.
Vehicles are also poorly maintained and several have inadequate pollution
control equipment resulting in release of greater amounts of carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide is however not a persistent pollutant. Natural processes can
convert carbon monoxide to other compounds that are not harmful. Therefore
the air can be cleared of its carbon monoxide if no new carbon monoxide is
introduced into the atmosphere.
Sulfur oxides are produced when sulfur containing fossil fuels are
burnt. Nitrogen oxides are found in vehicular exhausts. Nitrogen oxides are
significant, as they are involved in the production of secondary air pollutants
such as ozone.
Hydrocarbons are a group of compounds consisting of carbon and
hydrogen atoms. They either evaporate from fuel supplies or are remnants of
fuel that did not burn completely. Hydrocarbons are washed out of the air when
it rains and run into surface water. They cause an oily film on the surface and do
not as such cause a serious issue until they react to form secondary pollutants.
Using higher oxygen concentrations in the fuel-air mixture and using valves to
prevent the escape of gases, fitting of catalytic converters in automobiles, are
some of the modifications that can reduce the release of hydrocarbons into the
atmosphere.
Particulates are small pieces of solid material (for example, smoke
particles from fires, bits of asbestos,dust particles and ash from industries)
dispersed into the atmosphere. The effects of particulates range from soot to the
23

carcinogenic (cancer causing) effects of asbestos, dust particles and ash from
industrial plants that are dispersed into the atmosphere. Repeated exposure to
particulates can cause them to accumulate in the lungs and interfere with the
ability of the lungs to exchange gases.
Lead is a major air pollutant that remains largely unmonitored and is
emitted by vehicles. High lead levels have been reported in the ambient air in
metropolitan cities. Leaded petrol is the primary source of airborne lead
emissions in Indian cities.
Pollutants are also found indoors from infiltration of polluted outside
air and from various chemicals used or produced inside buildings. Both indoor
and outdoor air pollution are equally harmful the environment.

Air pollution episodes :

• London smog : SO2 2

SO3 vapours in the atmosphere. When automobile

exhausts are trapped by this smog and exposed to sunlight, it produces

photochemical smog.
• Bhopal gas tragedy : The poisonous gas, methyl isocyanate (MTC) leakage
in the pesticide manufacturing plant of Union Carbide of India Ltd., (UCIL),
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh on December 3, 1984. 46 tons of MIC was released
spreading to 40 km. Effects : About 65,000 people suffered from various
disorders in eyes, lungs, stomach, heart, etc. The immediate symptom is
bronchospasm which causes coughing, chest pain and abdominal pain.
Nearly 3000 people died within a short span of time, 1600 domestic animals
died and crop yields were reduced .
• Darkening effect of Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal is a white marble stone mausoleum. Recently it was observed
that the walls of Taj Mahal has become darkened and disfigured due to air
pollution from nearby Mathura Oil refinery.
24

H2O + SO2 2
SO3 , SO2 + O2 3
; SO3 + H2 2
SO4.

The acid rain reacts with marble stone (CaCO3) to produce calcium sulphate,

causing darkening and disfigurement.

(2)Water Pollution

Our liquid planet glows like a soft blue sapphire in the hard-edged darkness of
space. There is nothing else like it in the solar system.It is because of water.
– John Todd
Water is the essential element that makes life on earth possible.
Without water there would be no life. We usually take water for granted. It
flows from our taps when they are turned on. Most of us are able to bathe when
we want to, swim when we choose and water our gardens. Like good health we
ignore water when we have it.
Although 71% of the earth’s surface is covered by water only a tiny
fraction of this water is available to us as fresh water. About 97% of the total
water available on earth is found in oceans and is too salty for drinking or
irrigation. The remaining 3% is fresh water. Of this 2.997% is locked in ice caps
or glaciers. Thus only 0.003% of the earth’ total volume of water is easily
available to us as soil moisture, groundwater, water vapour and water in lakes,
streams, rivers and wetlands.

Causes of water pollution:

25

There are several classes of common water pollutants.These are

disease-causing agents (pathogens) which include bacteria, viruses, protozoa
and parasitic worms that enter water from domestic sewage and untreated
human and animal wastes. Human wastes contain concentrated
populations of coliform bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Streptococcus
faecalis. These bacteria normally grow in the large intestine of humans where
they are responsible for some food digestion and for the production of vitamin
K. These bacteria are not harmful in low numbers. Large amounts of human
waste in water, increases the number of these bacteria which cause
gastrointestinal diseases. Other potentially harmful bacteria from human wastes
may also be present in smaller numbers. Thus the greater the amount of wastes
in the water the greater are the chances of contracting diseases from them.
Another category of water pollutants is oxygen depleting wastes. These
are organic wastes that can be decomposed by aerobic (oxygen requiring)
bacteria. Large populations of bacteria use up the oxygen present in water to
degrade these wastes. In the process this degrades water quality. The amount of
oxygen required to break down a certain amount of organic matter is called the
biological oxygen demand (BOD). The amount of BOD in the water is an
indicator of the level of pollution. If too much organic matter is added to the
water all the available oxygen is used up. This causes fish and other forms of
oxygen dependent aquatic life to die. Thus anaerobic bacteria (those that
do not require oxygen) begin to break down the wastes. Their anaerobic
respiration produces chemicals that have a foul odour and an unpleasant taste
that is harmful to human health.
A third class of pollutants are inorganic plant nutrients. These are water
soluble nitrates and phosphates that cause excessive growth of algae and other
aquatic plants. The excessive growth of algae and aquatic plants due to added
nutrients is called eutrophication. They may interfere with the use of the water
by clogging water intake pipes, changing the taste and odour of water and cause
26

a buildup of organic matter. As the organic matter decays, oxygen levels

decrease and fish and other aquatic species die.
A fourth class of water pollutants is water soluble inorganic
chemicals which are acids,salts and compounds of toxic metals such as mercury
and lead. High levels of these chemicals can make the water unfit to drink, harm
fish and other aquatic life, reduce crop yields and accelerate corrosion of
equipment that use
this water.
Another cause of water pollution is a variety of organic
chemicals, which include oil, gasoline, plastics, pesticides, cleaning solvents,
detergent and many other chemicals. These are harmful to aquatic life and
human health. They get into the water directly from industrial activity either
from improper handling of the chemicals in industries and more often from
improper and illegal disposal of chemical wastes.
Sediment of suspended matter is another class of water
pollutants. These are insoluble particles of soil and other solids that become
suspended in water. This occurs when soil is eroded from the land. High levels
of soil particles suspended in water, interferes with the penetration of sunlight.
This reduces the photosynthetic activity of aquatic plants and algae disrupting
the ecological balance of the aquatic bodies. When the velocity of water in
streams and rivers decreases the suspended particles settle down at the bottom
as sediments. Excessive sediments that settle down destroys feeding and
spawning grounds of fish, clogs and fills lakes, artificial reservoirs etc.
Water soluble radioactive isotopes are yet another source of
water pollution. These can be concentrated in various tissues and organs as they
pass through food chains and food webs. Ionizing radiation emitted by such
isotopes can cause birth defects, cancer and genetic damage.
Hot water let out by power plants and industries that use large
volumes of water to cool the plant result in rise in temperature of the local water
27

bodies. Thermal pollution occurs when industry returns the heated water to a
water source. Power plants heat water to convert it into steam, to drive the
turbines that generate electricity. For efficient functioning of the steam turbines,
the steam is condensed into water after it leaves the turbines. This condensation
is done by taking water from a water body to absorb the heat. This heated water,
which is at least 15oC higher than the normal is discharged back into the water
body. The warm water not only decreases the solubility of oxygen but changes
the breeding cycles of various aquatic organisms.
Oil is washed into surface water in runoff from roads and parking
lots which also pollutes groundwater. Leakage from underground tanks
is another source of pollution. Accidental oil spills rom large transport tankers
at sea have been causing significant environmental damage. Though accidents
such as the Exxon Valdez get worldwide attention, much more oil is released
as a result of small, regular releases from other less visible sources. Nearly two
thirds of all marine oil pollution comes from three sources: runoff from streets,
improper discharge of lubricating oil from machines or automobile crankcases
and intentional oil discharges that occur during the loading and unloading of
tankers.Oil tankers often use sea water as ballast to stabilize the ship after they
have discharged their oil. This oil contaminated water is then discharged
back into the sea when the tanker is refilled.

Groundwater pollution:
While oil spills are highly visible and often get a lot of media attention,
a much greater threat to human life comes from our groundwater being polluted
which is used for drinking and irrigation. While groundwater is easy to deplete
and pollute it gets renewed very slowly and hence must be used judiciously.
Groundwater flows are slow and not turbulent hence the contaminants are not
effectively diluted and dispersed as compared to surface water. Moreover
pumping groundwater and treating it is very slow and costly. Hence it is
28

extremely essential to prevent the pollution of groundwater in the first place.

Ground water is polluted due to:
• Urban run-off of untreated or poorly treated waste water and garbage
• Industrial waste storage located above or near aquifers
• Agricultural practices such as the application of large amounts of fertilizers
and pesticides, animal feeding operations, etc. in the rural sector
• Leakage from underground storage tanks containing gasoline and other
hazardous substances
• Leachate from landfills
• Poorly designed and inadequately maintained
septic tanks
• Mining wastes

Marine Pollution

Marine pollution can be defined as the introduction of substances to

the marine environment directly or indirectly by man resulting in adverse effects
such as hazards to human health, obstruction of marine activities and lowering
the
quality of sea water. While the causes of marine pollution may be similar to that
of general water pollution there are some very specific causes that pollute
marine waters.
• The most obvious inputs of waste is through pipes directly discharging wastes
into the sea. Very often municipal waste and sewage from residences and hotels
in coastal towns are directly discharged into the sea.
• Pesticides and fertilizers from agriculture which are washed off the land by
rain, enter water courses and eventually reach the sea.
29

• Petroleum and oils washed off from the roads normally enter the sewage
system but stormwater overflows carry these materials into rivers and
eventually into the seas.
• Ships carry many toxic substances such as oil, liquefied natural gas, pesticides,
industrial chemicals, etc. in huge quantities sometimes to the capacity of
350,000 tonnes. Ship accidents and accidental spillages at sea therefore can be
very damaging to the marine environment. Shipping channels in estuaries and at
the entrances to ports often require frequent dredging to keep them open. This
dredged material that may contain heavy metals and other contaminants are
often dumped out to sea.
• Offshore oil exploration and extraction also
pollute the seawater to a large extent.

(3)Soil Pollution

We can no more manufacture a soil with a tank of chemicals than we

can invent a rain forest or produce a single bird. We may enhance the soil by
helping its processes along, but we can never recreate what we destroy. The
soil is a resource for which there is no substitute. (Environmental historian
Donald Worster reminds us that fertilizers are not a substitute for fertile soil).

Soil is a thin covering over the land consisting of a mixture of minerals,

organic material, living organisms, air and water that together support the
growth of plant life. Several factors contribute to the formation of soil from the
parent material. This includes mechanical weathering of rocks due to
temperature changes and abrasion, wind, moving water, glaciers, chemical
30

weathering activities and lichens. Climate and time are also important in the
development of soils. Extremely dry or cold climates develop soils very slowly
while humid and warm climates develop them more rapidly. Under ideal
climatic conditions soft parent material may develop into a centimeter of soil
within 15 years. Under poor climatic conditions a hard parent material may
nrequire hundreds of years to develop into soil.
Addition of substances which adversely affect the quality of soil or
its fertility is known as soil pollution. Generally polluted water also pollute soil.
Solid waste is a mixture of plastics, cloth, glass, metal and organic matter,
sewage, sewage sludge, building debris, generated from households,
commercial and industries establishments add to soil pollution. Fly ash, iron and
steel slag, medical and industrial wastes disposed on land are important sources
of soil pollution. In addition, fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural use
which reach soil
as run-off and land filling by municipal waste are growing cause of soil
pollution. Acid rain and dry deposition of pollutants on land surface also
contribute to soil pollution.

Sources of soil pollution:

Plastic bags – Plastic bags made from low density polyethylene (LDPE), is
virtually indestructible, create colossal environmental hazard. The discarded
bags block drains and sewage systems. Leftover food, vegetable waste etc. on
which cows and dogs feed may die due to the choking by plastic bags. Plastic is
non biodegradable and burning of plastic in garbage dumps release highly toxic
and poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, phosgene, dioxine
and other poisonous chlorinated compounds.
Industrial sources – It includes fly ash, chemical residues, metallic and nuclear
wastes.Large number of industrial chemicals, dyes, acids, etc. find their way
into the soil and are known to create many health hazards including cancer.
31

Agricultural sources – Agricultural chemicals especially fertilizers and

pesticides pollute the soil. Fertilizers in the run off water from these fields can
cause eutrophication in water bodies. Pesticides are highly toxic chemicals
which affect humans and other animals adversely causing respiratory problems,
cancer and death.

(4)Noise Pollution

Noise may not seem as harmful as the contamination of air or water

but it is a pollution problem that affects human health and can contribute to a
general deterioration of environmental quality.Noise is undesirable and
unwanted sound. Not all sound is noise. What may be considered as music to
one person may be noise to another. It is not a substance that can accumulate in
the environment like most other pollutants. Sound is measured in a unit called
the ‘Decibel’.
Noise is one of the most pervasive pollutant. A musical clock may be
nice to listen during the day, but may be an irritant during sleep at night. Noise
by definition is “sound without value” or “any noise that is unwanted by the
recipient”. Noise in industries such as stone cutting and crushing, steel forgings ,
loudspeakers, shouting by hawkers selling their wares, movement of heavy
transport vehicles, railways and airports leads to irritation and an increased
blood pressure, loss of temper, decrease in work efficiency, loss of hearing
which may be first temporary but can become permanent in the noise stress
continues. It is therefore of utmost importance that excessive noise is controlled.
Noise level is measured in terms of decibels (dB). W.H.O. (World Health
Organization) has prescribed optimum noise level as 45 dB by day and 35 dB
32

by night. Anything above 80 dB is hazardous. The table10.4 gives the noise

intensity in some of the common activities.

Sources of noise pollution:

Noise pollution is a growing problem. All human activities contribute to noise
pollution to varying extent. Sources of noise pollution are many and may be
located indoors or outdoors.
Indoor sources include noise produced by radio, television, generators, electric
fans, air coolers, air conditioners, different home appliances, and family conflict.
Noise pollution is more in cities due to a higher concentration of population and
industries and activities such as transportation. Noise like other pollutants is a
by product of industrialization, urbanization and modern civilization.

Outdoor sources of noise pollution include indiscriminate use of loudspeakers,

industrial activities, automobiles, rail traffic, aeroplanes and activities such as
those at market place, religious, social, and cultural functions, sports and
political rallies. In rural areas farm achines, pump sets are main sources of noise
pollution. During festivals, marriage and many other occasions, use of fire
crackers contribute to noise pollution.
Effects of noise pollution
Noise pollution is highly annoying and irritating. Noise disturbs
sleep, causes hypertension (high blood pressure), emotional problems such as
aggression, mental depression and annoyance. Noise pollution adversely affects
efficiency and performance of individuals.

(5)Thermal Pollution

Sources: The discharge of warm water into a river is usually called

a thermal pollution. It occurs when an industry removes water from a
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source, uses the water for cooling purposes and then returns the heated
water to its source. Power plants heat water to convert it into steam,
to drive the turbines that generate electricity. For efficient functioning of
the steam turbines, the steam is condensed into water after it leaves
the turbines. This condensation is done by taking water from a water
body to absorb the heat.This heated water, which is at least 15oC higher
than the normal is discharged back into the water body.

OZONE HOLE-CAUSES AND HARM DUE TO OZONE

DEPLETION:

The stratosphere has an ozone layer which protects the earth’s surface
from excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun. Chlorine from
chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used for refrigeration, air
conditioning, fire extinguishers, cleaning solvents, aerosols (spray cans of
perfumes, medicine, insecticide) cause damage to ozone layer chlorine
contained in the CFCs on reaching the ozone (O3) layer split the ozone
molecules to form oxygen (O2). Amount of ozone, thus gets reduced and cannot
prevent the entry of UV radiation. There has been a reduction of ozone umbrella
or shield over the Arctic and Antarctic regions. This is known as ozone hole.
This permits passage of UV radiation on earth’s atmosphere which causes
sunburn, cataract in eyes leading to blindness, skin cancer, reduced productivity
of forests, etc. Under the “Montreal Protocol” namended in 1990 it was decided
to completely phase out CFCs to prevent damage of ozone layer.

GLOBAL WARMING AND GREENHOUSE EFFECT:

Atmospheric gases like carbondioxide, methane, nitrous oxide,
water vapour, and chlorofluorocarbons are capable of trapping the out-going
infrared radiation from the earth. Infra-red radiations trapped by the earth’s
34

surface cannot pass through these gases and to increase thermal energy or heat
in the atmosphere. Thus, the temperature of the global atmosphere is increased.
As this phenomenon of increase in temperature is observed in green houses, in
the botanical gardens these gases are known as green house gases and the
heating effect is known as green house effect. If greenhouse gases are not
checked, by the turn of the century the temperature may rise by 50C. This will
melt the polar ice caps and increase the sea level leading to coastal flooding,
loss of coastal areas and ecosystems like swamps and marshes, etc.
35

CHAPTER IV
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION REMEDIES

Prevention and control of air pollution:

(i) Indoor air pollution
Poor ventilation due to faulty design of buildings leads to pollution of
the confined space. Paints, carpets, furniture, etc. in rooms may give out volatile
organic compounds (VOCs). Use of disinfectants, fumigants, etc. may release
hazardous gases. In hospitals, pathogens present in waste remain in the air in the
form of spores. This can result in hospital acquired infections and is an
occupational health hazard. In congested areas, slums and rural areas
burning of firewood and biomass results in lot of smoke. Children and ladies
exposed to smoke may suffer from acute respiratory problems which include
running nose, cough,sore throat, lung infection, asthama, difficulty in breathing,
noisy respiration and wheezing.
(ii) Prevention and control of indoor air pollution
Use of wood and dung cakes should be replaced by cleaner fuels such
as biogas, kerosene or electricity. But supply of electricity is limited. Similarly
kerosene is also limited. Improved stoves for looking like smokeless chullahs
have high thermal efficiency and reduced emission of pollutants including
smoke. The house designs should incorporate a well ventilated kitchen. Use of
biogas and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) need to be encouraged. Those
species of trees such as baval (Acacia nilotica) which are least smoky should be
planted and used. Charcoal is a comparatively cleaner fuel. Indoor pollution due
to decay
36

of exposed kitchen waste can be reduced by covering the waste properly.

Segregation of waste, pretreatment at source, sterilization of rooms will help in
checking indoor air pollution.
(iii) Prevention and control of industrial pollution
Industrial pollution can be greatly reduced by:
(a) use of cleaner fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) in power plants,
fertilizer plants etc. which is cheaper in addition to being environmentally
friendly.
(b) employing environment friendly industrial processes so that emission of
pollutants and hazardous waste is minimized.
(c) installing devices which reduce release of pollutants. Devices like filters,
electrostatic precipitators, inertial collectors, scrubbers, gravel bed filters or dry
scrubbers are described below:
(i) Filters – Filters remove particulate matter from the gas stream. The medium
of a filter may be made of fibrous materials like cloth, granular material like
sand, a rigid material like screen, or any mat like felt pad. Baghouse filtration
system is the most common one and is made of cotton or synthetic fibres ( for
low temperatures) or glass cloth fabrics (for higher temperature up to 290oC).
(ii) Electrostatic precipitators (ESP)- The emanating dust is charged with ions
and the ionized particulate matter is collected on an oppositely charged surface.
The particles are removed from the collection surface by occasional shaking or
by rapping the surface. ESPs are used in boilers, furnaces, and many other units
of thermal power plants, cement factories, steel plants, etc.
(iii) Inertial collectors – It works on the principle that inertia of SPM in a gas is
higher than its solvent and as inertia is a function of the mass of the particulate
matter this device collects heavier particles more efficiently. ‘Cyclone’ is a
common inertial collector used in gas cleaning plants.
(iv) Scrubbers – Scrubbers are wet collectors. They remove aerosols from a
stream of gas either by collecting wet particles on a surface followed by their
37

removal, or else the particles are wetted by a scrubbing liquid. The particles get
trapped as they travel from supporting gaseous medium across the interface to
the liquid scrubbing medium.Gaseous pollutants can be removed by absorption
in a liquid using a wet scrubber and depends on the type of the gas to be
removed e.g. for removal of sulphur dioxide alkaline solution is needed as it
dissolves sulphur dioxide. Gaseous pollutants may be absorbed on an activated
solid surface like silica gel, alumina, carbon, etc. Silica gel can remove water
vapour. Condensation allows the recovery of many by products in coal and
petroleum processing industries from their liquid effluents.

Apart from the use of above mentioned devices, other control measures are-
• increasing the height of chimneys.
• closing industries which pollute the environment.
• shifting of polluting industries away from cities and heavily populated areas.
• development and maintenance of green belt of adequate width.
(iv) Control of vehicular pollution
• The emission standards for automobiles have been set which if followed will
reduce the pollution. Standards have been set for the durability of catalytic
converters which reduce vehicular emission.
• In cities like Delhi, motor vehicles need to obtain Pollution Under Control
(PUC) certificate at regular intervals. This ensures that levels of pollutants
emitted from vehicle exhaust are not beyond the prescribed legal limits.
• The price of diesel is much cheaper than petrol which promotes use of diesel.
To reduce emission of sulphurdioxide, sulphur content in diesel has been
reduced to 0.05%.
• Earlier lead in the form of tetraethyl lead was added in the petrol to raise
octane level for smooth running of engines. Addition of lead in petrol has been
banned to prevent emission of lead particles with the vehicular emission.
38

Prevention and control of noise pollution:

Following steps can be taken to control or minimize noise pollution-

• Road traffic noise can be reduced by better designing and proper maintenance
of vehicles.
• Noise abatement measures include creating noise mounds, noise attenuation
walls and well maintained roads and smooth surfacing of roads.
• Retrofitting of locomotives, continuously welded rail track, use of electric
locomotives or deployment of quieter rolling stock will reduce noises emanating
from trains.
• Air traffic noise can be reduced by appropriate insulation and introduction of
noise regulations for take off and landing of aircrafts at the airport.
• Industrial noises can be reduced by sound proofing equipment like generators
and areas producing lot of noise.
• Power tools, very loud music and land movers, public functions using
loudspeakers, etc should not be permitted at night. Use of horns, alarms,
refrigeration units, etc. is to be restricted. Use of fire crackers which are noisy
and cause air pollution should be restricted.
• A green belt of trees is an efficient noise absorber.

Methods for control of water pollution and water recycling

Control water pollution:

Waste water from domestic or industrial sources or from garbage

dumps is generally known as sewage. It may also contain rain water and surface
runoff. The sewage water can be treated to make it safe for disposal into water
bodies like rivers, lakes etc. The treatment involves three stages: primary,
secondary and tertiary. This includes 1.sedimentation, 2.
39

coagulation/flocculation, 3.filtration, 4.disinfection, 5.softening and 6.aeration.

The first four steps are of primary treatment. The first three steps are involved in
primary treatment remove suspended particulate matter. Secondary treatment
removes organic solids, left out after primary treatment, through their microbial
decomposition. Effluents after secondary treatment may be clean but contain
large amounts of nitrogen, in form of ammonia, nitrates and phosphorous which
can cause problem of eutrophication upon their discharge into a receiving water
body such as river, lake or pond. The tertiary treatment is meant to remove
nutrients, disinfect for removing pathogenic bacteria, and aeration removes
hydrogen sulphide and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and make
water healthy and fit for aquatic organisms. This treatment of waste water or
sewage is carried out in effluent treatment plants especially built for this
purpose. The residue obtained from primary treatment one known as sludge.

Water recycling
With increasing population the requirement for water is increasing
rapidly. However, the availability of water is limited but an ever increasing
water withdrawal from different sources such as rivers, lakes and ground water
is depleting these sources and deteriorating their water quality. Therefore, it is
essential to utilize the available water with maximum economy.This involves
recycling of waste water for certain uses with or without treatment. Recycling
refers to the use of waste-water by the original user prior to the discharge either
to a treatment system or to a receiving water body. Thus the waste water is
recovered and repetitively recycled with or without treatment by the same user
.
Control of water pollution
The following measures can be adopted to control water pollution:
(a) The water requirement should be minimized by altering the techniques
involved.
40

(b) Water should be reused with or without treatment.

(c) Recycling of water after treatment should be practiced to the maximum
extent possible.
(d) The quantity of waste water discharge should be minimized.

Control of soil pollution:

Indiscriminate disposal of solid waste should be avoided. To control soil

pollution, it is essential to stop the use of plastic bags and instead use bags
of degradable materials like paper and cloth. Sewage should be treated properly
before using as fertilizer and as landfills. The organic matter from domestic,
agricultural and other waste should be segregated and subjected to
vermicomposting which generates useful manure as a by product. The industrial
wastes prior to disposal should be properly treated for removing hazardous
materials. Biomedical waste should be separately collected and incinerated in
proper incinerators.
41

CHAPTER IV
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

FINDINGS
Based on the literature review and news articles, the findings regarding
environmental pollution in India can be summarized as follows:
1. Air pollution is a major concern in India, with several cities consistently
ranking among the most polluted in the world. This has led to serious
health impacts, including respiratory diseases and increased risk of heart
disease and stroke.
2. Water pollution is another significant issue, with many rivers and lakes in
India being heavily polluted with industrial waste, sewage, and agricultural
runoff. This has led to a shortage of clean drinking water and negative
impacts on aquatic ecosystems.
3. Hazardous waste dumping is a major problem in India, with many areas
being contaminated with toxic substances. This has led to negative impacts
on human health and the environment, including soil and water
contamination.
4. Plastic waste is a growing challenge in India, with inadequate waste
management infrastructure leading to litter and plastic pollution in many
urban and rural areas.
5. Mining and industrial activities are causing environmental pollution and
displacement of communities in many parts of India. This has led to
42

conflicts between industry and local communities and negative impacts on

biodiversity and natural resources.
6. There are ongoing efforts by the Indian government and civil society to
address these environmental challenges, including regulations, innovations
in waste management, and protests and advocacy by local communities and
environmental organizations.
7. Greenhouse gas emissions from India's power plants and other sources are
contributing to global climate change. India is the world's third-largest
emitter of greenhouse gases, after China and the United States.
8. Agriculture is a significant source of environmental pollution in India, due
to the use of fertilizers and pesticides. This has led to soil degradation,
water pollution, and negative impacts on human health.
9. India's urbanization is putting pressure on natural resources and increasing
environmental pollution, particularly in areas where there is inadequate
infrastructure for waste management, transportation, and housing.
10.Despite efforts to address environmental pollution in India, there are still
significant gaps in data and monitoring systems, which make it difficult to
fully understand the extent of the problem and measure progress towards
addressing it.
11.Education and awareness-raising are important for addressing
environmental pollution in India. This includes educating individuals about
sustainable practices, as well as building awareness among policymakers,
industry, and civil society about the importance of environmental
protection.
12.Innovative solutions are being developed in India to address environmental
pollution, such as bio-remediation techniques for cleaning up contaminated
soil and water, and low-cost solutions for waste management and recycling.
43

Overall, the findings suggest that environmental pollution in India is a

complex and multifaceted issue that requires a comprehensive and
sustained response from all stakeholders, including government, industry,
civil society, and individuals.

CONCLUSOON

In conclusion, environmental pollution is a critical issue in India, with

significant impacts on human health, natural resources, and the
environment. Air pollution, water pollution, hazardous waste dumping,
plastic waste, mining and industrial activities, greenhouse gas emissions,
agriculture, urbanization, and inadequate data and monitoring systems are
among the key factors contributing to environmental pollution in India.
Efforts to address environmental pollution in India are ongoing, including
regulations, innovations in waste management, and advocacy by local
communities and environmental organizations. However, addressing
environmental pollution in India requires a comprehensive and sustained
response from all stakeholders, including government, industry, civil
society, and individuals. Education and awareness-raising are also critical
for addressing environmental pollution in India, as is the development and
implementation of innovative solutions.
Given the significant challenges posed by environmental pollution in India,
it is clear that more needs to be done to protect human health, natural
resources, and the environment. This will require continued collaboration
44

and action by all stakeholders, as well as ongoing research and monitoring

to better understand the causes and impacts of environmental pollution in
India. Ultimately, a concerted and sustained effort is needed to address
environmental pollution in India, and to ensure a sustainable and healthy
future for all.
1. Environmental pollution is not just an Indian problem but a global issue
that requires concerted efforts from all countries to address.
2. The impacts of environmental pollution are disproportionately felt by
marginalized communities, particularly those living in poverty or in close
proximity to polluting industries.
3. There is a need for greater public participation and involvement in
decision-making related to environmental pollution in India, particularly at
the local level.
4. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the link between environmental
degradation and human health, underscoring the urgency of addressing
environmental pollution in India and around the world.
5. There are opportunities to build on India's strong tradition of environmental
activism and innovation to address environmental pollution in the country,
including through the use of technology and community-based solutions.
6. Addressing environmental pollution in India requires a long-term and
sustained effort, including through the development and implementation of
policies and programs that address the root causes of pollution and promote
sustainable development.

Overall, the conclusion should emphasize the urgent need for

action to address environmental pollution in India and the importance of
collaboration and participation from all stakeholders to achieve a
sustainable and healthy future for the country.
45

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topics/resource-efficiency/what-we-do/encouraging-sustainable-
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48

APPENDICES
49

Air pollution
50

Water pollution
51

Soil pollution
52

Noise pollution
53
54

World environmental day 5 june-

It’s a global platform for indpiring positive change.people from more than 150
countries participate in this united nations international day,which celebrates
environmental action and the power of governments,business and indivisuals to
create a more sustainable world.

Nationsl pollution prevention day 2 december

This day is celebrated to create awareness among people to prevent
any industrial disasters.