Article on pollution due to urbanisation...........
Answers
Pollution Pollution Everywhere
Gone are the days when lambs and kids used to frisk and
frolic down the verdant valleys. Gone are the days when the brooks and streams
flowed down the slopes merrily! Where are the green meadows, arbours, green-belts,
forests, pastures and terraced fields? Where is the pure blue sky with
cotton-like cirrus flitting merrily high above?
The cankers of urbanization and industrialization have converted the once heaven like towns and
cities into hell. The sylvan beauty, which one could see in the suburbs, has
been replaced by factories and mills. The skyline that once was dominated by
tall trees is an ugly sight of stacks spewing toxic fumes!
The clear rills, rivers, lakes and brooks that were picnic spots have been
converted into drainage channels, carrying effluents to the river, which has
become a bigger channel carrying the muck to the sea! The entire world is
losing its beauty and purity. The mankind, a silent witness to this ugly transformation
is waiting for some angel to come down and do the cleaning, preserving, and
pollution managing! No angel will come for our help. We have created this hell,
we ourselves will have to restore and reclaim its lost purity and beauty!
Of all types of pollution on Earth pollution due to urbanization is the largest contributor to the hazards produced by pollution. The phenomenon of urbanization started and accelerated slowly in the last four decades. It really took of in the last two decades and is continuing further due to various reasons. Whether we want or not we cannot stop it now.
Urbanization in India is a result of thrust of development nationally and globally. And, the urbanization created scope for more development, industrialization and economy. This resulted growth in manufacturing of all products, vehicles and an exponential growth in use of petroleum products. Although majority of urban population use latest technology based products, there is still pollution arising from them.
Many of the immigrant population in urban areas use fossil fuels for domestic needs, causing greenhouse gases to rise into the atmosphere. There are many industries either in cities or near cities that release greenhouse gases and other chemicals into air. Some industries probably mix the effluents in water bodies or perhaps throw the wastes around someplace. Due to the rapid growth in demand and needs of economy, control laws were probably not ready or enforced. There are pollution control boards in urban areas working under ministries. Still there is pollution of all types that takes place.
Vehicular pollution is the most visible in urban areas. People cannot walk freely on the road without putting on a mask on the nose or using a handkerchief. Waste recycling or municipal waste management also not done 100% as one smells foul air now and then on the streets near garbage bins. During rainy season children often fall sick due to air and water pollutions. Due to ignorance of modern and hygienic ways of living, some people do cause pollution by their living styles.
There are two types of pollution based on whether or not we can or cannot mitigate or stop the source of pollution. Though the vehicle pollution laws are strict, we still probably cause a lot of carbon dioxide from transport vehicles. So it is needed that we quickly move onto the less polluting processes. As far as the pollution arising from fuel burning, we could reduce that by using solar energy appliances and equipment. Also, we could use electric vehicles like Reva or electric scooter. As regards noise pollution, perhaps in India it will take a long time before people realize that sound pollution is also a pollution.
We need to use more efficient LED bulbs and electronic devices. Saving fuel too reduces pollution. It is needed to plant more trees to compensate the loss of Oxygen and cool the atmosphere.
The urbanization process is shifted to small towns now. So what we can do is to plan their growth in terms of industries, resources, fuels and so on.