Essay about Delhi Mass pollution
Answers
Answer:BY vishwajeet bhati
Pollution in Delhi
Pollution is one of the major issues causing concern not only in India but across the world. The technological advancement and speedy development since India’s Independence has come at a great environmental cost. According to the global Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2018, India is ranked at 177 with an EPI of 30.57, and it is disheartening to hear that Delhi, the national capital of the country, is being tagged as one of the most heavily polluted capital cities in the world. It is the world’s worst city in terms of air pollution, with an unhealthy air quality index for the majority of the year. Thus, today, one of the biggest threats to the welfare of the people of Delhi and the city as a whole is pollution of various types.
Causes of pollution in Delhi
Growing population of the city. The pressure and haphazard growth of the population is deteriorating the environment.
There has been highly haphazard and unplanned development of industries and factories. Studies have revealed that only about 20% of the industrial units are set up in the approved industrial areas whereas the rest of them are in residential and commercial areas.
There has been a huge rise in the vehicular population, in spite of the metro railways, aggravating traffic congestion and increasing air and noise pollution. It has also been reported that the number of vehicles plying on the roads of Delhi is more than that of the three metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai taken together.
There has also been an ever-increasing number of diesel vehicles plying on the roads, which are largely responsible for the air pollution.
It has been reported by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) that everyday almost 8,000 m tonnes of solid waste is being generated in Delhi. Plus we also have the industrial hazardous and non-hazardous waste. On an average, everyday, the MCDs and the NDMC manage to clear about 5,000-5,500 m tonnes of garbage. This results in the accumulation of more and more garbage in the city.
There has been no proper technology or methods to treat solid, liquid, waste water, industrial and hospital wastes in the city.
There has been too much dependence on fossil fuels like coal-fired power plants, improper use of energy in buildings and the excessive use of biomass for cooking and heating, etc
One way of measuring pollution is by the measure of particulate matter. Particulate matter is basically a mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets like acids, chemicals, gas, water, metals, soil dust particles, etc., the measurement of which gives an idea of the pollution of a city. It is also known as particle pollution or PM.
Pollution in Delhi: Facts and figures
According to the Ambient Air Pollution (AAP) report for the year 2014, Delhi had PM 2.5 pollution levels, which is the highest in the world, followed by Beijing. This result was based on the monitoring of PM measurement of outdoor air pollution from almost 1,600 cities in 91 countries.
The highest concentration of PM 2.5 form of air pollution is supposed to be a very serious matter and can lead to respiratory diseases and other health problems like lung cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is the fifth largest killer in India.
The level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has also been increasing.
According to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) is 121, which is described as “poor.” The AQI is an index for reporting daily air quality, about how clean or polluted the air is.
Government’s steps to control pollution in Delhi
There are mobile enforcement teams deployed at various locations for monitoring polluting vehicles and vehicles not having PUC certificates.
A Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) is being constructed with the aim of providing a non-polluting, useful and affordable rail-based mass rapid transit system for Delhi, integrated with other modes of transport.
With a view to reducing vehicular pollution, there has been a ban imposed on the plying of more than 15 years old commercial/transport vehicles, taxis and autos that run on conventional fuels, including diesel driven city buses.
There has also been tightening of mass emission standards for new vehicles.
There has been regular placement of dustbins, purchase of additional front-end loaders, mechanical sweepers, dumper placers, tipper trucks, to collect and dispose of garbage.
Steps are taken to transform garbage into compost by developing new sanitary landfill sites.
The Delhi Government has constituted a committee to implement the Bio-Medical Waste (management and handling) Rules, 1998.
The Delhi Degradable Plastic Bag (Manufacture, Sale and Usage) and Garbage (Control) Act 2000 has been enacted for banning the manufacture and use of plastic bags, etc,.
Explanation:
Delhi, the capital city of India, has been struggling with severe pollution levels for years now. The pollution levels in the city have become so high that it has been declared as one of the most polluted cities in the world. The situation has become so bad that it has started to affect the health of the people living in the city, particularly the vulnerable sections such as children and the elderly.
There are several reasons behind the mass pollution in Delhi. One of the major reasons is the increase in vehicular traffic. The number of cars and other vehicles on the roads has increased significantly in the past few years, leading to an increase in air pollution. The traffic congestion on the roads also contributes to the problem, as vehicles tend to emit more pollutants when stuck in traffic.
Another reason for the mass pollution in Delhi is the industrial activities in and around the city. The industries located in the city and its outskirts release a large amount of pollutants into the air and water, contributing significantly to the pollution levels.
The burning of crop residue by farmers in neighboring states during the winter season is also a major contributor to the pollution levels in Delhi. The smoke from these fires, along with the vehicular emissions, leads to a dangerous mix of pollutants in the air.
The pollution in Delhi has serious consequences on the health of the people. It has been linked to respiratory problems, heart disease, and cancer. The most vulnerable sections of the population, such as children and the elderly, are the most affected by the pollution.
To tackle the problem of mass pollution in Delhi, the government and the people need to take immediate and effective action. The government needs to implement stricter regulations on vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, and burning of crop residue. The public transportation system needs to be improved to encourage people to use it more and reduce the number of private vehicles on the roads.
Individuals can also take steps to reduce pollution by using public transport, carpooling, and reducing their energy consumption. Planting more trees can also help in reducing pollution levels as they act as natural filters of air pollution.
In conclusion, the mass pollution in Delhi is a serious problem that requires immediate action from the government and the people. It is not just a matter of improving the quality of air but also the health and wellbeing of the citizens. We must take a collective responsibility to reduce pollution and create a cleaner and healthier environment for ourselves and future generations.