Environmental PollutionThe environmental problems in India are growing rapidly. The Fire, Haze -Northwest India (NASA) increasing economic development and a rapidly growing population that has taken the country from 300 million people in 1947 to more than one billion people today is putting a strain on the environment, infrastructure, and the country’s natural resources. Industrial pollution, soil erosion, deforestation, rapid industrialization, urbanization, and land degradation are all worsening problems. Overexploitation of the country's resources be it land or water and the industrialization process has resulted environmental degradation of resources. Environmental pollution is one of the most serious problems facing humanity and other life forms on our planet today. With India's population at 1.2 billion people and counting, plus internal economic migration to urban areas from the countryside, the country's cities are bursting at the seams. Housing shortages, electricity and water cuts, traffic congestion, pollution and a lack of basic services are the reality for millions. The demographers are predicting that India will add 3 to 4 hundred million new people to its population over next 40 years India has been ranked among the top ten worst climate polluters of the world. While India holds the 7th position, US and China hold the 2nd and Space Shuttle view of haze and 3rd positons respectively. The study has been conducted by Professor pollution over Northern India swept Corey Bradshaw of the University of Adelaide's environment institute in April 2010. The study yielded the worst ten polluters as Brazil, US, China, in from Tibet. Credit: NASA Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, India, Russia, Australia and Peru, in the order. India is the world's fifth-biggest polluter, a new study confirmed on April 11, 2010, with its greenhouse gas emissions growing by more than 3 per cent annually between 19942007. India also is suffering from the effects of global warming such as rising temperatures and sea levels along its coasts. The study represents the first update to an assessment of India's air emissions that was done 16 years ago. More than 80 scientists from 17 institutions across India were involved in the study, said Jairam Ramesh, India's environment minister. India's per capita carbon dioxide emissions were roughly 3,000 pounds (1,360 kilograms) in 2007, according to the study. That's small compared to China and the U.S., with 10,500 pounds (4,763 kilograms) and 42,500 pounds (19,278 kilograms) respectively that year. The study said that the European Union and Russia also have more emissions than India. On 11 March, 2010 Mr Jairam Ramesh Minister of State for Environment and Forests informed the Rajya Sabha that the Central Pollution Control Board has done a nation wide environmental assessment of Industrial Clusters based on CEPI and 43 such industrial clusters having CEPI greater than 70, on a scale of 0 to 100, has been identified as critically polluted. A Comprehensive environmental assessment of industrial clusters, undertaken by IIT Delhi and the CPCB, found that the environmental pollution levels in 10 major industrial hubs had reached a “very alarmingly high” level. This list includes Ankleshwar and Vapi in Gujarat , Ghaziabad and Singrauli in UP, Korba (Chhattisgarh), Chandrapur (Maharashtra), Ludhiana (Punjab), Vellore (Tamil Nadu), Bhiwadi (Rajasthan) and Angul Talcher (Orissa). The World Bank Group has sanctioned two loans worth around Rs1,185 crore for environment management projects in India on July 22, 2010. Of this, Rs897crore will go for the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project and the remaining for Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management project. Industrial pollution Blame air pollution for New Delhi's blanket of fog on January 8, 2010 Fog over Indian cities 1 259. making it the deadliest man-made environmental disaster in history.Air Pollution The World Health Organization estimates that about two million people die prematurely every year as a result of air pollution.related ailments. the 18 November and more than 200 factories 2009 revised the national ambient air quality standards after 15 years. Mumbai. Air quality is worst in big cities like Kolkata. The problem of indoor air pollution in rural areas and deaths and 25 million excesses urban slums has increased. the ambient air quality standards in India which is equivalent to the European level and exceeds the standard prevalent in the US.Fine particles or microscopic dust from coal or wood fires and unfiltered diesel engines are rated as one of the most lethal forms Poison in the air due to Power or air pollution caused by industry. or dust. Bangalore holds the title of being the asthma capital of the country. the festering pile covers more than 120 hectares and is eight story's high. Bhopal: Bhopal gas tragedy was the greatest industrial disaster in the world that took place at a Union Carbide pesticide plant in the Indian city of Bhopal. The first official immediate death toll was 2. Chennai. Reliance on coal as the major energy source Taj Mahal is slowly fading to has led to a nine-fold jump in carbon emissions over the past forty years. has come at a cost in terms of heightened The brilliant white of the public risk and environmental degradation. In the famous estimates the cost of environmental degradation has been running at 4. A latest example industrial pollution is the leak of chlorine gas in Mumbai. Madhya Pradesh. cooking and ageing plants.000 died within 72 hours and 25. the burning of this resource. but the worst pollutant after vehicular emissions has grown at an alarming rate.000 people to MIC and other chemicals. On July 14. Institute of Thoracic of perfume recently to spray Medicine. director (in-charge). lung infections and even cancer. India on Wednesday. The low energy efficiency of power plants that burn coal is a contributing step was taken by Supreme Court factor.000-10. etc. Mumbai: Not only are levels of Suspended Particulate Matter above permissible limits in on the city’s enormous waste Mumbai. Exhaust from vehicles has increased eight-fold over levels stand behind an expanse of slums of twenty years ago. 1 lakh excess plants. air pollution is coal or oil-fired power stations. On July 14. exposing more than 500.5% of GDP in “Tajmahal Case” a very strong recent years.787 deaths related to the gas release Others estimate 8. The government a sickly yellow. While India is fortunate to have abundant reserves of coal to power economic development. So are respiratory Mumbai authorities have diseases. one of India’s largest. in Mumbai’s air landfill sites have continued to increase over the past three years. industrial pollution has risen four times over the same period. India's coal plants are old and are not outfitted with the most modern pollution to save the Taj Mahal controls. The revised ambient air quality standards provide a legal framework for the control of air pollution and the protection of public health and any citizen can approach the court demanding better air quality. The land owned by the Mumbai Port Trust is an industrial area mainly used for storage and delivery of cargo and containers. The in Mumbai economy has grown two and a half times over the past two decades but pollution control and civil services have not kept pace." Minister of state for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh said. at the There are four reasons of air pollution are . while many more suffer from breathing ailments. In India. illnesses every year. dumps at Deonar and Mulund The levels of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM). Air pollution from vehicle exhaust and industry is a Multi-storeyed residential buildings worsening problem for India. At The greatest industrial disaster midnight on 3 December 1984. Vehicle emissions are responsible for 70% of the country’s air pollution. was first used by the British in 1927. not with a lack of laws. "We have notified were closed down.000 litres respiratory disease.000 have since died from gas-related diseases. . especially given the high ash content of India’s coal. household heating. burning of municipal and garden waste are all on the rise in the city. 2 . The air pollution in Mumbai is so high that Mumbai authorities have purchased 42. The government of Madhya Pradesh has confirmed a total of 3. The major problem with government efforts to safeguard the environment has been enforcement at the local level. including asthma. 2010 nearly 76 people were treated in hospital on after chlorine gas leak from an industrial area in Mumbai. industries and refineries.000 litres of perfume to spray on the city’s enormous waste dumps at Deonar and Mulund landfill sites after people living near the landfill sites complained of the stench. dust from construction debris. says Dr D Ranganathan. Today. The Deonar landfill site. Studies estimate that 10 per cent of Bangalore’s 60 lakh population and over 50 per cent of its children below 18 years suffer from air pollution. Coal supplies more than half of the country’s energy needs and is used for nearly three-quarters of electricity generation. industrial waste.emissions from vehicles. Delhi. estimated to cause. the plant accidentally released methyl isocyanate (MIC) in the world gas. transport. CHENNAI: Exhaust from vehicles. 2010 Chlorine gas leaked from the Sewri industrial area on land owned by the Mumbai Port Trust and nearly 76 people were treated in hospital. India’s environmental problems are exacerbated by its heavy reliance on coal for power generation. heart disease. thermal power very minimum. Case being polluted by fumes With pollution level rising across the country. At least six of the 10 top causes of death are related to purchased 42. Birds and species affected: Studies conducted by the high altitude zoology field station of the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) based in Solan town of Himachal Pradesh have recorded a drastic fall in butterfly numbers in the western Himalayas. "She (Priyanka) has been very kind and has given her consent for it.The effects of air pollution are obvious: rice crop yields in southern India are falling as brown clouds block out more and more sunlight. The frothy brew is so glaring that it can be viewed on Google Earth. These villages drink groundwater hoisted to the surface by several hand-driven pumps.' she said. most of them empty into the Yamuna. "There is no other source from which we can draw clean drinking water. told IANS on World Environment Day 2010. Groundwater exploitation Groundwater exploitation is a serious matter of concern today and legislations and policy measures taken till date. 2010 at least 18 babies in several hamlets of Bihar’s Bhojpur district have been born blind in the past three months because their families consume groundwater containing alarming levels of arsenic. 2010. the garbage thrown into the river and it totals over 3 billion liters of waste per day. A division bench of Allahabad High Court. has simply painted warnings on the walls of houses that the groundwater is unfit for human consumption. Environment and Forests Minister Jairam Ramesh announced on August 2010. a dangerous bacterium that comes from untreated sewage.2 million people a year from diarrheal diseases caused by unsafe drinking water and poor hygiene. Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has agreed to be the national green ambassador to initiate eco-friendly campaigns in India. At Dona Nanka. According to the Centre for Science and Environment. have declined more than half in just 10 years. New Delhi's body of water is little more than a flowing garbage dump. the Supreme Court has directed the Union government to file its reply in six weeks. famous for their biodiversity. on its part. waste water and just about everything else down pipes and into drains. a village on the Indo-Pak border where children are going blind apparently after drinking contaminated water. At least a dozen children were either born blind or have been gradually losing sight within a few years of birth. A growing number of bodies of water in India are unfit for human use. between 75 and 80 percent of the river's pollution is the result of raw sewage. In about 20 minutes. Only 55 percent of the 15 million Delhi residents are connected to the city's sewage system. contributing to the deaths of some 2. published in India Today on August 16. 2010 had directed the Ganga Basin Authority and the state government to take appropriate action to ban the use of polythene in the vicinity of Ganga in the entire state. Nearly 20 billion rupees. 2010 on World Water Day that calls for turning unsanitary wastewater into an environmentally safe economic resource. or almost US $500 million. according to a United Nations report released on March 22. Kids in Punjab villages losing sight to polluted drinking water Fazilka (Punjab)." he says. At least 1. seeking to know whether a fine should be imposed on paan masala or gutkha packet manufacturers for polluting and choking the drainage systems." he added. a scientist with the field station. with fully 57 percent of the city's waste finding its way to the Yamuna. is dying slowly due to unchecked pollution. comprising areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Samples taken recently from the Ganges River near Varanasi show that levels of fecal coliform. According to the report -. "This is what we have been drinking for years. 2010. has been spent on various clean up efforts. in May 03. comprising Justice Ashok Bhushan and Justice Arun Tandon." he adds.titled "Sick Water?" -. 31st March 2010 confirmed the cases of blindness in newborns in arsenic. and in the River Ganga. On April 01.. It's the same story in several villages nearby. River water Pollution Contaminated and polluted water now kills more people than all forms of violence including wars. the water turns yellowish. ' The population of 50 percent of the 288 species recorded in the western Himalayas. In a village Shankar's father Mohinder Singh draws water from a hand pump and pours it into a glass. The government. confirmed by Bihar’s Health Minister Nand Kishore Yadav on Wednesday.' Avtar Kaur Sidhu. plastic thin sheets and plastic waste is also a major source of pollution. And the brilliant white of the famous Taj Mahal is slowly fading to a sickly yellow. Combined with industrial runoff.affected blocks of the district. holy to the country's 82 percent Hindu majority. Also Plastic Bag Pollution in the country is the biggest hazards. and unchecked urban growth across the country combined with poor government oversight means the problem is only getting worse. were some 3. Plastic Pollution Plastic bags. Groundwater Quality and Pollution is most alarming pollution hazards in India.8 million children younger than 5 die every year from water-related diseases. In the “Tajmahal Case” a very strong step was taken by Supreme Court to save the Tajmahal being polluted by fumes and more than 200 factories were closed down. On August 2.90 percent of wastewater discharged daily in developing countries is untreated. It is that three billion liters of waste are pumped into Delhi's Yamuna (River Yamuna) each day. It was primarily due to a rise in vehicular traffic by the tourists. Fully 80 percent of urban waste in India ends up in the country's rivers. We noticed a large number of dead butterflies on the Khardung La (the world's highest motorable road in Ladakh) during one of our visits. The remainder flush their bath water. Much of the river pollution problem in India comes from untreated sewage. by the state governments (water is a state subject) have not had the desired effect on the situation. 3 .000 percent higher than what is considered safe for bathing. The mines of Mahanadi Coal Fields and NTPC draw about 25 Cr litres of water per day from the River Brahmani and in return they release thousands of gallons of waste water. the Red Mud pond built for the refinery's alkaline waste disposal In Jharkhand there are abundant coalmines.200 tonne ash a day. Due to media and public protest the Supreme Court on February 20. The Saxena committee report could lead to shutting down of the Vedanta smelters in Orissa. Red Mud. most of the coalmines are situated in Hazaribag. the pollution would increase manifold in the coming years. The governments remain silent in these years. forcing the authorities to take action against corporates who may have shown disregard for rules.000 mega watt energy.6 billion tonnes of waste and overburden from coal. encroached upon government land. The effluents from chlorine plant cause chloride and sodium toxicity to the river Rushikulya – the lifeline of southern Orissa.000 crore is the single-largest foreign direct investment in India. With the annual growth of mining at 10. Sulphuric and Phosphoric acids into river Mahanadi. pollution. Orissa. Cities in India spend approximately 20% of the city budget on solid waste services. The CSE report has made extensive analysis of environment degradation and pollution due to mining.100 tonne of fluoride every year. Municipal solid waste is solid waste generated by households. limestone and bauxite have added to environment pollution. ‘Rich Lands Poor People. without the participation of citizens and other stakeholders. the Jindal thermal power plant in Chhattisgarh (Rs 10. however. An alumina refinery in Orissa blithely continues to pollute the surrounding villages.1 million tonne aluminum. This.Paan masala or gutkha packet Municipal solid waste India’s urban population slated to increase from the current 330 million to about 600 million by 2030. The $1. MSW management has been considered to be almost the sole responsibility of urban governments. This will require 3. as many as 34 fall under the 150 most backward districts identified in the country. Due to extensive coal mining and vigorous growth of industries in this area water resources have been badly contaminated. the Orissa government colluded with it and the Centre turned a blind eye. Going by estimates of The Energy Research Institute (TERI).972 crore). Pollution due to Mining New Delhi-based Center for Science and Environment (CSE) on December 29. 2010 directed cancellation of 157 mining leases operating in Rajasthan’s ecosensitive Aravalli Hills On August 17. The Centre and the Supreme Court. despite the recommendations of the Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee that it be closed since it poses environmental and health hazards. which. In Orissa state. will generate 3.000 cities and towns. the State is gearing up for power projects .7 per cent and 500-odd mines awaiting approval of the Centre. Phosphorus. Dhanbad and Ranchi district. into the River Nandira (A tributary of River Brahmani). which generate about 40 million tonnes of MSW per year today. Grease. Fluorides. this could well touch 260 million tonnes per year by 2047. Palamau. forest degradation and social unrest. Rengopalli in the east and west cells of the Red Mud pond built for the refinery's alkaline waste disposal. Due to this large scale mining in The Aravalli hills Range in Rajasthan and Haryana the forest cover has been depleted 90 percent and drying up wells and affecting agriculture. Oil. The stern report of the environment and forests ministry panel signalled that tribal rights and environmental isssues have finally muscled their way onto the governance agenda. Urea and Sulphuric Acid. Chatra. a ton of toxic waste is dumped for every ton of alumina produced in the refinery. is sustainable mining possible?’ According to the Centre for Science and Environment ( CSE) report the top 50 mineral producing districts. Mighty Damodar River and its tributaries flow through these coalmines. 2007 said mining was causing displacement. As the company engaged in these violations. Ammonia. 4 .7billion project brings out the short shrift given to concerns about tribal rights and environmental protection. The country has over 5. the challenge of managing municipal solid waste (MSW) in an environmentally and economically sustainable manner is bound to assume gigantic proportions.mostly coalbased . including the Posco Integrated Steel project in Orissa. 2010 the findings of the four-member N C Saxena committee recommended that the mining giant Vedanta consistently violated several laws in bauxite mining at Niyamgiri. in 2005-06 alone 1.000 crore). The Phosphoric Fertilizer Industry discharges effluent containing Nitric. have urged that this issue be addressed with multiple stakeholder participation. In the currently operational west cell. at Rs 56.2 lakh tonne of coal daily which in turn can lead to generation of 1. wherein it has said. however. Similarly. commercial establishments and offices and does not include the industrial or agricultural waste.targeting 20. Municipal solid waste management is more of an administrative and institutional mechanism failure problem rather than a technological one. Rajmahal. got clearances on the basis of false information and illegally built its aluminium refinery at Lanjigarh. hydroelectric projects on Bhagirathi in Uttarakhand and the Navi Mumbai airport in Maharashtra (Rs 7. The CSE released its 356-page sixth State of India’s Environment report. Until now. in the next five to 10 years. which is the final waste product from bauxite. Jharsuguda will be home to production of 3. Heavy Metals. which contains obnoxious substances like Ash. iron ore. MAIT . A survey by the Central Pollution Control Board and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences survey showed that a majority of people living in Delhi suffered from eye irritation. The diameter of a human hair strand is around 40-120. in April 2010. In a survey of almost 12. in consultation with all stakeholders.5 is like a poison in the air we breathe. Being so small. Researchers believe particulates. according to a study on e-waste assessment conducted jointly by MAIT and the German government’s sustainable development body GTZ. submitted a set of draft rules for eWaste management to Govt of India. Pollution levels are up to 350 micrograms per cubic metre in 2006-2007 and the levels of nitrogen oxides have been increasing in the city to dangerous levels. bringing down the quality of life. almost twice as many as before 2000. it escapes emission apparatus prescribed by Euro II and III. contains this particle. New Delhi adds nearly 1. Packs of broken toys. from foreign countries. 275.5 PM 2.000 tonnes of e-Waste per annum. It generated 330. Across the national capital and its suburbs. GTZ (German Technical Cooperation Agency).700 tonnes from printers and 1. shortness of breath and poor lung functioning. Worse.300 tonnes from personal computers. Delhi's air is choking with pollutant PM 2. In early April. who smoke. which is a clear sign of pollution from vehicles. 56. The death from radiation poisoning of a scrapyard worker in New Delhi has highlighted the lax enforcement of waste disposal laws in India. and leaving people feeling ill and tired.000 new cars a day to the existing four million registered in the city.000 tonnes by 2011.Diesel is being increasingly used because it is a cheaper fuel. E-waste produced in India includes over 100. polluted air is killing people. Pollution due to e-Waste The UNEP report "Recycling – from E-Waste to Resources" was released on the Indonesian island of Bali on February 22. The number of Asthma patients will rise and in future there may huge rise of lung cancer cases also. sore throat. thermocol. used aluminum foil packing materials and coloured surgical gloves were found in the containers. empty perfume bottles. Any kind of combustion.000 tonnes from refrigerators. Toxic smog is set to engulf Delhi once again this winter after a six-year respite because of the huge number of new cars clogging the roads. Haryana. mobile phones and PCs.5 microns in diameter is very very small particle. Greenpeace and Toxics Link. and by 500 per cent in India. Twenty containers with goods were detained by the officials of Special Intelligence and Investigation Branch attached to the Customs Department here recently. The children are most affected by depositing lead due to inhaling the poisonous air. especially of vehicular origin.5 is not regulated it will ensure major health hazards. ended up in a scrapyard in the city. The toxic gases and the large volume of Electronic Waste Adds environmental Pollution in India India imports almost 50.80. 2010 at the start of a week-long meeting of officials and environmentalists. and doctors frequently tell parents to keep their children indoors when smog levels are particularly high.5 is only 2. Some studies show children are among the worst-affected by the dense haze that often shrouds the city. have respiratory infections or chronic bronchitis. there were no definite e-Waste rules in India to regulate the management of e-waste In September 2009. Of these it is the diesel cars that are responsible for the pollution.run vehicles constituted just two percent of the total number of cars on Delhi's roads seven years ago compared to more than 30 percent today and a projected 50 percent by 2010.000 tonnes of e-waste yearly .5 is such that metals like lead present in the PM 2. Till date. It could also lead to contamination and spread of communicable diseases. Diesel.700 tonnes from mobile phones. 4. India produces about 3.000 city 5 . According to the report's authors by 2020 e-waste in South Africa and China will have jumped by 200-400 per cent from 2007 levels.000 tonnes from TVs. One in 10 people have asthma in Delhi.organized recycling sector which fails to practice eco-friendly e-Waste recycling methods release large amount of toxic chemicals. or tiny particles of soot. Diesel emissions can trigger asthma and in the long run even cause lung cancer.The Aravalli hills Range in Dehli. The toxic value of PM 2. cough. Rajasthan and Sindh A tribe woman near the mining site of Vedanta Pollution due to biomedical waste Pollution due to biomedical waste is likely to spread disease dangerous to life and making atmosphere noxious to health. used battery cells. which includes only the waste generated out of television sets.000 tonnes of e-waste in 2007 and the number is expected to touch 470. a major chunk of which comes from organizations. If PM 2. the winter months bring respiratory attacks and wheezing to many non-asthmatics who are old. The un.5 get inhaled deeper into lungs which deposits there. India being used as a dumping ground for hazardous waste. used diapers. a radioactive metal used for radiotherapy in hospitals.interfere with the respiratory system because they are so small they can be breathed deeply into the lungs. 2010 a machine from Delhi University containing cobalt-60. The increasing amount of PM 2.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said it was the worst radiation incident worldwide in four years. 17 percent reported coughing. that greenhouse gas concentrations have reached levels causing climate change. Prof S K Jindal said it has been globally recognised that environmental factors.156-crore Integrated Coastal Zone Management(ICZM) project which among other things cover coastline survey. compared to just eight percent of children in a rural area. the most industrialized countries are mainly responsible for causing climate change.9% for China and by 1. Thus equity requires that they should sharply reduce their emissions in order to arrest further climate change and allow other countries access to their fair share of atmospheric resources in order to develop. on September 05. The ship Platinum-II arrived in Indian waters on 8 October.” The major burden of these hazards is borne by the lungs. and Japan surpassed its level of carbon emissions in 1998. 2010. only the U. chronic obstructive lung disease. “There is a need for extensive studies to gauge the effects of environmental factors on the human health. According to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol . 2007.. "As the forests are getting depleted at a rapid pace elsewhere in the world.breaking yard. Another satellite for protection and development of the forest cover in India would be ready by 2013. The sinking oil ship on August 9 The ship Platinum-II Indian dedicated satellite Indian satellite to monitor green house emission A dedicated satellite would be launched with the support of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) by 2012 to monitor India's greenhouse gas emission..MSC Chitra and Khalijia-III collided off the Mumbai coast on August 7. that is particularly vulnerable to the changes in temperature.” He said: “In developing countries.an incurable disease of the lungs. including heart attack. carbon emissions are forecast to grow 3. Environmental Pollution and chronic diseases In an Indo-US joint workshop. The burden is more on the developing than the developed countries. Carbon emissions have grown nine-fold over the past forty years. China. wheezing or breathlessness. a large proportion of the population is engaged in traditional farming. Describing the ship collision off the coast of Mumbai as a “freak accident”. “The WHO estimates that 24 per cent of global disease burden and 23 per cent of all deaths can be attributed to environmental factors.3% for the United States.2% per annum until 2020. carbon emissions levels are estimated to increase by 3.formerly known as SS Oceanic or the SS Independence .was destined for the Alang ship. 6 ." Ramesh said. It is Asia's largest ship-breaking yard and known as the "graveyard of ships". Pollution of Indian Seas Two merchant vessels -. respiratory infections including tuberculosis and occupational lung diseases are some of the common problems with a strong environmental risk which. an estimated 42 per cent of acute lower respiratory infections are caused by environmental factors.expand their livelihood opportunities and demarcation of sensitive and hazardous zones. the country's 7500-km-long coastline will be surveyed to demarcate areas vulnerable to sea erosion. rainfall and extreme weather events associated with climate change. Japan and European countries have this satellite but by 2012 we will have a dedicated satellite that will monitor greenhouse gas emission across the country and globe. The Platinum-II . environment minister Jairam Ramesh said that India has never seen an oil spill like the one resulting from the incident. Union Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said. To put this in perspective. is not required to reduce its carbon emissions. A first-ever exercise on March 25. while in the developing countries. Nearly 100 containers that fell into the waters following the collision between two merchant vessels off the Mumbai coast are still missing and two of them are carrying hazardous chemicals reported on August 17. All inhabitants of our planet have an equal right to the atmosphere. An historical summary of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuel use in India is increasing rapidly and causes global warming. "Currently. and as such. capacity building of the people living near to coast. Russia." he said. It said many of the workers tested showed early signs of asbestosis ." Ramesh told reporters on March 13. At 253 million metric tons. In this Industrial Age. with the ever-expanding consumption of hydrocarbon fuels and the resultant increase in carbon dioxide emissions. account for a large disease burden all over the world. Greenhouse Gas Emissions India emits the fifth most carbon of any country in the world. even a short exposure to traffic fumes can increase your chances of Heart Disease. People who exercise in areas where there is heavy traffic may be especially at risk. 2008 at Chandigarh. Bronchial Asthma and other allergies. "The objective is to study the impact of climate change. there seems to be a need for a satellite. Going forward. per-capita share of the planet’s atmospheric resources and have induced climate change. 2010 at IIT-Powai.” According to New England Journal of Medicine. researchers say. The Gujarat Maritime Board leases out the yard to shipbreakers. fallout of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment by monitoring it through satellite technology.S. high tide and waves in order to help government take measures in protecting community living in such pockets. The most developed countries possess the capital. Several containers from one of the vessels fell into the sea. India is a non-Annex I country under the United Nations Framework Convention on Green house gases and climate Change. including in India. 2010. technological and human resources required for successful adaptation. have important links with infectious as well as non-infectious diseases of both acute and chronic nature.schoolchildren late last year. 2009 The ministry of environment and forests said it inspected Platinum-II and found the ship contained toxic material. The Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved a Rs 1. 2010 causing an oil spill. but the industrialized countries have greatly exceeded their fair. The biggest casualty of such species has been our rich biodiversity. is the 50th polluted city of the country. Faridabad on the outskirt of Delhi is the 10th most ETP dicharge at Vapi polluted city. followed by Agra. Why.19. The Orissa town of Angul. The disparity has widened. it grows 8 to 9 cm a day and muzzles small plants and chokes larger trees such as coconut and oil palm. which pollute water and soil. Sometimes they manifest themselves as bird flu and at other times as foot-and-mouth disease and mad cow disease and lead to massive destruction of livestock populations. 2007 has identified 51 cities that do not meet the prescribed Respirable Particulate Matter (RSPM) levels.000 -Pollutants: Chemicals and heavy metals due to its tonnes Industrial estates. Ahmedabad is placed 12th.1.0.cutting projects in India are sold to businesses in Europe and elsewhere seeking to meet either mandatory or voluntary limits. Kolkata . Kolkata 25th. Invasive alien species Invasive alien species are species whose introduction and/or spread outside their natural habitats threatens biological diversity. Faridabad and Ahmedabad topping the list. Sadly our ever-expanding greed has put us in such precarious situation. Hyderabad 44th and Bangalore stands at 46th in the list. But over the years. IAS also have indirect health effects on Mahatma Ghandhi humans as a result of the use of pesticides and herbicides. respiratory disorders and even infertility among humans and animals. is of the most prominent invasive aliens in India. or CERs. in 1972.6 tonnes The most polluted places in India Faridabad . a New York-based nonprofit group. Pollution trading India may let power companies start trading renewable-energy credits in May in a push to create a multibillion-dollar market to encourage reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions. They may look harmless but are dangerous. It is a major threat in many parts of the country. Parthenium: Parthenium Hystrophorous a poisonous plant The parthenium now occupies 50 lakh hectares in the country and has become a major health hazard for people and animals.China . India is the second-largest generator of carbon credits in the United Nations Clean Development Mechanism. rodents and insects. mainly causing flu. Jamshedpur .6. PROSOPIS JULIFLORA: Vilayati babul(prosopis juliflora) was introduced in India in the last century as a very promising species for the afforestation of dry and degraded land. by telling her in public that India could not accept binding carbon emission in October 2009):: targets because doing so would stunt the nation’s economic growth. Parthenium Hystrophorous enable it to wipe out other plant species in its surroundings. Delhi . Poverty is the biggest polluter Toxic Release Emissions of gaseous pollutants: satellite data 7 . across the world (in a study Hillary Rodham Clinton.83 tonnes accounts for just 5. a former prime minister. it has emerged as a noxious invader that can grow in diverse ecosystems. Indore 16th. Taking a cue from the finding. They occur in all groups. Washington DC.3 percent of emissions.000.newscientist. that “Poverty is the biggest polluter. wind and other clean-energy projects. Lucknow. Raipur. Raipur and Lucknow hold the next three positions. According to the report. Industrialisation is not without price. The estimates trade in renewable energy credits could rise to as much as $10 billion by 2020. Beijing. the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) formulated NAAQS and checked the air quality. Per capita emission in Indira Gandhi. -Pollutants: Hexavalent chromium due to its London. and threats to food security.S. including animals. It is the democratic system followed in the country which has forced our policy-makers to think of growth for all. An environment and forest ministry report. Source: www. India. accounts for more than 20 Gargaon .9 tonnes Sukinda: Potentially affected people: 2. Mumbai 40th.2 tonnes Chromite mines. plants. UK . They can directly affect human health. All these have a direct bearing on environmental pollution leading to climatic change.2. the world’s second-biggest greenhouse-gas trading market. fungi.7 Vapi : Potentially affected people: 71. We are all witness to the deleterious effects of climate change. he asks. Will we realise it? The policy of industrialisation had helped rich to become richer and poor become poorer. India is pressing ahead with its own efforts to fight climate change after last month’s Copenhagen talks failed to reach a new global climate treaty. MIKANIA MICRANTHA. secretary of state. Certified Emissions Credits. issued for pollution. That is why we are hearing plans for inclusive growth.” Those sentiments were echoed recently when Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh snubbed the U.82 tonnes according to the Blacksmith Institute.600. Delhi 22nd. Gobindgarh in Punjab is the most polluted city. famously announced at the United Nations’ first 2007-08 in select cities environmental conference.com The most polluted cities in India and ICLEI study As many as 51 Indian cities have extremely high air pollution. specified under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). In 2005.6.76 tonnes The United States.1. the city of Taj Mahal.Mahatma Ghandhi on Environmental pollution Mahtma Gandhi had said that nature has enough to satisfy everyone’s need but has not enough to satisfy man’s greed. released on September 14.58 tonnes Vapi in Gujarat and Sukinda in Orrisa is among the world's top 10 most polluted places. and Ludhiana. Infectious diseases are often traced to IAS imported by travellers or vectored by exotic species of birds. home to National Aluminium Company (NALCO). an Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) placed India at 101st position among 146 countries. The whole world is now anxious to repair the damage. The move puts the world’s fourth-largest emitter ahead of China and other developing nations in creating a domestic emissions-trading market to boost investment in solar. bacteria and viruses. Patna. Bangalore . which led to the revelation about air quality in leading cities. allergies. with more than 17 percent of the global population. with under 5 percent of the world’s population.1. and can affect all types of ecosystems.2.33 tonnes percent of total carbon emissions. Mumbai Cyclothon 2010. urbanization and traffic growth are most likely responsible for the increase. Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh told the Rajya Sabha on August 21. which is a form of pollution. 20. the northeast.e. Their report would be available in two months. Using nitrogen dioxide (NO2) data acquired from 1996 to 2006 by the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment (GOME) instrument aboard ESA’s ERS-2 satellite. Perhaps the greatest problem with nuclear power is the price to taxpayers. Despite the advantage of nuclear as a clean energy. Ministry of Environment and Forests.80. According to Dr Sachin Ghude of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). reducing emissions of CO2for about 500 million metric tons of carbon.Gujrat Urja Vikas Nigam Oxygen Demand (COD) .000 mg/l. 1986. India can fight global warming with clean nuclear energy. the big concern is the waste resulted from nuclear reaction. ESA’s Earth Observation Centre in Frascati. 2010 not only allows US companies to go scot free in case of a nuclear mishap but also uses Indian taxpayers money to pay for the damages. Is nuclear energy a solution of global warming? India a country of 1. recently to discuss the contribution of satellite data in monitoring nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere. which is known as ?spent -Maharastra State Power wash?. It's also known that nuclear energy has reduced the amount of greenhouse gas emission. water. Greenpeace India. urban and industrial regions. a number of proactive steps have been proposed in the Union Budget (2010-11). fish. Reduce pollutions: suggestions National Action Plan on Climate Change The Centre has made a provision of Rs.5 percent/year. the Finance Ministry has also sanctioned Rs. Mr. Nitrous oxide emissions over India is growing at an annual rate of 5. Nuclear power plants in India 8 . “The Bill to be tabled in the parliament on March 15. a serious problem that India will face in the coming decades.Andhra Pradesh Power aquatic life. Shri Jairam Ramesh in Lok Sabha on August 4. surprise inspection of industries is carried out by the Central and the State Pollution Control Boards for verification of compliance by industries to the prescribed pollution control norms. Environmentalists and antinuclear activists say the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Bill (2009) which exempts foreign companies from legal liabilities in case of a nuclear accident and proposes a low cap of Rs 500 crores is unconstitutional and undermines public safety. Steps in Budget 2010-11 for the Environment The increased pollution levels associated with industrialisation and urbanisation. in that spent nuclear fuel has no safe place to be stored right now. Anti Worst 5 Indian power Nuclear Campaigner.500 crore.” Mr. Italy. the distribution of emissions vary widely across India.000 crore as recommended by the 13th Finance Commission to tackle this serious problem.45. Allocation for National Ganga River Basin Authority has been doubled in 201011 to Rs. Now the US atomic trade pact with India and an atomic energy pact with France. 2010. mega cities. Application of distillery wastewater for irrigation of crops causes soil pollution i. 2010. Ramesh said. the distillery wastewater causes serious pollution problems in the recipient water bodies Vidyut when discharged. it pollutes groundwater and drinking water when Gen Corp. Emissions of gaseous pollutants have increased in India over the past two decades. salinity. discharged on land. 5.000 to 1. The Government is also encouraging the distilleries to achieve zero discharge of effluent. The major steps include: National Clean Energy Fund (NCEF) . Spent wash contains high organic pollutants such as Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) . Ramesh said About 220 scientists from 120 research institutions were working on assessing the impact of climate change on agriculture.Uttar Pradesh Rajya Thus. called radioactivity. -NTPC LTD. The “Mission Clean Ganga 2020” under the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA) with the objective that no untreated municipal sewage or industrial influent will be discharged into the National river has already been initiated. Nuclear energy has been recognized as a clean as CO2 to the atmosphere after its reaction that could damage our environment. health and forests.1 billion people currently gets only a fraction of its electricity from nuclear power. The location of emission hot spots correlates well with the location of mega thermal power plants. resulting in depletion of dissolved oxygen in water and adverse affect on . Nuclear waste is also a problem with nuclear power. These units generate large volume of dark brown coloured wastewater. . the Western Ghats and coastal areas.000 mg/l.Scientists and researchers from around the world gathered at ESRIN.” said Karuna. The Government has notified environmental standards for the distillery sector under the Environment (Protection) act.000 to 60. phytoplankton etc. Also.000 mg/l and Chemical . This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge). companies in terms of total Pollution due to Distilleries emission of CO2 The distillery sector is one of the seventeen categories of major polluting industries in India. Besides.85000 Gen Co. 25. In addition. The research covered the impact on the Himalayan glaciers.000 crore to mitigate the effects of climate change. rapid industrialization.for funding research and innovative projects in clean energy technology. to 95. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) . Because of varying consumption patterns and growth rates.