Pollution today poses a major threat to the survival of the world we live in. Smoke or dust released in the air is the major type of pollution as it is extremely bad for the humans as it directly affects the lungs. Sewage, harmful content in drinking water is another major type of pollution that makes people unhealthy and ill because it contains disease-causing germs and viruses.
The environmental consequences of sudden rapid industrialization have resulted in various incidents of land, air and water resources sites being contaminated with toxic materials and other pollutants, threatening humans and ecosystems with serious health risks.
During manufacturing and construction activities every bit of natural resources is exploited to covert these into goods that fulfil the needs of the countries. A major cause for all the causes listed above is the manufacturing that leads to major types of pollution.
People living next to a building site where there is too much noise and construction activities rigorously going on tend to fall sick.
Pollution can be considered as direct or indirect change in any component of the biosphere that is harmful to the living components and in particular undesirable for humans, affecting adversely the industrial progress, cultural and natural assets or general environment of living society.
The biggest irony of all this is that even if we know that the earth is getting polluted, ultimately it is the human beings themselves who dig their own grave by doing deliberate activities because of which pollution is caused. It does not only spoil human beings’ health but also worsen their quality of life.
Role of the Government:
The Government has launched various pollution prevention policies and Acts that focus on preventing and controlling pollution by random means such as the following:
Adoption of clean and low waste technology, reusing and recycling, environment audit and pollution monitoring activities, reducing hazardous materials at source wherever feasible, promoting recycling of waste, etc.
There has also been a concept called “Pollution prevention approach” that seeks to increase the efficiency of a process reducing the amount of pollution generated at its source.
To give effect to the government policies, various steps have been initiated which include statutory stringent regulations, development of environmental standards, control of pollution generated through vehicles, spatial environmental planning including industrial estates and preparation of zoning atlas.
The policy statement for reduction of pollution lays emphasis on preventive aspects of pollution decline and promotion of technologies that help to reduce pollution.
Pollution control is a recent environmental concern. The Government in order to evade pollution has encouraged industries to regard ‘pollution’ as an economic problem and take reasonable actions to control the release of polluted/toxic/harmful gases at their end.
Few major pollution control measures undertaken by the government are:
Implementation of waste minimization techniques and adoption of appropriate pollution control measures.
Spreading awareness messages through programs on usage of cleaner technologies and pollution control.
Assistance for sustainable development.
Ban on usage of plastic bags, creation of paper bags.
Creation of no-honking zones.
Policy of creating industrial sites away from the city.
Creation of garbage stacks so as to avoid littering on land.
In order to fight this life threatening effects of pollution, vigorous efforts should be made. Anti-pollution laws should be strictly implemented. In order to check water pollution, sewage and the factory wastes should be properly disposed off and vehicles should be made eco-friendly.
Environmental pollution is a global problem today. Public awareness is a must to prevent pollution. Population control will also help to save the world from environmental pollution. Scientific exploitation of natural resources is yet another step to prevent environmental pollution.