As per WHO report, Delhi is the most polluted city in the world. How pollution can be controlled ? Give your opinion.
Introduction
The most recent global Environment Performance Index (EPI) 2014 rankings (US-based Yale University comparative study carried out in 178 countries on nine environmental parameters) released last month and have given our capital city the number one ranking for being the most polluted city in the world. Delhi has overtaken China's Beijing, where pollution alerts prompted immediate government intervention. Delhi's air pollution is twice as that of Beijing and the city's air pollution levels have risen 44 per cent since last year.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
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.
- The quality of the fuel being supplied in Delhi has been significantly improved over the years by the ban of selling leaded petrol, introduction of low sulphur diesel, reduction of sulphur and benzene content in petrol.
- 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 land-fill 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
Conclusion
It is the duty of every citizen to think in a broader perspective to control pollution. We really don’t want our future generations to live in an unhealthy environment in Delhi. We really don’t want our children or our elders to get into incessant coughing due to pollution.
To
facilitate a smooth transition to levy of tax on services by both the
centre and the states… the service tax rate is being increased from 12
per cent plus education cesses to 14 per cent. The education cess and
secondary and higher education cess shall be subsumed in the new service
tax rate. The revised rate shall come into effect from a date to be
notified,” finance minister Arun Jaitley
said while presenting the Budget 2015-16 - See more at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/budget/service-tax-hiked-to-14-from-12-36-mobile-and-restaurant-bills-to-cost-more/#sthash.POEjHN7P.dpuf
To
facilitate a smooth transition to levy of tax on services by both the
centre and the states… the service tax rate is being increased from 12
per cent plus education cesses to 14 per cent. The education cess and
secondary and higher education cess shall be subsumed in the new service
tax rate. The revised rate shall come into effect from a date to be
notified,” finance minister Arun Jaitley
said while presenting the Budget 2015-16 - See more at:
http://indianexpress.com/article/business/budget/service-tax-hiked-to-14-from-12-36-mobile-and-restaurant-bills-to-cost-more/#sthash.POEjHN7P.dpuf
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