Prevent Pollution & Conserve Energy. June 5: World Environment Day. 
Two very important oaths, every one of us have to take now. Let us now go little bit deep in to these spheres. Prevention of Pollution: National pollution control day is celebrated every year, on 2nd December in India, to give the honour and remember thousands of people, who lost their lives, because of Bhopal gas calamity. This happened on the night of 2nd and 3rd December 1984, because of the spread of the poisonous chemical, Methyl Isocyanate, as well as other chemicals released from union carbide chemical plant in Bhopal. The purpose of observing national pollution control day every year, is to manage and control the Industrial disaster, as well as prevention of pollution of Water, Air, Noise and Soil.
Natural resources such as water, air, land, and forest are being polluted speedily, due to different type of pollutions. Pollution prevention is a major world concern, because of its harmful effects on people’s health and environment. Environmental protection is on extension of caring for ourselves, loving our children and ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. Without oxygen, we will die in a few minutes. Pollution is the introduced of contaminants into an environment, that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the Echo system i.e. physical systems or living organisms. According to a study, water pollution causes approximately 14000 deaths per day mostly due to contamination of drinking water, by untreated sewage in developing countries. An estimated 700 Million Indians have no access to a proper toilet, and 1000 Indian children die of diarrhoeal sickness every year. Today the world population is 7 billion and the average humans waste by an individual is 4.4 pounds. Through family planning, reducing poverty and emancipation of status of women, we call reduce pollution. More and more big factories and industries, use of more and more coal and petroleum products, have contributed to maximum air pollution. Maximum use of industrial chemicals and increased in unprocessed human waste, sources of energy, noise, heat and light all have their contribution towards pollution. Carbon oxide, Sulphur dioxide, chlorofloro carbons, Nitrogen oxide, all pollute air. Nitrogen oxide and Hydro carbons, react to sun rays and form photo chemical and sag. Waste products and pollutants coming out from purification system, polluted water, biological process, mixing of debris in to ground water, and release of this to rivers, create water pollution. Petro chemicals on the sea shore, oil processing centers also pollute environments. Soil earth can be polluted by throwing chemicals on land and leakage during transport of the chemicals, Hydro Carbons, heavy metals, ACTBE, Herbicides, insecticides and chlorinated Hydro carbons pollute soil. Big shelter place of cows, pigs and hens P.V.C industries, metal producing factories, plastic industries are the source of permanent pollution production centers. When farmers use more pesticides, weed removing medicines, there will be pollution in agriculture. Main source of noise pollution is sounds of motor vehicles.
Effects of pollution on our health:
Pollution has bad effects on our food, our environment, our mental and physical health. Carbon monoxide is very dangerous. By reducing this pollution, we can decrease diseases and death due to this. Through inhaling use and absorption, pollutants enter human bodies. Some pollutants influence on Ductless Hormone Glands and even on growth of foetus, resulting in birth defects and defacing. Urban smoke, and poisonous particles bring irritation in eyes, nose and throat, causing wheeze, Asthama and couch. Exposure for a long period may result in cancer. This pollution creates problems in the immune system, nerves system, reproductive and respiratory organs. This create skin diseases, such as fungal infection to feet and nails, upper respiratory infection due to bacteria and stomach and intestine diseases. The modern trend is to prevent pollution at the source. There are so many acts which can prevent pollution.
But what can we do? By planting seedlings, by reducing use of paper, we can adopt green design. If you walk, you can help reducing air pollution and you will get some exercise and fresh air. If you can use public transport, you can reduce carbon emission, along with sharing your money time and energy. You call read and also relax, during the time of your travel in public transport. Consolidate your many trips in to one long trip, to save money. Starting your car when the engine is cold, consumes 20% more fuel, than driving your car. You can join carpool or share the car, to go to your school or place of work. You will be reducing carbon emission. Get regular maintenance on your car and keep it in good condition, to help reducing carbon emissions. Get an oil change every 3 months. Keep types inflated. Get your air, oil and fuel filters changed, whenever required. Unsafe driving habits contribute to pollution. By becoming a safer driver you can help reduce air pollution, by keeping your speed steady, driving at or below the speed limit.
Citizens can contribute in saving energy. Replacing desktops with laptops helps. Latter uses half the energy. Washing cloth with normal room temperature water will help save 90% more energy individually. Using unused ice cubes to water plants will help save water and thus energy that is require to generate water. Clean the condenser coils of the refrigerator every year. Leaving the computer even on sleep mode is waste of energy. Sensors can be used even for street lights. Stop smoking or don’t throw your butts on the ground. Cigarette butts are not biodegradable and contain extremely toxic soluble chemicals. One butt thrown on the ground, can remain for up to 25 years leaking chemicals like arsenic, ammonia, acetone, benzene, cadmium, formaldehyde, lead, and toluene into the environment.
- Never use open fires to dispose of waste, especially chemicals and plastic. Adopt the 3 Rules of solid waste management – reduce, reuse, and recycle.
- Use sustainable, reclaimed, or recycled building materials. Start composing leaves and clippings from your yard and food scraps from your kitchen, to reduce waste, while improving your soil.
- Use the power supplied abundantly and freely by wind and sun.
- Hang your laundry to dry to minimize your use of gas or electricity and open a window or put on a sweater, rather than turning on the air conditioner or heater.
- Buy local foods and goods. In this manner, the use of fuel for transporting goods can be minimized.
- Look around your house or place of business, for ways you could conserve water.
- Use and buy products that are eco-friendly or made with biodegradable materials.
- Avoid plastic. Always bring a bag when you shop.
- Get rid of your lawn: Plant bee friendly, drought tolerant, native plants instead.
- Plant more trees. They clean the air, provide oxygen, and beautify your surroundings.
- Take care to properly dispose of your pet’s waste. Do not litter. Start an anti-litter campaign to educate your community.
- Say a big “NO” to pesticides and Genetically Modified Organisms.
- To control air pollution in cities, due to construction and demolition waste, Central Pollution Control Board has given several guidelines to prevent and reduce dust on site and off site, across the country waste in cities and towns.
In 2016 the Environment ministry had notified rules to manage construction and demolition waste. As per Swachh Bharat Mission’s goals, by 2-10-2019, 100% processing of generated solid waste in cities and towns. As per the projection of Karnataka State Masterplan 2031, Bangalore city’s population will be 24.7 Million in 2031. Hence along with metro, proposals for other forms such as, light rail system, monorail and bus rapid transport systems have been proposed. They expect public transport to carry 70% of commuters.
Karnataka government wants to set up a separate pollution control board for Bangalore city. At present Bangalore city has more than 70 lakh vehicles and this number will be more than 1 crore by 2022. The Karnataka State has 86 crore vehicles everyday new vehicles and every day new vehicles are being registered. State government has decided to observe Traffic Less Day on 2nd Sunday of every month. On this day public have been requested to use public transport, instead of own vehicles. Bangalore and other cities in Karnataka, may experience the same situation of dangerous level of pollution in Delhi. Hence transport department wants to create public awareness about pollution and such measures to reduce pollution.
Secondly we have to think of saving energy. Every year on 14th December National Energy Conservation Day is celebrated. The purpose is to aware people about the importance of energy, as well as saving or conserving the more energy by using less energy. Unnecessary uses of energy are to be avoided. Using energy efficiently is very necessary to save it for future usage. Energy conservation should be rooted in the behavior of every human being to get more effect towards the plan of energy conservation. One can save the energy by deeply taking care of it, such as turning off the unnecessarily running fans, lights, submersible heater, combining car trips or other electric thinks of daily usages.
Fossil fuels, crude oil, natural gas, and etc., generate sufficient energy for the use in daily life. But increasing the demands for it day by day creates the fear of reducing or diminishing the natural resources. Energy conservation is the only way, which helps in replacing the non – renewable resources of energy with the renewable energy. Tax on high energy consumption reduces the energy use by the user. People must be aware that bright lighting at their work places. Leads to the variety of problems like stress, headache, blood pressure, fatigue and reduces work efficiency of workers, whereas natural day lighting enhances the productivity level of workers and reduces the energy consumption. Petroleum consumption research association was established by the Indian Government in 1977, to promote energy efficiency and conservation among Indian People in their every walk of life. A big amount of energy can be saved through CFL, Fluorescent Bulbs, Solar Charged Flash Light, Smart Windows, LED lighting and solar lights.
Water conservation also leads to better energy conservation. There is wastage of around thousands of gallons of water per day by the people, can be prevented through various means of water saving solutions. Insulation also place big role in energy conservation by decreasing the thermal losses in winter seasons as well as thermal gains in summer seasons. People have to switch off the lights, heater, cooler, A.C., Electronic items, laptops, adapters and computers when they are not being used.
Prime Minister Sri. Narendra Modi has pledged for wholehearted commitment towards energy conservation. Energy is the foundation of economic development of any country. India is a major consumer of energy, ranging from industries to agriculture, to transport to households. Thus there is an increased dependence on the need of natural resources of energy like fossil fuels and natural gas. This is leading to a severe depletion of the energy resources. These are not renewable resources, and if not used properly the resources will extinct soon. Increased consumption is also resulting in pollution of the environment. Energy conservation results in a better and a greener environment, national security and higher individual savings. Renewable energy is a clean energy resource. It has a lesser impact on the health of the environment. It is generally defined as energy that comes from resources which are naturally replenished on a human timescale such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves and geothermal heat. With the advancement of technology, different modern equipments such as biogas plants, solar water heaters, solar cookers, street lights, pumps, wind – electric generators, water pumping wind mills, biomassgasifiers and small hydro – electric generators. At present renewable energy resources are contributing towards only 9% of the total consumption in India. Someone has truly said ‘waste not the smallest thinks created, for grains of sand make mountains and atomies infinity. Please remember that nature provides for every man’s needs, but not enough for any one’s greed. Life itself is a form of energy; if we do not want to waste away life, then how can we waste energy?
I am very happy to share with you that, from 1973 till today, I have been broadcasting features and dramas through radio, enacting dramas on stage on the above subjects. I have also written poems and got them tuned by musicians and sung by experienced singers. I have been writing articles and columns in newspapers and magazines on these two subjects.
N.V RAMESH
Mob:-98455 65238
