Module II

What is Air Pollution?

Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in the air. It is the
contamination of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which affects the plants, animals, and
humans drastically.
There is a certain percentage of gases present in the atmosphere. An increase or decrease in the
composition of these gases is harmful to survival. This imbalance in the gaseous composition has
resulted in an increase in earth’s temperature which is known as global warming.

Types of Air Pollutants

There are two types of air pollutants:
Primary Pollutants
The pollutants that directly cause air pollution are known as primary pollutants. Sulphur-dioxide
emitted from factories is a primary pollutant.
Secondary Pollutants
The pollutants formed by the intermingling and reaction of primary pollutants are known as
secondary pollutants. Smog, formed by the intermingling of smoke and fog, is a secondary
pollutant.
Causes of Air Pollution
Following are the important causes of air pollution:
Burning of Fossil Fuels
The combustion of fossil fuels emits a large amount of sulphur dioxide. Carbon monoxide
released by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels also results in air pollution.
Automobiles
The gases emitted from vehicles such as jeeps, trucks, cars, buses, etc. pollute the environment.
These are the major sources of greenhouse gases and also result in diseases among individuals.
Agricultural Activities
Ammonia is one of the most hazardous gases emitted during agricultural activities. The
insecticides, pesticides and fertilizers emit harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and contaminate
it.
Factories and Industries
Factories and industries are the main source of carbon monoxide, organic compounds,
hydrocarbons, and chemicals. These are released into the air degrading its quality.
Mining Activities
In the mining process, the minerals below the earth are extracted using large equipments. The dust
and chemicals released during the process not only pollute the air but also deteriorate the health of
the workers and people living in the nearby areas.
Domestic Sources
The household cleaning products and paints contain toxic chemicals that are released in the air. The
smell from the newly painted walls is the smell of the chemicals present in the paints. It not only
pollutes the air but also affects breathing.
Effects of Air Pollution
The hazardous effects of air pollution on the environment include:
Diseases
Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and heart diseases among humans. The
cases of lung cancer have increased in the last few decades. Children living near polluted areas
are more prone to pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every year due to the direct or
indirect effects of air pollution.
Global Warming
Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an imbalance in the gaseous composition of the
air. This has led to an increase in the temperature of the earth. This increase in earth’s
temperature is known as global warming. This has resulted in the melting of glaciers and an
increase in sea levels. Many areas are submerged under water.
Acid Rain
The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides in
the air. The water droplets combine with these pollutants, become acidic, and fall as acid rain
which damages human, animal and plant life.
Ozone Layer Depletion
The release of chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is
the major cause of depletion of ozone layer. The depleting ozone layer does not prevent the
harmful ultraviolet rays coming from the sun and causes skin diseases and eye problems among
individuals.
Effect on Animals
The air pollutants suspend on the water bodies and affect the aquatic life. Pollution also compels
the animals to leave their habitat and shift to a new place. This renders them stray and has also
led to the extinction of a large number of animals species.
Air Pollution Control
Following are the measures one should adopt to control air pollution:
Avoid Using Vehicles
People should avoid using vehicles for shorter distances. Rather they should prefer public modes
of transport to travel from one place to another. This not only prevents pollution but also
conserves energy.
Energy Conservation
A large number of fossil fuels are burnt to generate electricity. Therefore, do not forget to switch
off the electrical appliances when not in use. Thus, you can save the environment at the
individual level. Use of energy-efficient devices such CFLs also controls pollution to a greater
level.

Use of Clean Energy Resources

The use of solar, wind and geothermal energies reduce air pollution at a larger level. Various
countries including India have implemented the use of these resources as a step towards a cleaner
environment.
Other air pollution control measures include:

1. By minimizing and reducing the use of fire and fire products.

 2. Since industrial emissions are one of the major causes of air pollution, the pollutants can
be controlled or treated at the source itself to reduce its effects. For example, if the
reactions of a certain raw material yield a pollutant, then the raw materials can be
substituted with other less polluting materials.
3. Fuel substitution is another way of controlling air pollution. In many parts of India, petrol
and diesel are being replaced by CNG – Compressed Natural Gas fuelled vehicles. These
are mostly adopted by vehicles that aren’t fully operating with ideal emission engines.
4. Although there are many practices in India which focus on repairing the quality of air,
most of them are either forgotten or not being enforced properly. There are still a lot of
vehicles on roads which haven’t been tested for vehicle emissions.
5. Another way of controlling air pollution caused by industries is to modify and maintain
existing equipments so that the emission of pollutants is minimized.
6. Sometimes controlling pollutants at the source is not possible. In that case, we can have
process control equipment to control the pollution.
7. A very effective way of controlling air pollution is by diluting the air pollutants.
8. The last and the best way of reducing the ill effects of air pollution is tree plantation.
Plants and trees reduce a large number of pollutants in the air. Ideally, planting trees in
areas of high pollution levels will be extremely effective.

What Is Water Pollution?

Water pollution occurs when harmful substances—often chemicals or microorganisms—

contaminate a stream, river, lake, ocean, aquifer, or other body of water, degrading water quality
and rendering it toxic to humans or the environment.
What Are the Causes of Water Pollution?
Water is uniquely vulnerable to pollution. Known as a “universal solvent,” water is able to
dissolve more substances than any other liquid on earth. It’s the reason we have Kool-Aid and
brilliant blue waterfalls. It’s also why water is so easily polluted. Toxic substances from farms,
towns, and factories readily dissolve into and mix with it, causing water pollution.
Categories of Water Pollution

Groundwater

When rain falls and seeps deep into the earth, filling the cracks, crevices, and porous spaces of an
aquifer (basically an underground storehouse of water), it becomes groundwater—one of our
least visible but most important natural resources. Nearly 40 percent of Americans rely on
groundwater, pumped to the earth’s surface, for drinking water. For some folks in rural areas, it’s
their only freshwater source. Groundwater gets polluted when contaminants—from pesticides
and fertilizers to waste leached from landfills and septic systems—make their way into an
aquifer, rendering it unsafe for human use. Ridding groundwater of contaminants can be difficult
to impossible, as well as costly. Once polluted, an aquifer may be unusable for decades, or even
thousands of years. Groundwater can also spread contamination far from the original polluting
source as it seeps into streams, lakes, and oceans.
Surface water
Covering about 70 percent of the earth, surface water is what fills our oceans, lakes, rivers, and
all those other blue bits on the world map. Surface water from freshwater sources (that is, from
sources other than the ocean) accounts for more than 60 percent of the water delivered to
American homes. But a significant pool of that water is in peril. According to the most recent
surveys on national water quality from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nearly half of
our rivers and streams and more than one-third of our lakes are polluted and unfit for swimming,
fishing, and drinking. Nutrient pollution, which includes nitrates and phosphates, is the leading
type of contamination in these freshwater sources. While plants and animals need these nutrients
to grow, they have become a major pollutant due to farm waste and fertilizer runoff. Municipal
and industrial waste discharges contribute their fair share of toxins as well. There’s also all the
random junk that industry and individuals dump directly into waterways.
Ocean water
Eighty percent of ocean pollution (also called marine pollution) originates on land—whether
along the coast or far inland. Contaminants such as chemicals, nutrients, and heavy metals are
carried from farms, factories, and cities by streams and rivers into our bays and estuaries; from
there they travel out to sea. Meanwhile, marine debris—particularly plastic—is blown in by the
wind or washed in via storm drains and sewers. Our seas are also sometimes spoiled by oil spills
and leaks—big and small—and are consistently soaking up carbon pollution from the air. The
ocean absorbs as much as a quarter of man-made carbon emissions.
Point source
When contamination originates from a single source, it’s called point source pollution. Examples
include wastewater (also called effluent) discharged legally or illegally by a manufacturer, oil
refinery, or wastewater treatment facility, as well as contamination from leaking septic systems,
chemical and oil spills, and illegal dumping. The EPA regulates point source pollution by
establishing limits on what can be discharged by a facility directly into a body of water. While
point source pollution originates from a specific place, it can affect miles of waterways and
ocean.
Nonpoint source
Nonpoint source pollution is contamination derived from diffuse sources. These may include
agricultural or stormwater runoff or debris blown into waterways from land. Nonpoint source
pollution is the leading cause of water pollution in U.S. waters, but it’s difficult to regulate,
since there’s no single, identifiable culprit.
Transboundary
It goes without saying that water pollution can’t be contained by a line on a map. Transboundary
pollution is the result of contaminated water from one country spilling into the waters of another.
Contamination can result from a disaster—like an oil spill—or the slow, downriver creep of
industrial, agricultural, or municipal discharge.

The Most Common Types of Water Contamination

Agricultural
Toxic green algae in Copco Reservoir, northern California

Not only is the agricultural sector the biggest consumer of global freshwater resources, with
farming and livestock production using about 70 percent of the earth’s surface water supplies,
but it’s also a serious water polluter. Around the world, agriculture is the leading cause of water
degradation. In the United States, agricultural pollution is the top source of contamination in
rivers and streams, the second-biggest source in wetlands, and the third main source in lakes. It’s
also a major contributor of contamination to estuaries and groundwater. Every time it rains,
fertilizers, pesticides, and animal waste from farms and livestock operations wash nutrients and
pathogens—such bacteria and viruses—into our waterways. Nutrient pollution, caused by excess
nitrogen and phosphorus in water or air, is the number-one threat to water quality worldwide and
can cause algal blooms, a toxic soup of blue-green algae that can be harmful to people and
wildlife.
Sewage and wastewater
Used water is wastewater. It comes from our sinks, showers, and toilets (think sewage) and from
commercial, industrial, and agricultural activities (think metals, solvents, and toxic sludge). The
term also includes stormwater runoff, which occurs when rainfall carries road salts, oil, grease,
chemicals, and debris from impermeable surfaces into our waterways
More than 80 percent of the world’s wastewater flows back into the environment without being
treated or reused, according to the United Nations; in some least-developed countries, the figure
tops 95 percent. In the United States, wastewater treatment facilities process about 34 billion
gallons of wastewater per day. These facilities reduce the amount of pollutants such as
pathogens, phosphorus, and nitrogen in sewage, as well as heavy metals and toxic chemicals in
industrial waste, before discharging the treated waters back into waterways. That’s when all goes
well. But according to EPA estimates, our nation’s aging and easily overwhelmed sewage
treatment systems also release more than 850 billion gallons of untreated wastewater each year.

Oil pollution
Big spills may dominate headlines, but consumers account for the vast majority of oil pollution
in our seas, including oil and gasoline that drips from millions of cars and trucks every day.
Moreover, nearly half of the estimated 1 million tons of oil that makes its way into marine
environments each year comes not from tanker spills but from land-based sources such as
factories, farms, and cities. At sea, tanker spills account for about 10 percent of the oil in waters
around the world, while regular operations of the shipping industry—through
both legal and illegal discharges—contribute about one-third. Oil is also naturally released from
under the ocean floor through fractures known as seeps.

Radioactive substances
Radioactive waste is any pollution that emits radiation beyond what is naturally released by the
environment. It’s generated by uranium mining, nuclear power plants, and the production and
testing of military weapons, as well as by universities and hospitals that use radioactive materials
for research and medicine. Radioactive waste can persist in the environment for thousands of
years, making disposal a major challenge. Consider the decommissioned Hanford nuclear
weapons production site in Washington, where the cleanup of 56 million gallons of radioactive
waste is expected to cost more than $100 billion and last through 2060. Accidentally
released or improperly disposed of contaminants threaten groundwater, surface water, and
marine resources.
What Are the Effects of Water Pollution?

On human health
To put it bluntly: Water pollution kills. In fact, it caused 1.8 million deaths in 2015, according to
a study published in The Lancet. Contaminated water can also make you ill. Every year, unsafe
water sickens about 1 billion people. And low-income communities are disproportionately at risk
because their homes are often closest to the most polluting industries.
Waterborne pathogens, in the form of disease-causing bacteria and viruses from human and
animal waste, are a major cause of illness from contaminated drinking water. Diseases spread by
unsafe water include cholera, giardia, and typhoid. Even in wealthy nations, accidental or illegal
releases from sewage treatment facilities, as well as runoff from farms and urban areas,
contribute harmful pathogens to waterways. Thousands of people across the United States are
sickened every year by Legionnaires’ disease (a severe form of pneumonia contracted from
water sources like cooling towers and piped water), with cases cropping up from California’s
Disneyland to Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

A woman using bottled water to wash her three-week-old son at their home in Flint, Michigan
Meanwhile, the plight of residents in Flint, Michigan—where cost-cutting measures and aging
water infrastructure created the recent lead contamination crisis—offers a stark look at how
dangerous chemical and other industrial pollutants in our water can be. The problem goes far
beyond Flint and involves much more than lead, as a wide range of chemical pollutants—from
heavy metals such as arsenic and mercury to pesticides and nitrate fertilizers—are getting into
our water supplies. Once they’re ingested, these toxins can cause a host of health issues, from
cancer to hormone disruption to altered brain function. Children and pregnant women are
particularly at risk.

Even swimming can pose a risk. Every year, 3.5 million Americans contract health issues such as
skin rashes, pinkeye, respiratory infections, and hepatitis from sewage-laden coastal waters,
according to EPA estimates.
On the environment
In order to thrive, healthy ecosystems rely on a complex web of animals, plants, bacteria, and
fungi—all of which interact, directly or indirectly, with each other. Harm to any of these
organisms can create a chain effect, imperiling entire aquatic environments.
When water pollution causes an algal bloom in a lake or marine environment, the proliferation of
newly introduced nutrients stimulates plant and algae growth, which in turn reduces oxygen
levels in the water. This dearth of oxygen, known as eutrophication, suffocates plants and
animals and can create “dead zones,” where waters are essentially devoid of life. In certain cases,
these harmful algal blooms can also produce neurotoxins that affect wildlife, from whales to sea
turtles.
Chemicals and heavy metals from industrial and municipal wastewater contaminate waterways
as well. These contaminants are toxic to aquatic life—most often reducing an organism’s life
span and ability to reproduce—and make their way up the food chain as predator eats prey.
That’s how tuna and other big fish accumulate high quantities of toxins, such as mercury.
Marine ecosystems are also threatened by marine debris, which can strangle, suffocate, and
starve animals. Much of this solid debris, such as plastic bags and soda cans, gets swept into
sewers and storm drains and eventually out to sea, turning our oceans into trash soup and
sometimes consolidating to form floating garbage patches. Discarded fishing gear and other
types of debris are responsible for harming more than 200 different species of marine life.
Meanwhile, ocean acidification is making it tougher for shellfish and coral to survive. Though
they absorb about a quarter of the carbon pollution created each year by burning fossil fuels,
oceans are becoming more acidic. This process makes it harder for shellfish and other species to
build shells and may impact the nervous systems of sharks, clownfish, and other marine life.

What is soil pollution?

Soil pollution is the addition of chemicals to the soil in quantities that are toxic to the
environment and its residents. This addition is mostly by human activities such as mining,
modern practices in agriculture, deforestation, indiscriminate dumping of human generated trash
and unregulated disposal of untreated wastes of various industries
Pollution by agricultural practises has come up ever since the demand for food has increased,
proportional to the increase in population. To increase the yield of farms and fields the farmers
have had to resort to additional chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weedicides, hormonal treatments
for the animals, nutrient laden feed and many such practices which changed the way farming was
done traditionally.

Causes of Soil Pollution

 Indiscriminate Use of Chemical fertilizers

These are mostly nitrogen and phosphorus based chemicals like ammonia and nitrates that are
most often than not, used in larger than required quantities and tend to accumulate in the soil.

 Chemical pesticides

Controlling pests are a farmer’s need if a good crop is to be reaped. Pesticides and insecticides
like organochlorines, organophosphates and carbonates are used regularly. These also
contaminate the ground not only in the fields, but also in the places of manufacture, storage and
disposal. They also tend to bio accumulate i.e. they collect in the body of the insects and then
enter the food chain and lead to chronic poisoning of the higher level animals. Some pesticides
also are absorbed naturally by the plants themselves and stored their different parts.

 Heavy metals

Cadmium, fluoride, radioactive elements like uranium are regularly found in the parent minerals
from which the fertilisers are obtained. Dangerous metals such as Mercury, Lead, Arsenic,
Chromium, and Nickel are seen in traces in Zinc rich wastes from the steel industries which are
used as fertilizers. These are often not removed from the because of the high cost involved.

 Excessive tillage of the land

Overturning, digging or stirring leads to release of greenhouse gases produced in the ground such
as nitrous oxide

 Soil erosion

Loss of soil material due to poor management causes soil to become infertile. Soil erosion is
followed by deforestation, storm water runoff, overgrazing and excess of agriculture practices,
constructions, mining. The soil sediments settling elsewhere on land or in water cause
differences to occur in the environments there. In water it causes murkiness reducing visibility
for fish and other animals sourcing their food. It leads to reduced penetration of sunlight and
affects the process of photosynthesis causing reduction in oxygen levels of the water. Heavy
pollutants and nutrients are bound to the sediment particles and carried into the water
contaminating it. Faster rate of soil erosion changes the topography of a place.

 Animal management
The disposal of manure and other associated waste material from animal farms are also a reason
for soil pollution. They cause pollution of the air as well as the water. 18 per cent of Greenhouse
gases are said to be generated by farm animals. The large amounts of manure created, carry
pathogens that are harmful for humans too.

 Landfills and other waste dumping issues.

Human generated sewage is a major cause for soil pollution. At the same time waste products
such as plastics, glass, metals, Batteries, paper, fibres and rubber etc. add to the contamination as
most of these are non-biodegradable. Much of the trash can be recycled such as paper, metal and
glass, etc. Leaching of toxic materials occur at landfills. The more dangerous substances found in
landfills are oils, battery metals, heavy metals from smelting industries and organic solvents.

 Acid rain

Air pollutants, sulphur dioxides, nitrous oxide and others combine with rain water, form acids
and reach the soil. This is called acid rain. It reduces the pH of the soil ie it makes it acidic. It
changes the nutrient content of the soil. These changes have adverse effects on the plants
growing here, the insects and the other animal’s dependant on the land.

Mechanisms (Types of Soil pollution)

Leaching and Ground Water Poisoning

When chemicals accumulate in the soil, depending on its water solubility and soil structure it
percolates through reaching the ground water, causing its contamination. This also depends on
the rainfall. For example after applying pesticides on crops in sandy areas, if excessive irrigation
is done , the pesticide chemicals leach into ground. Leaching occurs not only in the fields, but
also at the manufacturing, mixing and disposal sites.
Water runoff
Only a fraction of fertilisers and other chemical additives are utilised on the fields. The major
bulk mixes in the runoff water and flows into the nearby watercourses. This is mainly in the form
of nitrates and phosphates.
Barrenness of the ground
Many times the ground becomes barren and cannot support any flora or fauna on it. Use of
excessive fertilizer progressively reduces the nutrient content of the foods such as proteins and
vitamins in grains and vegetables.

Prevention of soil pollution

  Managing and regulating the chemical waste disposal by industries is vital to soil health.
Treatment of the wastes before disposal to remove chemicals and heavy metals at any
cost must be done
 Prevention can never be a solo effort. The state governments, farmers’ organisations,
collectives and cooperatives, educational institutions and conservation groups need to
work together for regulating and reducing farming related soil pollution.
 Planning the application of fertilizer at the right time, in the right quantity with the
correct methods can reduce the accumulation of chemicals.
 Planting certain grasses and clovers that can absorb and recycle the additional nutrients
and prevent soil erosion. Planting rows of trees and shrubs around fields and along the
borders of the stream or lake also help in the same way.
 Over tilling of the soil must be avoided to prevent soil erosion and soil compaction.
 Managing the correct disposal of human and animal wastes and treating the sewage
before release makes a big difference in the magnitude of soil and water pollution
 Composting, solid liquid separation, anaerobic digestion and lagoons are different ways
of managing animal manure. Of these anaerobic digestion is the most effective. It
involves the use of anaerobic bacteria and heat. The products of this process are nutrient
rich liquid used as fertiliser and methane gas that can be burned to produce electricity and
heat. Anaerobic digestion is a best method for controlling odour associated with manure
management.
 Afforestation or planting of more trees is always good for binding the soil.

Effects of soil pollution

Since soil pollution is not a lone standing entity, its effects are carried over as water pollution
and air pollution. It affects every aspect of the environment and every organism from the
earthworm to humans. Some of the adverse effects are as follows:
Human health
Since we are dependent on the land for our food, pollution from the soil is transferred to us in
this manner. Bio accumulation of toxins occurs in our bodies, causing chronic poisoning, and
leading to various diseases. Reproductive health, birth and developmental defects, neurologic
effects, malnutrition, and mutations in the cells of the body leading to cancers; all these are on
the increase today.
Growth of plants
Plants will not be able to adapt to sudden changes occurring in the soil. Fungi and bacteria found
in the soils cannot bind the soil due to chemical changes and this causes soil erosion. Large tracts
of land become barren; unable to support any life on it. Even the plants that do grow on these
lands will absorb the toxins and transfer to the food chain.
Air pollution
Toxic dust rises from landfills along with foul odour, pollutes the air and causes adverse effects
to the people who live near them.
Conclusion
Since every living being is dependent on the land for their nourishment, everyone is affected. As
soil pollution continues unabated, malnourishment is a very real occurrence. The irony of high
yield of crops versus decreased nutritional content in them is lost on many, who are in a position
to bring about changes. Soil pollution also causes heavy economic losses. Medical expenses,
rising costs of dwindling stocks of food, famines are all realities that have to be faced.
Much research and technological advances are helping to control soil pollution. Farmers are
opting for more traditional organic methods of farming to reverse the damage caused to the
lands. Hardier indigenous plants are now being grown again in the place of the hybrid ones. As
awareness of one’s environment grows everyone must pitch in by following the motto of recycle,
reduce and reuse. The consumerist in us must reduce and the conservationist must increase.

What is Noise Pollution?

Most of us are very used to the sounds we hear in everyday life. Loud music, the television,
people talking on their phone, the traffic and even pets barking in the middle of the night. All of
these have become a part of the urban culture and rarely disturb us. However, when the sound of
the television keeps you from sleeping all night or the traffic starts to give you a headache, it
stops becoming just noise and starts turning into noise pollution. For many of us, the concept
of pollution is limited to nature and resources. However, noise that tends to disrupt the natural
rhythm of life makes for one solid pollutant.
By definition, noise pollution takes place when there is either an excessive amount of noise or an
unpleasant sound that causes a temporary disruption in the natural balance. This definition is
usually applicable to sounds or noises that are unnatural in either their volume or their
production. Our environment is such that it has become difficult to escape the noise. Even
electrical appliances at home have a constant hum or beeping sound. By and large, lack of urban
planning increases the exposure to unwanted sounds. This is why understanding
noise pollution is necessary to curb it in time.

Various Causes of Noise Pollution

1. Industrialization
Most of the industries use big machines which are capable of producing a large amount of noise.
Apart from that, various equipment like compressors, generators, exhaust fans, grinding mills
also participates in producing big noise. Therefore, you must have seen workers in these factories
and industries wearing earplugs to minimize the effect of noise.
2. Poor Urban Planning
In most of the developing countries, poor urban planning also plays a vital role. Congested
houses, large families sharing small space, fight over parking, frequent fights over basic
amenities leads to noise pollution which may disrupt the environment of society.

3. Social Events
Noise is at its peak in most of the social events. Whether it is marriage, parties, pub, disc or place
of worship, people normally flout rules set by the local administration and create nuisance in the
area. People play songs on full volume and dance till midnight which makes the condition of
people living nearby pretty worse. In markets, you can see people selling clothes via making a
loud noise to attract the attention of people.

4. Transportation
A large number of vehicles on roads, airplanes flying over houses, underground trains produce
heavy noise and people get it difficult to get accustomed to that. The high noise leads to a
situation wherein a normal person loses the ability to hear properly.

5. Construction Activities
Under construction activities like mining, construction of bridges, dams, buildings, stations,
roads, flyovers takes place in almost every part of the world. These construction activities take
place every day as we need more buildings, bridges to accommodate more people and to reduce
traffic congestion. The down point is that these construction equipment are too noisy.

6. Household Chores
We people are surrounded by gadgets and use them extensively in our daily life. Gadgets like
TV, mobile, mixer grinder, pressure cooker, vacuum cleaners, washing machine and dryer,
cooler, air conditioners are minor contributors to the amount of noise that is produced but it
affects the quality of life of your neighborhood in a bad way.
While this form of pollution may seem harmless, it, in fact, has far-reaching consequences. The
adverse effects on the health of the environment are quite severe. Not only is the local wildlife
affected by pollution but humans also face a number of problems due to it.

Effects of Noise Pollution

1. Hearing Problems
Any unwanted sound that our ears have not been built to filter can cause problems within the
body. Our ears can take in a certain range of sounds without getting damaged. Man-made noises
such as jackhammers, horns, machinery, airplanes and even vehicles can be too loud for our
hearing range. Constant exposure to loud levels of noise can easily result in the damage of our
eardrums and loss of hearing. It also reduces our sensitivity to sounds that our ears pick up
unconsciously to regulate our body’s rhythm.

2. Health Issues
Excessive noise pollution in working areas such as offices, construction sites, bars and even in
our homes can influence psychological health. Studies show that the occurrence of aggressive
behavior, disturbance of sleep, constant stress, fatigue, and hypertension can be linked to
excessive noise levels. These, in turn, can cause more severe and chronic health issues later in
life.

3. Sleeping Disorders
Loud noise can certainly hamper your sleeping pattern and may lead to irritation and
uncomfortable situations. Without a good night sleep, it may lead to problems related to fatigue
and your performance may go down in the office as well as at home. It is therefore recommended
to take a sound sleep to give your body proper rest.

4. Cardiovascular Issues
Blood pressure levels, cardiovascular disease, and stress-related heart problems are on the rise.
Studies suggest that high-intensity noise causes high blood pressure and increases heartbeat rate
as it disrupts the normal blood flow. Bringing them to a manageable level depends on our
understanding of noise pollution and how we tackle it.

5. Trouble Communicating
High decibel noise can put trouble and may not allow two people to communicate freely. This
may lead to misunderstanding and you may get difficult understanding the other person.
Constant sharp noise can give you a severe headache and disturb your emotional balance.

6. Effect on Wildlife
Wildlife faces far more problems than humans because of noise pollution since they are more
dependent on sound. Animals develop a better sense of hearing than us since their survival
depends on it. The ill effects of excessive noise begin at home. Pets react more aggressively in
households where there is a constant noise.
They become disoriented more easily and face many behavioral problems. In nature, animals
may suffer from hearing loss, which makes them easy prey and leads to dwindling populations.
Others become inefficient at hunting, disturbing the balance of the eco-system.
Species that depend on mating calls to reproduce are often unable to hear these calls due to
excessive man-made noise. As a result, they are unable to reproduce and cause declining
populations. Others require sound waves to echolocate and find their way when migrating.
Disturbing their sound signals means they get lost easily and do not migrate when they should.
To cope up with the increasing sound around them, animals are becoming louder, which may
further add to the pollution levels. This is why understanding noise pollution can help us lower
the impact it has on the environment.
As of now, there do not exist many solutions to reduce sound pollution. On a personal level,
everybody can help to reduce the noise in their homes by lowering the volume of the radio,
music system and the television. Listening to music without headphones is also a good step
forward. Removal of public loudspeakers is another way in which pollution can be countered.As
is controlling the sound levels in clubs, bars, parties, and discos. Better urban planning can help
in creating ‘No-Noise’ zones, where honking and industrial noise are not tolerated. It is only
when our understanding of noise pollution is complete, can we take steps to eradicate it
completely.
Noise Control Techniques:
There are 4 fundamental ways in which noise can be controlled:
(1) Reduce noise at the source

(2) block the path of noise

(3) increase the path length and

(4) protect the recipient.

1. Reduce Noise at the Source:
a. Make sure that all openings are acoustically sealed. Noise, lake water rushes out through any
cracks or openings. Muffling vehicles and machinery to reduce the noise.

b. In industries, different types of absorptive material can be used to control interior noise. Noise
reduction can be done by using rigid sealed enclosures around machinery lined with acoustic
absorbing material. Isolating machines and their enclosures from the floor using special spring
mounts or absorbent mounts and pads and using flexible couplings for interior pipelines also
contribute to reducing noise pollution at the source.

c. Regular and thorough maintenance of operating machinery. We should reduce mechanical run
out of shafts. By reducing this source of vibration excitation many components like bearing gears
and cans may generate less noise and have generate life. We must improve lubrications. We
should install bearings correctly. Improper installation sometimes is the reason for bearing noise
problems.

d. Traffic volume and speed also have significant effects on the overall sound. Example:
doubling the speed increases the sound levels by about 9 dB and doubling the traffic volume
(number of vehicles per hour) increases sound levels by about 3 dB. A smooth flow of traffic
causes less noise than a stop-and-go traffic pattern. Thus proper highway planning and design are
essential for controlling traffic noise.

e. Establishing lower speed limits for highways that pass through residential areas, limiting
traffic volume and providing alternative routes for truck traffic are effective noise control
measures.

f. Using efficient flow techniques: for reducing noise associated with high fluid velocities and
turbulence.

g. Reducing fluid jet velocities: As jet noise is proportional to the eight power of jet velocity.

2. Block the path of noise:

Through construction of temporary/permanent barriers:
a. Planting of trees around houses can also act as effective noise barriers.

b. Highly absorptive interior finish material for walls, ceilings and floors can decrease indoor
noise levels significantly.

3. Increasing the path length:

Increasing distance from the noise source and the recipient offers a passive means of
control:
a. Municipal land- use ordinances pertaining to the location of airports make use of the
attenuating effect of distance on sound levels.

4. Protect the recipient:

a. Use of earplugs and earmuffs. Specially designed earmuffs can reduce the sound level
reaching the eardrum by as much as 40 dB.

Besides these in general making Legislation, Educating and bringing awareness in the people is
common for control of any pollution Example: Ban on loud speakers from 10 pm to 6 pm.

Nuclear Hazards

Radionuclides are elements (uranium 235, uranium 283, thorium 232, potassium 40, radium 226,
carbon 14 etc) with unstable atomic nuclei and on decomposition release ionizing radiations in
the form of alpha, beta and gamma rays. Out of the known 45O radioisotopes only some are of
environmental concern like strontium 90, tritium, plutonium 239, argon 41, cobalt 60, cesium
137, iodine 131, krypton 85 etc.
These can be both beneficial and harmful, depending on the way in which they are used. We
routinely use X-rays to examine bones for fractures, treat cancer with radiation and diagnose
diseases with the help of radioactive isotopes. About 17% of the electrical energy generated in
the world comes from nuclear power plants.
Radioactive substances when released into the environment are either dispersed or become
concentrated in living organisms through the food chain. Other than naturally occurring
radioisotopes, significant amounts are generated by human activity, including the operation of
nuclear power plants, the manufacture of nuclear weapons, and atomic bomb testing. For
example, strontium 90 behaves like calcium and is easily deposited and replaces calcium in the
bone tissues. It could be passed to human beings through ingestion of strontium-contaminated
milk. Again another example is tritium, which is radioactive hydrogen. The amount of tritium
released from nuclear power plants to the atmosphere have reached as high as tens of thousands
of curies in one year, and releases to bodies of water have measured as high as tens of millions of
picocuries per litre. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standard for permissible levels
of tritium in drinking water is 20,000 picocuries per litre. Nuclear power plants routinely and
accidentally release tritium into the air and water. Tritium has a half- life of 12.3 years and emits
radioactive beta particles. Once tritium is inhaled or swallowed, its beta particles can bombard
cells causing a mutation.

A few occupations that involve radioactive exposures are uranium mineworkers,radium watch
dial painters, technical staff at nuclear power plants, etc. Exposure to radioactive and nuclear
hazards has been clinically proven to cause cancer, mutations and teratogenesis (Teratogenesis is
a prenatal toxicity characterized by structural or functional defects in the developing embryo or
fetus).

Nuclear hazard effects can be either initial or residual. Initial effects occur in the immediate area
of explosion and are hazardous immediately after the explosion where as the residual effects can
last for days or years and cause death. The principal initial effects are blast and radiation. Blast
causes damage to lungs, ruptures eardrums, collapses structures and causes immediate death or
injury. Thermal Radiation is the heat and light radiation, which a nuclear explosion’s fireball
emits producing extensive fires, skin burns, and flash blindness. Nuclear radiation consists of
intense gamma rays and neutrons produced during the first minute after the explosion. This
radiation causes extensive damage to cells throughout the body. Radiation damage may cause
headaches, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and even death, depending on the radiation dose received.
6.2 Sources

The sources of radioactivity include both natural and manmade.

Natural sources

 Cosmic rays from outer space

 Emissions from radioactive materials in the earth’s crust (rocks, marine sediments
etc) Man-made sources include the nuclear wastes produced during
 Mining and processing of radioactive ores
 Use of radioactive materials in power plants
 Use of radioactive isotopes in medical technology (x-ray machines, radioisotopes used in
medicine)
 Industrial applications include wastes from nuclear reactors
 Research applications: radioactive fallouts during nuclear weapons testing.
 In a nuclear power plant, any leak or accident taking place emit nuclear radiation. In
either case it results in nuclear hazard.
 Nuclear tests Conducted under the ground or under oceans which also release radiation.
 Uranium mining and milling, Nuclear reactors and reprocessing of nuclear fuel cause
nuclear pollution.

6.3 Effects

Studies shown that the health effects due to radiation are dependent on the level of dose, kind of
radiation, duration of exposure and types of cells irradiated. Radiation effects can be somatic or
genetic. Somatic affects the function of cells and organs. It causes damages to cell membranes,
mitochondria and cell nuclei resulting in abnormal cell functions, cell division, growth and
death. Genetic affects the future generations. Radiations can cause mutations, which are
changes in genetic make up of cells. These effects are mainly due to the damages to DNA
molecules. People suffer from blood cancer and bone cancer if exposed to doses around 100 to
1000 roentgens. Instantaneous deaths on exposure in the event if disasters are many.

6.3.2 Control measures

 Laboratory generated nuclear wastes should be disposed off safely and scientifically.
 Nuclear power plants should be located in areas after careful study of the geology of the
area, tectonic activity and meeting other established conditions.
 Appropriate protection against occupational exposure
 Leakage of radioactive elements from nuclear reactors, careless use of radioactive
elements as fuel and careless handling of radioactive isotopes must be prevented.
 Safety measure against accidental release of radioactive elements must be ensured in
nuclear plants.
 Unless absolutely necessary, one should not frequently go for diagnosis by x-rays.
 Regular monitoring of the presence of radioactive substance in high risk area should be
ensured.

Sources Explosion
Among the many options for waste disposal, the scientists prefer to bury the waste in hundreds
of meters deep in the earth’s crust which is considered to be the best safety in long term option.

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster: A lesson in the technological disaster of human history

This disaster that occurred on April 26, 1986 in Ukraine, (i.e. former USSR) at

the Chernobyl power plant reactor, designed to produce 1000 MW of electrical energy. It
resulted in the release of Sr-90, Ce-134, Ce-137, 1-131 etc. which polluted the whole region. The
explosion occurred due to faulty shutting down of the plant. Combustion of the graphite rods
inside the rector resulted in fire and the temperature of the reactor went up to 2000°C. The
radioactive debris, gases and plume drifted over the entire northern hemisphere affecting mostly
Sweden, Norway, Poland, and Denmark etc. More than 2000 people died in the disaster and
many children were affected with congenital abnormalities. The disaster damaged agricultural
crops, plants and caused cancer, lung, eye and blood disorders. Many European countries like
Denmark and Sweden had banned the import of milk and milk containing products from the
former USSR. This was because the milk was contaminated by 1-131, which had entered the
cows through grazing on pastures and plants, contaminated with the same.

Radioactive pollution occurs when there is presence or depositions of radioactive materials in the
atmosphere or environment, especially where their presence is accidental and when it presents
an environmental threat due to radioactive decay. The destruction caused by the radioactive
materials is because of the emissions of hazardous ionizing radiation (radioactive decay) like
beta or alpha particles, gamma rays or neurons in the environment where they exist.
Since the substances are characterized by radiation – because there is a lot of instability of the
particles present in the radioactive materials, it can seriously affect, alter and even destroy plant,
animal, and human life. The extent of damage or danger posed to the environment depends upon
the radioactive material concentration, the energy emitted by the radiation, proximity of the
radioactive materials to those exposes, and the radiation type. Herein is a detailed explanation
of the causes, effects, and solutions of radioactive pollution

Causes of Radioactive Pollution

1. Nuclear accidents from nuclear energy generation plants

In the postmodern world, various forms of energy are being discovered. Among them is nuclear
energy, which is touted to be the most potent source of energy due to its high latent power.
Reports indicate that the high latent power is due to its high level of radiation.

Its use is, therefore, prohibited but research is underway to determine its environmental
safety and to put in place the most appropriate precautionary measures for its use. In some cases
and countries, however, nuclear power plant accidents like the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear
disaster, Chernobyl disaster, and Three Mile Island accident that left many dead and even many
more affected by the radiation released.
2. The use of nuclear weapons as weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
The use of nuclear missiles and atomic bombs, a form of nuclear energy, in the Second World
War not only explains cause but also the damaging nature of radioactive pollution or
contamination. The effects of those two strikes in Hiroshima and Nagasaki that prompted the end
of the war in 1945 have been seen to date with children born with complications such mental
retardation as well as conditions such as autism and other disorders. The number of cancer cases
present in the two towns is more than those of the rest of Japan.
3. Use of radio isotopes
Radio isotopes are used to make detectors and in other industrial activities. Isotopes such as
uranium have high concentrations of radiation in them. On the other hand, common Isotopes
such as carbon containing radioactive material are easily found in water ways through sewage
lines.
Since most of the raw sewage is untreated before release, once released, the isotope combines
with other compounds and elements in water. This is the same water that people fetch for
domestic use. Moreover, fishes use the same water to survive. Consumption of these fish and
from contaminated water sources means potential intake of radiation.

4. Mining
Mining mostly involves the excavation of the mineral ores which are then broken into smaller
manageable pieces. Radium and Uranium, for instance, are naturally occurring in the
environment and are equally radioactive. Hence, mining increases the natural geological
processes by moving these materials from underneath the earth to the surface. Other minerals
with a hint of radiation are thorium, plutonium, radon, potassium, carbon and phosphorus.
5. Spillage of radioactive chemicals
There have been instances of spillages over oceans when ships hit glaciers or coral reefs and end
up releasing chemicals on waterways and in the atmosphere. The majority of these chemicals
including petroleum products have a significant level of radiation which can be detrimental to the
environment.
6. Tests on radiation
Radiation has been seen to have a lot of interesting properties which has promoted a lot of
scientists to conduct tests to learn more about it. It is one of the key elements in the cure and
treatment of cancer.
Chemotherapy, a cancer curative health initiative uses radiation to prevent further growth of the
cancer cells as well as keep the immune system strong. Despite this, scientists have been exposed
to radiation leading to their deaths or to complications.

7. Cosmic rays
These come from outer space to our planet with intense radiation as their nature, therefore,
causing radioactive pollution. Gamma rays, for example, are said to have the highest level of
radiation and yet, depending on their intensity, some are not visible to the human eye. The
quantity with which the rays hit the earth depends on the altitude of the earth and the
geographical location.
Effects of Radioactive Pollution
1. Genetic mutations
Radiation has adverse effects when it comes to genetics. It leads to damage of DNA strands
leading to genetic break up in the course of time. The degree of genetic mutation leading to
changes in DNA composition vary due to the level of radiation one has been exposed to and the
kind of exposure.
In the event that a human or an animal is exposed to too much radiation from the atmosphere,
food consumed and even water used then chances are that their bodies have already absorbed the
radiation. Once in the body, it remains active because energy cannot be destroyed.
The resulting mutation makes one highly susceptible to cancer. For pregnant women, kids born
have adverse defects caused by genetic mutations like low weight during birth. Effects such as
disfigured births and impairment like blindness in children have also been reported. Infertility
has also been mentioned as an effect of radiation.
2. Diseases
Cancer is the most dominant radiation related disease. It has developed over the years and poses
great risk in global health. Others include leukemia, anemia, hemorrhage, a reduction in the life
span leading to premature aging and premature deaths as well as others such as cardiovascular
complications. Leukemia, for instance, is caused by radiation in the bone marrow.
3. Soil infertility
Exposure of radiation to the atmosphere means it is present even in soils. Radioactive substances
in the soil react together with the various nutrients leading to destruction of those nutrients, thus
rendering the soil infertile and highly toxic. Such soil leads to the harvest of crops that are
riddled with radiation and thus, unfit for consumption by both humans and animals.
Plants that grow from such soil are also genetically modified. Since these are at the base of the
food chain, the herbivores consume them and retain the radiation levels. The carnivores such as
lions, vultures end up consuming them and increasing their levels of radiation – explained
through the concept of Biomagnification.

4. Cell destruction
Radioactive pollution has diverse effects such as the alteration of cells. The bodies of living
organisms are unique in that there are millions of cells in one single body, where each has its
purpose to fulfill. Radiation distorts the cells present leading to permanent damage of the various
organs and organ systems. In the face of too much radiation, permanent illnesses and death are
inevitable.
5. Burns
Radiation is not easy to feel but it is easy to realize that you have been affected by it. The
immediate presence of burns, red lesions and sores is evidence. To make it worse, this can lead
to skin cancer.
Solutions of Radioactive Pollution
1. Proper method of disposing radioactive waste
Radioactive waste still has some level of radiation. Accordingly, it cannot be disposed in the
same way as normal waste. It cannot be incinerated or buried. Since there is likelihood of
seepage, this waste should be stored in heavy and thick concrete containers. Another option is to
dilute the radiation since storage may not be possible. Since there are no easy ways of disposing
of radioactive material, professional assistance should always be sought.

2. Proper labeling
It is necessary for any material with radioactive content to be labeled and the necessary
precautions advised on the content of the label. The reason for this is because radiation can enter
the body by a mere touch of radioactive material. Containers with such elements should be well
labeled in order for one to use protective gear when handling them.
3. Banning of nuclear tests
It has already been proven that nuclear power has a lot of latent power that is very destructive.
Nevertheless, the tests done to perfect the energy contribute greatly to the overall presence of
radioactive substances. Moreover, these tests though done in the deserts end up escaping from
one ecosystem to another eventually affecting the lives of many people.
4. Alternative energy sources
The evolution and use of nuclear power was not a bad thing initially. However, considering
the damage and threats it has on the environment, it is high time for its use to be discontinued
and for the world to perhaps focus on alternative and environmentally friendly energy sources –
like renewable sources of energy namely Solar, hydro-electric and wind power.
The use of radioactivity to generate energy in nuclear power plants, for example, leads to the
production of more radiation to the atmosphere considering the waste released from the various
processes and combustion.

5. Proper storage
It is mandatory for containers carrying radioactive material to be stored properly. For starters,
such substances should be stored in radiation proof containers to ensure no seeping or leakage
during handling. Proper storage means no harm and can minimize cases of accidental leakage.
6. Reusing
Since it is not easy to store or dispose the waste, it can be recycled and used for other purposes
like in another reactor as fuel thereby protecting the environment.
Control Measures of Urban and Industrial Wastes

Indiscriminate disposal of solid wastes, especially of hazardous wastes causes adverse

environmental effects.
The main objective of solid waste management is to minimise these adverse effects before it
becomes too difficult to rectify in the future.
Solid waste management is a manifold task involving many activities like:
(i) Collection of solid wastes.

(ii) Disposal of solid wastes.

(iii) Waste utilisation.

(i) Collection of Solid Wastes:

Collection includes all the activities associated with the gathering of solid wastes and the hauling
of the wastes collected to the location from where the collection vehicle will ultimately transport
it to the site of disposal. There are three basic methods of collection.
(a) Community storage point:
The municipal refuse is taken to fixed storage bins and stored till the waste collection agency
collects it daily for disposal in a vehicle.

(b) Kerbside Collection:

In advance of the collection time, the refuse is brought in containers and placed on the footway
from where it is collected by the waste collection agency.

(c) Block Collection:

Individuals bring the waste in containers and hand it over to the collection staff who empties it
into the waiting vehicle and returns the container to the individuals.

(ii) Disposal of Solid Wastes:

Before the solid waste is ultimately disposed of it is processed in order to improve the efficiency
of solid waste disposal system and to recover usable resources out of the solid wastes. The
processing techniques such as compaction i.e. mechanical volume reduction or incineration i.e.
thermal volume reduction and manual component separation i.e. manual sorting of the waste are
employed to increase the efficiency of solid waste management.

Due to heterogeneity of the city refuse it is important to select the most appropriate solid
waste disposal method keeping in view the following objectives:
(a) It should be economically viable i.e. the operation and maintenance costs must be carefully
assessed.

(b) It should not create a health hazard.

(c) It should not cause adverse environmental effects.

(d) It should not be aesthetically unpleasant i.e. it should not result in offending sights, odours,
and noises.

(e) It should preferably provide opportunities for recycling of materials.

The commonly used methods of disposal are:-

(1) Salvage or Manual Component Separation:
Before ultimate disposal, the manual separation of solid waste components is accomplished to
achieve the recovery and reuse of materials. Cardboard, newsprint, high quality paper, glass,
metals, wood and aluminum cans etc. are manually sorted out or salvaged either for recycling or
for resale.

(2) Compaction or Mechanical Volume Reduction:

After separation of reusable or disposable articles, compacters are used to compress the waste
materials directly into large containers or to form bales that can be then placed in large
containers. Compaction increases the useful life of landfills.
(3) Incineration or Thermal Volume Reduction:
Highly combustible wastes like plastics, cardboard, paper, rubber and combustible wastes like
cartons, wood scrap, floor sweepings, food wastes etc. are subjected to incineration i.e. burning
at very high temperatures. Incineration results in air pollution and so proper control equipment
needs to be installed to avoid contamination of environment.

In order to make this method economical, the heat generated during incineration is usefully
utilised by generating steam or by putting a waste heat boiler on the incinerator thereby partly
recovering the cost of waste collection and disposal.

(4) Open Dumping:

Open dumping of solid wastes is done in low lying areas and outskirts of the towns and cities.
Being comparatively cheaper, this method of disposal is used extensively in India.

However, major disadvantages are:

(a) Public health hazards are caused by the breeding of flies, mosquitoes rats and other pests.

(b) Obnoxious gaseous and particulate matter is produced by burning of the combustible solid
wastes, resulting in air pollution.

(c) Open dumping requires large land areas which further aggravates the problem of land
shortage for human habitation.

(5) Sanitary Landfilling or Controlled Tipping:

Sanitary landfilling involves the disposal of municipal wastes on or in the upper layers of the
earth’s mantle especially in degraded areas in need of restoration. In landfilling, the solid wastes
are compacted and spread in thin layers each layer being uniformly covered by a layer of soil.

The final layer is covered by a final cover of about one meter of earth to prevent rodents from
burrowing into the refuse and scattering. This is a biological method of waste treatment and
bacterial refuse digestion results in decomposition products like CO 2, CH4, NH3, H2S and H2O
which can be harnessed as renewable sources of energy.
This method does not cause environmental damages by creating nuisances or health hazards as
the refuse is covered and prevents breeding of pests and disease vectors. Besides there is no
danger of air pollution resulting from burning and no water pollution provided precaution is
taken to avoid leachates of refuse from contaminating the surface or underground water sources.
This prevention can be taken by using a plastic membrane or watertight membrane on the base.

(6) Pyrolysis or Destructive Distillation:

In this disposal method, the solid wastes are heated under anaerobic conditions (i.e. burning
without oxygen). The organic components of the solid wastes split up into gaseous liquid and
gaseous fractions (CO, CO2, CH4, tar, charred carbon). Unlike the highly exothermic process of
combustion, pyrolysis is a highly endothermic process and that is why it is also called destructive
distillation.
(7) Land farming:
In this waste disposal method, the biodegradable industrial wastes are treated by the biological,
physical and chemical processes occurring in the surface of the soil. The organic wastes are
either applied on top of the land or injected below the soil surface with suitable equipment,
where they undergo bacterial and chemical decomposition. At frequent intervals, the land
farming sites can be reused without any adverse effects provided the land farming site is properly
managed.

(8) Composting or Biodegradation:

Bacterial decomposition of the organic components of the municipal solid wastes result in
formation of humus or compost and the process is known as composting. In this process a
compost pile is constructed by making alternate layers of organic matter and soil (source of
micro-organisms).

Some fertilizer and water is periodically added to the compost pile to stimulate microbial
(bacteria and fungi) action and to maintain the necessary moisture content (55%). Periodically,
the refuse is turned over to allow aeration i.e. penetration of oxygen to all parts of the organic
refuse to facilitate aerobic bacterial decomposition.

It takes nearly a month for composting to be complete. Large waste products such as machinery,
old furniture, abandoned vehicles etc. are required to be reduced in size in order to become
capable of being handled by pulverizes. This reduction in size is usually achieved by using
impact crushers or hydraulic shears.

(iii) Waste Utilisation:

A developing country cannot afford wastage. By proper utilisation of solid waste a
developing country like India can avail of many advantages, for instance:
(a) Waste utilisation directly or indirectly contributes to economic development.

(b) Waste utilisation generates employment* opportunities.

(c) Unused solid wastes create environmental hazards by spreading diseases and causing air and
water pollution.

(d) Waste utilisation helps in conservation of natural resources.

(e) Waste utilisation helps to generate many useful products which are the basic necessities of
life.

Resource recovery or waste utilisation is achieved by three techniques:

(1) Reuse i.e. a given material has multiple uses.

(2) Reclamation i.e. a component of the waste is recovered for use in a manner different from its
original use.
(3) Recycling i.e. isolating the material from which a given product was made and reintroducing
it into the production cycle for production of the same product.

Examples of Waste Utilization

(a) Clean water resulting from treatment of industrial effluents and sewage can be reused.

(b) Refilling of used cold drink bottles.

(c) Jute wastes are utilised for making good quality paper, box-boards and hard boards.

(d) Sugarcane wastes are utilised for production of electricity, paper, boards etc.

(e) Waste products of slaughter houses can also be utilised. Blood is used in pharmaceutical
industry and hides and skins are used for leather production.

(f) Cattle dung is used in gobar gas plants for making cooking gas.

(g) Cattle dung is used as a manure.

(h) Garbage is used for making compost.

(i) Waste paper is recycled to form paper, cardboard, good quality paper and paper bags etc.

(j) Scrap glass is used in production of new glass.

(k) Aquatic weeds like water Hyacinth (Eichhornia) is utilised by conversion into fertilisers,
biogas, animal feed, paper etc.

(l) Plastic is recycled to make new packs, soft waxes, greases and adhesives etc.

(m) Used tyres casings are reused in the manufacture of synthetic rubber,

(n) Fly ash is used as a cement substitute to make bricks etc. Efforts are required to be made to
minimise the generation of these wastes and to treat them to recover useful materials i.e. waste
utilisation, and to make the residual innocuous and harmless.

In 1975, a report on Utilisation and Recycling of Wastes (Research, Development and Extension
Requirements) was prepared by the National Committee on Science and Technology of the
Government of India (NCST, 1975).

This committee is presently functioning as the Scientific Advisory Committee to the Cabinet
(SACC). Legislation is required for protecting the environment against contamination by solid
wastes. Improper solid waste management programmes pose a serious threat to public health,
safety, welfare and standard of living.
Overview of Natural Disasters
A natural disaster is an event of nature, which causes sudden disruption to the normal life
of a society and causes damage to property and lives, to such an extent that normal social
and economic mechanisms available to the society are inadequate to restore
normalcy. Viewed in this manner, a host of natural phenomena constitute disasters to a
society, whether they are related to an occurrence in micro environment
or not. In macro terms, the disasters, which cause widespread damage and disruption in
India, are drought, flood, cyclone and earthquakes.
1. Floods
Of the annual rainfall, 75 per cent is concentrated over four months of monsoon (June -
September) and as a result almost all the rivers carry heavy discharge during this
period. The flood hazard is compounded by the problems of sediment deposition, drainage
congestion and synchronisation of river floods with sea tides in the coastal plains. The
rivers originating in the Himalayas also carry a lot of sediment and cause erosion of the
banks in the upper reaches and over-topping in the lower segments. The most flood prone
areas are the Brahmaputra and the Gangetic basins in the Indo- Gangetic plains. The other
flood prone areas are the north-west region of the west flowing rivers like Narmada and
Tapti, the Central India and the Deccan region with major east flowing rivers like
Mahanadi, Krishna and Cavery. While the area liable to floods is 40 million hectares, the
average area affected by floods annually is about 8 million hectares. The annual
average cropped area affected is approximately 3.7 million hectares. The average annual
total damage to crop, houses and public utilities during the period 1953-95 was about
Rs.972.00 Crores, while the maximum damage was Rs. 4630.00 Crores in 1988.
2. Drought
As much as 73.7 per cent of the annual aggregate precipitation of 400 million hectare
metres is received during the south-west Monsoon period, June to September. Due to
erratic behaviour of monsoon, both low (less than 750 mm) and medium (750 - 1125 mm)
rainfall regions, which constitute 68 per cent of the total areas, are vulnerable to periodical
droughts. The analysis of 100 years of rainfall behaviour reveals that the frequency of
occurrence of below normal rainfall in arid, semi-arid, and sub-humid areas is 54-57 per
cent, while severe and rare droughts occur once every 8- 9 years in arid and semi-arid
zones. In semi-arid and arid climatic zones, about 50 per cent of the severe droughts cover
generally 76 percent of the area. In this region, rare droughts of most severe intensity
occurred on an average once in 32 years and almost every third year was a drought
year. The impact of drought varies from year to year. The 1987 drought, which was one of
the worst drought of the century, with the overall rainfall deficiency of 19 per cent,
affected 58-60 per cent of cropped area and a population of 285 million.
3. Cyclone
India has a long coast line of 8,000 kms. On an average, about five to six tropical cyclones
form in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea every year, out of which two to three may be
severe. There are two distinct cyclone seasons: pre-monsoon (May-June) and post-
monsoon (October-November). Analysis of cyclone events during the last 100 years
period from 1891 to 1991 reveals that as against 117 cyclones of varied intensities formed
in the Arabian Sea, 442 cyclones were formed in the Bay of Bengal.
 The impact of these cyclones is confined to the coastal districts, the maximum destruction
being within 100 Km. from the centre of the cyclones and on either side of the storm track.
The principal dangers from a cyclone are: (i) gales and strong winds, (ii) torrential rain,
and (iii) high tidal waves ( also known as 'storm surges'). Most casualties are caused by
coastal inundation by tidal waves and storm surges. The worst
devastation takes place when and where the peak surge occurs at the time of the high tide.
4. Earthquake
The Himalayan mountain ranges are considered to be the world's youngest fold mountain
ranges. The subterranean Himalayas are, therefore, geologically very active . The
Himalayan frontal arc, flanked by the Arakan Yoma fold belt in the east and the Chaman
fault in the west constitutes one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Four
earthquakes exceeding magnitude 8 in the of 53 years, These are the Assam earthquakes
of 1987 and 1950, the Kangra earthquake of 1905 and the Bihar-Nepal earthquake of 1935.
The peninsular part of India comprises stable continental crust regions which are
considered stable as they are far away from the tectonic activity of the boundaries.
Although these regions were considered seismically least active, an earthquake that
occurred in Latur in Maharashtra on September 30, 1993 of magnitude 6.4 in the Richter
scale caused substantial loss of lives and damage to infrastructure.
5. Landslides
The Himalayan, the north-east hill ranges and the Western Ghats experience considerable
landslide activities of varying intensities. The rocks and the debris carried by the rivers
like Kosi originating in the Himalayas cause enormous landslides in the valleys. The
seismic activity in the Himalayan region also results in considerable landslide
movement. The heavy monsoon rainfall, often in association with cyclonic disturbances,
results in considerable landslide activity on the slopes of the Western Ghats.
6. Avalanches
Avalanches constitute a major hazard in the higher reaches of the Himalayas. Heavy loss of
life and property have been reported due to avalanches. Parts of the Himalayas receive
snowfall round the year and adventure sports are in abundance in such locations. Severe
snow avalanches are observed during and after snowfalls in Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal
Pradesh and the Hills of Western Uttar Pradesh. The population of about 20,000 in Nubra
and Shyok valleys and mountaineers and trekkers face avalanche hazard on account of
steep fall of 3000 to 5000 metres over a distance of 10 to 30 kilometres.
Disaster Response
1. Administrative Response
The basic responsibility for undertaking rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures in the
event of natural disasters is that of the State Governments concerned. The role of the
Central Government is supportive, in terms of physical and financial resources and
complementary measures in sectors such as transport, warning and inter-state movement of
food grains. Relief Manuals and Codes are available for undertaking emergency
operations.
A broad view of the administrative response at national, state and district levels is given
below:
2. National Organisation
Under the Indian federal system, disaster management is the responsibility of State
Governments. However, there is a Crisis Management Group headed by the Cabinet
 Secretary and consisting of nodal ministries in charge of various types of disasters and
supporting ministries. For natural disasters, the Ministry of Agriculture is the nodal
Ministry and the other Ministries play a supportive role. In the event of a disaster, a multi-
disciplinary Central Government team, at the invitation of the affected State, carries out
disaster assessment and makes recommendation for assistance.
3. State Level Organisation
Disaster preparedness and response in the State is usually delegated to the Relief and
Rehabilitation Department or the Department of Revenue. The Crisis Management Group
at the State level is headed by the Chief Secretary of the Government, with participating of
all the related agencies.
4. District Level
A District Level Co-ordination and Review Committee is constituted and is headed by the
Collector as Chairman with participation of all other related agencies and departments.
5. Contingency Action Plan
A National Contingency Action Plan (CAP) has been notified. It facilitates the launching
of relief operations without delay. This is updated every year. The CAP identifies the
initiatives required to be taken by various Central Ministries/Departments in the wake of
natural calamities, sets down the procedure and determines the focal points in the
administrative machinery.
At the State level, the State Relief Commissioner (or Secretary, Department of Revenue)
directs and controls the relief operations through Collectors or Deputy Commissioners,
who are the king-pin of all relief operations, co-ordination, direction and control at the
district level.
6. Arrangements for Financing Relief
Schemes for financing expenditure on relief and rehabilitation in the wake of natural
calamities are governed by the recommendations of Finance Commissions appointed by
Government of India after every five years. Under the existing scheme, in operation for
the period 1995-2000, each State has a corpus of funds called Calamity Relief Fund(CRF),
administered by a State Level Committee, headed by the Chief Secretary of the State
Government. The size of the corpus is determined having regard to the vulnerability of the
State to different natural calamities and the magnitude of expenditure normally incurred by
the State on relief operations. The corpus is built by annual contributions of the Union
Government and the State Governments concerned in the ratio of 3:1. At present, the
aggregate accretion in the States' CRF for a period of five years from 1995-2000 amounts
to Rs. 63042.70 million. The States are free to draw upon this corpus for providing relief
in the event of any natural calamity. In the event of a major disaster warranting
intervention at the national level, a provision exists in the form of National Fund for
Calamity Relief with a corpus of Rs. 7000.00 million (for 1995-2000 ) for the Union
Government to supplement the financial resources needed for relief operations.
Ⅴ．Forecasting and Warning
India has over the years developed, upgraded and modernised the monitoring, forecasting
and warning systems to deal with cyclones, floods, droughts and earthquakes.
1. Cyclone
The India Meteorological Department(IMD) is responsible for cyclone tracking and
warning to the concerned user agencies. Cyclone tracking is done through INSAT Satellite
and 10 cyclone detection radars. Warning is issued to cover ports, fisheries, and aviation
 departments. The warning system provides for a cyclone alert of 48 hours, and a cyclone
warning of 24 hours. There is a special Disaster Warning System (DWS) for dissemination
of cyclone warning through INSAT Satellite to designated addresses at isolated places in
local languages.
The extent of headway made in cyclone warning is evidenced by two situations of 1977
and 1990 in Andhra Pradesh coast which was hit by cyclones accompanied by high storm
surges of almost the same intensities. The number of deaths in 1977 was over 10,000
whereas the loss of human lives in 1990 was less than 1000. Timely warnings issued by
the IMD enabled the administration in evacuating and transporting over half a million
people from the affected areas.
2. Floods
The Central Water Commission(CWC) has a flood forecasting system covering 62 major
rivers in 13 States with 157 stations for transmission of flood warnings on real time
basis. In 1995, 8,566 forecasts were issued with a percentage accuracy of 95 per
cent. There are 55 hydro-meteorological stations also in the 62 river basins.
VHF/HF wireless communication system is used for data collection with micro- computers
at the forecasting centres. Hydrological models are increasingly used for inflow and flood
forecasting and the forecasts are communicated to the administrative and the engineering
departments for dissemination.
3. Droughts
The IMD has divided the entire country into 35 meteorological sub-divisions. It issues
weekly bulletins on rainfall indicating normal, excess and deficient levels and also the
percentages of departure from the normal.
The CWC monitors the levels of 60 major reservoirs with weekly reports of reservoir
levels and corresponding capacity for the previous year and the average of the previous 10
years. Similar monitoring of smaller reservoirs by the Irrigation Departments of State
Governments give advance warnings of hydrological droughts with below average stream
flows, cessation of stream flows and decrease in soil moisture and groundwater levels.
Based on the input from IMD and CWC on the rainfall behaviour and the water levels in
the reservoirs respectively and the information on crop situations received from the local
sources, the National Crop Weather Watch Group monitors the drought
conditions. Remote sensing techniques are also used for monitoring drought conditions
based on vegetative and moisture index status.
4. Earthquake
On the basis of past earthquakes of magnitude 5 and above and intensities ranging from V
to IX superimposed on the magnitude information and also drawing upon tectonic features
in the near past, Earthquake Zonation maps have been prepared. IMD operates a network
of 36 seismic monitoring stations. After the Maharashtra earthquake of September 1993, a
plan to upgrade and modernise the National network of seismological operations equipped
with the State-of-art technology instruments is now in progress.
Ⅵ．Preparedness and Mitigation Measures
India, besides evolving effective post-disaster management operations, has also formulated
and implemented pre-disaster mitigation programmes and sectoral development
programmes to reduce the impact of disasters as well as reduce the socio-economic
vulnerabilities. The reconstruction programmes in the aftermath of disasters such as
 cyclones and earthquakes are also aimed at building disaster resistant structures to
withstand the impact of natural hazards in the future.
1. Floods
Structural methods of flood mitigation has attracted an investment of about Rs. 4,000 crore
between 1957 and 1995 in construction of new embankments (16200 kms), drainage
channel (32000 Km) and raising 4700 critical villages above the flood level. These
measures have protected an estimated area of 14.4 million hectares.

Multi-purpose dams and reservoirs have been built with flood moderation as one of the
objectives. Examples of flood moderation through multi-purpose dams are the Damodar
Valley systems in eastern India, Hirakud dam in Orissa and the Bhakra on river
Sutlej. The Damodar valley system has a flood absorption capacity of 1,867, mcm. which
moderates probable floods of 28,300 cusses to 7,075 cusses in the valley.
Control of premature siltation of multi-purpose reservoirs and checking degradation of
catchment areas is attempted through a scheme of soil conservation, River Valley Project
(RVP) in the catchments of major rivers. The scheme covers 581 watersheds in 27
catchments spread over 17 States.
The increasing trend in the flood damage observed in India during the seventies led to
attempts for the development of flood plains in a regulated manner. A model Bill on flood
plain Zoning was circulated to the State Governments as early as 1975 to enact suitable
legislation for restricting the encroachment of the flood plains and for their development in
regulated manner. The model Bill emphasises on non- structural measures. The main
features of the model bill were:
(a) designating flood zoning authority;
(b) delineation of flood plain;
(c) notification of limits of flood plains;
(d) restrictions on use of flood plains;
(e) compensation; and
(f) power to remove construction after prohibition.
During the decades of 1960s to 1980s there has been dependence on structural
measures. As structural measures alone have not yielded the desired results and flood
damages continue to show increasing trend, non-structural measures such as flood
forecasting, flood plain zoning, flood proofing of the civic amenities of the affected
villages, changing the cropping pattern and public participation in flood management
works are being given a fair trial. These measures are also cost and time effective.
2. Drought
India has given attention to irrigation development by harnessing water through the
medium reservoirs, developing traditional systems of tanks and exploiting
groundwater. The average annual investment on major and medium term irrigation
projects rose from 75.00 Crores in the First Five Year Plan to Rs. 2500.00 Crores in the
Eighth Five Year Plan creating a total potential of 38.0 million hectares.
The irrigation potential has not been fully utilised for want of on-farm development works
like field channels, land levelling, field drains and absence of appropriate system of water
distribution to ensure appropriate water management. The Government of India is now
operating a Command Area Development Programme(CADP) to strengthen the water
management capabilities and enhance the effectiveness of irrigation water application.
 The Desert Development Programme(DDP) started in 1977-78 aims at controlling the
process of desertification and mitigating the adverse effects on drought in the desert areas
through such projects as afforestation, sand-dune stabilisation, shelter belt plantation,
grassland development and soil and moisture conservation. A similar programme directed
at drought prone areas is under implementation since 1973 and is titled Drought Prone
Areas Programme(DPAP). The DPAP is under implementation in 149 districts in 14
States and the DDP in 36 districts in 7 States.
Seventy per cent of India's cultivated land is in the rainfed areas, which often suffer
reverses in agricultural production and face drought conditions. A programme titled
National Watershed Development Project for Rainfed Areas(NWDPRA) has been devised
and is under implementation. This programme adopts development measures for all the
spatial components of watersheds i.e. arable land, non-arable land and drainage lines as
one organic geo-hydrological entity. The objective is to achieve conservation of rain
water, control of soil erosion, regeneration of green cover and promotion of dryland
farming systems including horticulture, agro-forestry, pasture development and livestock
management as well as household production systems.
There are large areas of degraded land of over 100 million hectares in the country which
could be reclaimed. Most of the land needs only basic water and soil conservation
measures and some amount of plantation and protection work. By protecting, regenerating
and restoring the degraded land the pressure on remaining land, forests and pastures can be
reduced. A National Wasteland Development Board has been constituted for promoting
integrated wasteland development. The National Forest Conservation Act(1980) is an
attempt to bring down the erosion of forest cover all over the country
Natural disasters, particularly droughts throw up huge unemployment and under-
employment problems in the rural areas. Providing wage employment to the rural poor has
been an integral part of rural development efforts. The Jawahar Rozgar Yojana (JRY)
envisaged for this purpose is the largest such programme in the country. The objectives of
the programme is to generate additional gainful employment for the unemployed and
under-employed men and women in rural areas. The Employment Assurance Schemes
(EAS) are implemented to provide employment opportunities mostly in drought prone
areas.
3. Cyclone
Measures such as building of cyclone shelters, afforestation in coastal areas, etc. have been
undertaken to deal with cyclones. Reconstruction projects have been taken up in areas
affected by major calamities by building elements for mitigation of possible future
calamities. The Cyclone Reconstruction Project implemented in the coastal Andhra
Pradesh during 1990-93 consisted of such components as housing and public
infrastructure, drainage and rural water supply. It also included such mitigation efforts as
expanding road and communication network, planning of shelter belt plantation and
building up of cyclone shelters
4. Earthquake
Since much loss of life during the past earthquakes in the world has occurred due to the
collapse of non-engineered traditional buildings of clay, stones and bricks, and since the
bulk of the housing in India consists of such buildings, studies on this problem were started
at the University of Roorkee in 1960. Very useful recommendations regarding upgrading
of such buildings were available in the G.S.I. Memories on the 1934 Bihar Earthquake and
 1935 Quetta (now in Pakistan) Earthquake. These efforts resulted in the preparation and
publication of IS:4326 in 1976. After the Koyna Earthquake, the research efforts were
devoted to shake-table tests on larger scale specimens for checking the validity of the
reinforcing recommendations of IS:4326 and also to further refine the analysis
procedures. The Monograph published by the International Association of Earthquake
Engineering, namely, Basic Concepts of Seismic Codes, Part II, Non-Engineered
Construction, 1980 included many results of the Indian experience, particularly in regard to
masonry and wooden buildings. This Monograph has been revised and updated as
"Guidelines for Earthquake Resistant Non-Engineered Construction", October, 1986.
The Department of Science and Technology(DST) is executing a World Bank assisted
project on Seismological Instrumentation Upgradation and other Collateral Geophysical
studies in the Indian Peninsular region. Major organisations like India Meteorological
Department, National Geophysical Research Institute, Survey of India, Geological Survey
of India and some academic institutions are participating in the World Bank project. Under
the project, it is planned to (i) upgrade 20 existing seismological observatories of IMD, (ii)
set up 3 Telemetered Seismic Clusters (iii) 10 new Digital Seismic Observatories in the
shield region and (iv) Strong Motion Instruments both for free field and structural response
studies (v) Geodetic studies using GPS technology.
Ⅶ．Long Term Mitigation/Reduction Measures
To improve disaster management strategy and to enhance our capability to mitigate the
impact of disasters in the country in the long-run, the following areas have been identified
for implementation:-
i) Intensive training for building up human resource development to improve awareness
and capabilities for successful disaster management.
ii) The documentation of events of various natural disasters so as to highlight the
lessons learnt in tackling future disasters.
iii) Long-term mitigation measures which will focus on various programmes keeping in
view the goals and objectives of IDNDR.
iv) For achieving long-term results there is need to examine critically the development
programmes in relation to disaster management in different areas and suggest priorities and
strategies for inclusion in the ongoing plans.
v) To create awareness among the general public about the various aspects of disasters
and benefits of the counter-measures.
vi) Programmes of undertaking consultancy services, research programmes etc. to
increase the level of understanding and evolving appropriate measures to improve the
quality of the disaster management.
vii) To have an integrated approach in developing professional disaster management
strategy.
viii) Improvement of forecasting, warning and communication system for effective
disaster management.
A Central Sector Scheme on Natural Disaster Management Programmes (NDMP) is being
implemented for the first time from December 1993. The main objective of the
programme is to enhance the national capability for disaster reduction, preparedness and
mitigation. The programme is also expected to enhance the level of awareness of the
community about disasters they are likely to face and prepare them adequately to face the
crisis situation.
 The components of the programme are:-
i) Human resource development,
ii) Activities under IDNDR,
iii) Research and consultancy services,
iv) Documentation of major events,
v) strengthening of NDM Division,
vi) Establishment of National Centre for Disaster Management (NCDM) at the Centre
and the Natural Disaster Management Faculties in States.
The major achievements of the programme so far are :-
i) Setting up of the National Centre for Disaster Management in the Indian Institute of
Public Administration , New Delhi, in 1995.
ii) Setting up of separate Disaster Management Faculties in Training Institutes in
16 out of 25 States in the country,
iii) Documentation of major events like Uttarkashi and Latur earthquakes, research
studies on land-slides in Kerala and Sikkim, droughts in Rajasthan and cyclone mitigation
in Andhra Pradesh.
iv) Preparation of source book for use of trainees of the Lal Bahadur Shastri National
Academy of Administration,
v) Organising/Sponsoring of about training programmes/seminars on various aspects of
natural disaster management,
vi) Public education and community awareness campaign through Newspapers, postal
stationery, observation of World Disaster Reduction Day and films,
vii) Reprinting of 45000 copies of IDNDR publication for children in English and Hindi
for distribution among school children.

Contemporary Social Issues affect Business Environment

India has made a place for itself as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, yet it loses
behind in a lot behind in the name of growth. As the rich are getting richer and the poor get
poorer, the divide has been expanding more than before. What can after all be attributed to the
various issues that pose a threat before every government that comes to power at the centre?
From the increasing poverty, to the corruption at an all-time high, the increasing violence against
women across the nation, the incidents of terrorism that rock some or the other city, and the
rising prices of basic amenities, are some of the most scary facts of this fast-growing economy,
While these are not the only issues on the list, let’s go through some of the major social issues
that mar the reputation of the country off and on:
Poverty
Poverty is one of the biggest evils faced by India in the present scenario. With an increasing
population of people in the Below the Poverty Line (BPL) across the nation, it seems like a
never-ending issue. Rising inflation has added further to the existing problem. India has an
unbelievable number of people suffering due to this evil. According to the Indian Planning
Commission’s 2013 estimate, around 269 million people (approximately 22% of the total
population) live under the poverty line. And, when we start looking around for what has actually
been done about it, we wouldn’t really find much.
The government needs to take a strong action against the biggest social evil of all. Ministers need
to work towards creating employment, and providing enough for the large population which does
not even receive the basic amenities. New policies are the need of the hour, not only for
employment creation but also to create a young educated population. Education must be
promoted at all levels of the society to create awareness especially among the poor.
Corruption
Corruption is ruining the spine of the nation, and has adversely affected the economy of India.
India has been marred by a list of scams and scandals, which have crippled the nation from
inside out. From the Coalgate scam, to the 2G scam, to the CWG scandal and the Bofors scam,
all brought forward the weaknesses of a government and a nation as a whole. As the government
at the centre changes every time, the blame game changes and political parties start blaming the
other, but corruption is not really being fought at the ground level. From babus to ministers at the
top, all have been found involved in some of the world’s biggest scandals.
What has created a hole in the pockets of the Indian economy, it has become essential for the
government to tackle it at different levels. From strict rules at all levels of government
undertakings, to an awareness among the people against the spread of corruption, needs to be
maintained by the government. Anna Hazare’s fight againt corruption should actually be taken
up by the leaders of the nation and must imply the Anti-Corruption bill in the government
completely.
While pointing a finger on others is the easiest way out, people need to realise the need to get rid
of the ‘under-the-table’ bribing habit and strengthen our system by neither giving bribe, nor
taking bribe. The government needs to take strong action against a bribe-giver and a bribe-taker
equally.
Terrorism
Terrorism has affected India since the day India was partitioned. The dispute over Kashmir
between India and Pakistan has been a long-standing unresolved issue. Using this, the
neighbouring country has often used terror against India in the worst manners possible.
Uncountable incidents of terror attacks in Kashmir, and its nearby regions such as Srinagar,
along with the major cities of the country, have been a source of disturbance very often. One
such incident which shook the nation was the 26X11 Mumbai terror attack, among the
uncountable similar attacks. India has been disturbed by external terrorism as well as internal
terrorism through Maoist attacks in the western parts of the country.
Terrorism mainly causes loss of lives, but also affects the country economically. Tourism in
Jammu & Kashmir has suffered for years on end due to the threat to tourists due to sudden terror
attacks. Alongside, the clean-up after every such attack involve long governmental processes.
How is the government tackling the issue, only remains a question.
The government needs to take a strong stand against the neighbouring countries terror activities
and needs to take action and not only hold peace talks. It’s the need of the hour that the citizens
of the country are provided with security as well as an assurity of safety as well. A sensitive
approach towards terrorists may be attempted to make them surrender.
Communalism
Being a mix of various cultures and religions, India has ever-since its formation suffered due to
communal differences. Communal clashes have led to a lot of violence in various incidents
across the country. The hindu-muslim clash during the partition of India, and the Operation Blue
Star which led to the assassination of the then PM Indira Gandhi are the worst examples of
communalism in India. Not to forget the bloodbath that took place during the Babri Masjid
demolition case. India has been affected both economically and politically, after such incidents
took place.
The government needs to handle such issues with extreme sensitivity, along with making sure
that communalism is not used for political gains by its ministers. Besides political understanding,
change needs to be brought from the grass roots level itself. The caste divide must be decreased
by educating the younger generation and sensitizing them about such issues.
Illiteracy
On one hand, India has a state like Kerala that boasts of 93.91% literacy in its state alone, while
on the other hand there is a backward state like Bihar with 68.8% literacy rate. Education is not
necessary for employment and learning, it is required to create a sensitive and growth-seeking
younger generation. A youth needs to be empowered with education, to further know their rights
as the citizens of the country. Illiteracy needs to be tackled as one of the biggest social evils of
the nation, as this is the biggest reasons why the youth is misguided and involved in criminal as
well as terror activities.
The government needs to enforce free education and strict rules to follow it in every family in
India, poor or not poor. An educated population will eventually lead to the country having a
stronger workforce as against the world. Education is sure to change the poverty and
unemployment scenario in the country. At the core level, the people need to be made aware of
the need of education to have enriched lives.
Inflation
The past years have seen inflation as one of the major issues faced by the common man. The
rising prices of basic amenities have created furore among the people. Rising rates of food items
and fuel have affected the pockets of the middle class so much, bringing them out on the roads in
protest. The government has not been able to fulfill any of the promises made before coming in
power, which were all forgotten later, leaving the people to suffer the brunt of inflation.
There is an essential need to bring inflation under control, and bring basic amenities at affordable
prices for all. When will this economic divide be erased, is a question no government has been
able to answer as yet.
Violence against Women
Women in India live under a constant fear all the time. A fear of going out alone, disturbs every
female mind living in India. The rising cases of sexual abuse and rape across the country, have
left a black mark on the reputation of India. Foreign tourists have been known to have been given
special warnings while travelling to India, in fact some countries even labelled our nation as an
unsafe country for women, after the deadly Delhi Rape case. Is this the reputation we wish to
maintain across the world? Definitely not! But, what are we really doing about it. The recent rape
cases in Badaun, UP moved the entire nation, though no concrete action was taken for a long
time. Rapes continue to take place, and no action is taken against the culprits. In most cases,
victims die, and if they survive they live a worse life than ever.
Before the government does anything about the security, the people themselves need to take a
stand against crime against women. We as a society need to fight this social evil from within.
The youth needs to be sensitized about the safety of women, and the respect to be given to
women.
Strong police action needs to be taken against the culprits, and cases need to be handled with
more sensitivity and through a quick process. We need to see justice happen, and now.