Air pollution

Prepared for class discussion By Prof. S.Suryanarayanan

source: Wikepedia

MAJOR SOURCES OF AIR POLLUTION IN INDIA

Fuel wood and biomass burning

Cooking fuel in rural India is prepared from a wet mix of dried grass, fuelwood pieces, hay, leaves and mostly cow/livestock dung. This mix is patted down into disc-shaped cakes, dried, and then used as fuel in stoves. When it burns, it produces smoke and numerous indoor air pollutants at concentrations 5 times higher than coal.

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2. Traffic congestion Traffic congestion on inadequate road infrastructure is a daily reality of India's urban centers. Slow speeds and idling vehicles produce, per trip, 4 to 8 times more pollutants and consume more carbon footprint fuels, than free flowing traffic. This 2008 image shows traffic congestion in Delhi.

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3. Vehicle emission and 4. Fuel adulteration Some Indian taxis and auto-rickshaws run on adulterated fuel blends. Adulteration of gasoline and diesel with lower-priced fuels is common in South Asia, including India.Some adulterants increase emissions of harmful pollutants from vehicles, worsening urban air pollution. Steps taken: 1.Fuel quality-low sulphur 2.Technology- emission standard And more
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5.Industrial activity Power generating industry particularly fossil fuel based. Chemical and petrochemical industries Others like steel, paper,cement etc Mining
6.Agricultural activity: Spray of insecticides, pesticides

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Governments efforts in controlling air pollution

Vehiclesemission standards Central Pollution Control Board standards, specifications Factories Actto monitor and regulate hazardous and polluting industries Other acts like Mines and minerals( regulation and development) act Promotion of alternate sources to fossil fuel

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Few management actions by government and industry

In Delhi and other cities autos changing from petrol to liquefied natural gas Quality of petrol unleaded petrol, low sulphur content Technology by automobile sector meeting higher standards of emission like Euro and Bharat Air pollution control equipments like filters, scrubbers etc Carbon cycle- many industries consciously maintain balance

source: Wikepedia

Probe pollution control board's working, CS told

(Ravi Dayal, TNN Jan 18, 2013, 04.18AM IST)

PATNA: The Patna high court recently directed the state chief secretary to himself hold an inquiry into the functioning of Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), whose officials have taken a stand before the court that they are under no obligation to perform their statutory duties under the provisions of Noise Pollution Control Regulation Act, 2000, unless the court passes orders or the citizens make complaint. A single bench presided by Justice Navin Sinha passed the order on a writ petition of New Era School, Didarganj, Patna, submitting that the BSPCB and Patna DM did not give any reply to its representations seeking action under the Pollution Control Act against a printing press located adjacent to the school, causing noise and air pollution. This affected peace and tranquillity in the vicinity of the school, affecting adversely the schoolchildren, the petitioner added.

What action Chief Secretary should take?