Causes of Pollution

1. Emission of Carbon di-oxide (Air Pollution) -

“Everyone is talking about reducing CO2 emissions but what is being done about it; very few countries
are backing up with action on what they promised… where are the resources to help the developing
countries?”
Earlier this week, at the plenary session of the WEF, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the moral high
ground on the issue of climate change. While delivering the forum’s inaugural speech, Modi made a
strong pitch on climate change, calling it the “first challenge” facing civilisation. He identified climate
change, global terrorism and protectionism as the three toughest challenges before the world today. The
prime minister, however, also used his speech to criticise Western countries over what he saw as their
non-committal attitude in the fight against global warming.

The EPI rankings were published on the sidelines of the annual World Economic Forum meet in Davos on
Tuesday(23rd January 2018). With a score of 30.57, India far better than only three countries — Democratic
Republic of Congo, Bangladesh and Burundi — in curbing pollution. (January 24, 2018- status).

EPI Calculation - EPI rankings is a bi-annual report produced by researchers at Yale and Columbia
Universities in collaboration with the World Economic Forum. To formulate EPI, several key factors are
taken into consideration. A total of 24 indicators were evaluated and grouped into ten issues: air quality,
water and sanitation, heavy metals, biodiversity and habitat, forests, fisheries, climate and energy, air
pollution, water resources, and agriculture.

India ranked 177 out of 180 countries, in contrast to the rank of 141 two years ago.

Failure to check air pollution has made India the fourth worst country in the world in terms of curbing
environmental pollution, according to Environmental Performance Index’s latest rankings.

2. Industrialisation - Although industries contribute significant economic growth to India with development, the
increase in pollution of land, air, water, noise and resulting degradation of environment that they have caused,
cannot be overlooked.

Every litre of waste water discharged by our industry pollutes eight times the quantity of fresh water.

PLAY VIDEO

Ganga pollution – interesting facts

Coliform Bacteria – found in human colons if mixed with water is highly poisonous.
In spite of all the plans, actions, schemes and funds, the river ganga is still polluted.

How can the industrial pollution of fresh water be reduced? Some suggestions are

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1. minimising use of water for processing by reusing and recycling it into two or more successive stages
2. harvesting of rainwater to meet water requirements
3. treating hot water and effluents before releasing them in rivers and ponds

Treatment of industrial effluents can be done in three phases

a. primary treatment by mechanical means - this involves screening, grinding, flocculation and sedimentation.
b. Secondary treatment by biological process
c. Tertiary treatment by biological, chemical and physical processes which involves recycling of wastewater.

NGT Direction to MoEF – 24th Jan 2018

The National Green Tribunal has directed the Ministry of Environmentand Forests (MoEF) not to grant clearance to
any new thermal power plant till they comply with the standards set by it, after a plea alleged that many of them
were flouting norms and causing pollution.
A bench headed by acting Chairperson Justice U D Salvi said the failure of the thermal power plants to adopt
techniques to reduce emissions would affect the environmental scenario.

"We direct Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the State Environmental Impact Assessment
Authorities not to grant any environmental clearance to any new thermal power plant unless they show that every
mechanism/ technique to achieve the standards set out in the notification dated December 7, 2015 is in
place/adopted," the bench said.

Advocate Divya Prakash Pandey, appearing for the MoEF , told the bench that the ministry was aware of the
situation and a plea seeking extension of time for implementing the MoEF's notification was pending in the Supreme
Court.

The Environment Ministry in December 2015 had issued a notification revising the standards for coal-based thermal
power plants across the country, which aimed to reduce emissions like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and
particulate matter, besides water consumption.

3. Use of Chemical Fertilizer

Chemical fertilizers have aided farmers in increasing crop production since the 1930's.

While chemical fertilizers have their place increasing plant nutrients in adverse weather conditions or during times
when plants need additional nutrients, there are also several harmful effects of chemical fertilizers. Some of the
harm chemical fertilizers may cause include waterway pollution, chemical burn to crops, increased air pollution,
acidification of the soil and mineral depletion of the soil.

4. Urbanisation

Urbanization in India began to accelerate after independence, due to the country's adoption of a mixed economy,
which gave rise to the development of the private sector. Urbanisation is taking place at a faster rate in India.

As a result of industrialisation people have started moving towards the industrial areas in search of employment.
This has resulted in the growth of towns and cities.

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Mumbai saw large scale rural-urban migration in the 20th century.[see main] Mumbai accommodates 12.5 million
people, and is the largest metropolis by population in India, followed by Delhi with 11 million inhabitants.
Witnessing the fastest rate of and urbanisation in the world, as per 2011 census, Delhi's population rise by 4.1%,
Mumbai's by 3.1% and Kolkata's by 2% as per 2011 census compared to 2001 census.

Indian cities already contribute more than 62% to our national GDP.

Causes of Urbanisation:

Various reasons have led to the growth of cities. They are as follows:

i. Industrialization:
Industrialization is a major cause of urbanization. It has expanded the employment opportunities. Rural people have
migrated to cities on account of better employment opportunities.

ii. Social factors:

Many social factors such as attraction of cities, better standard of living, better educational facilities, need for status
also induce people to migrate to cities.

iii. Employment opportunities:

In rural sector people have to depend mainly on agriculture for their livelihood. But Indian agriculture is depending
on monsoon. In drought situations or natural calamities, rural people have to migrate to cities.

iv. Modernization:
Urban areas are characterized by sophisticated technology better infrastructure, communication, medical facilities,
etc. People feel that they can lead a comfortable life in cities and migrate to cities.

Rural urban transformation:

It is an interesting aspect that not only cities are growing in number but rural community is adopting urban culture,
no longer rural communities are retaining their unique rural culture. Rural people are following the material culture
of urban people. Urban rural transformation can be observed in the following areas.

Spread of education:
The literacy rate has increased among the rural people. They have become more modernised.

i. Change in Dress habits.

ii. Adoption of modern Technology

iii. Enlightenment of women.

iv. Modern transport and communication. E.g.: Cell phones have become common even among rural people.

v. Active involvement in politics.

vi. Growth of infrastructure like Banks, Post office.

vii. Awareness among rural consumers.

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viii. Increasing demand for sophisticated products like cosmetics etc.

Thus it can be noticed that there are significant changes in the life style of village people. Indian villages have
adopted urban culture and urban style of living. However, all villages in India are not transformed. Only certain
villages situated close to the cities have been transformed.

Effect of Urbanisation:

With a high rate of urbanization significant changes have taken place. The effect of urbanisation can be summed up
as follows:

Positive effect:

i. Migration of rural people to urban areas.

ii. Employment opportunities in urban centres.

iii. Transport and communication facilities.

iv. Educational facilities.

v. Increase in the standard of living.

Urbanization can yield positive effects if it takes place up to a desirable limit. Extensive urbanisation or
indiscriminate growth of cities may result in adverse effects. They may be as follows:

Adverse Effects
i. Problem of over population:

Concentration of population is a major problem of cities. It has resulted in accommodation problem, growth of
slums etc.

ii. Disintegration of Joint family:

Joint family can’t be maintained in cities on account of high cost of living: People prefer to live in the nuclear type
of families.

iii. Cost of living:

High cost of living is a major problem of cities. In Metro cities like Mumbai, Bangalore etc. it is very difficult for
lower income groups to maintain a decent standard of living.

iv. Increase in Crime rates:

Urban centres are known for high rate of crimes. Theft, Dacoity, Murder, Cheating, Pick pocketing, rape etc. are
common in urban centres.

v. Impersonal relations:

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Urban centres are characterised by highly secondary relations. The concept of neighbourhood, community life are
almost absent in cities. Urban life is highly monotonous. This may have an adverse psychological effect on
individuals. People are often self centred and they have no concern for the fellow human beings.

vi. Problem of Pollution:

In industrialized cities pollution is a major problems. It may be caused by industries or by excessive movement of
vehicles.

viii. Stress:

Urban life is characterised by stress which may even strain family relations. In cities employment of women is
almost inevitable to meet the increasing cost of living. Changing role of women in the family creates stress in the
family which may result in divorce or strained relations.

Thus urbanisation has its own merits and de-merits. Urbanization can’t be avoided. But the negative effect of
urbanization can be minimised.

5. Population Explosion

Population Explosion defined as a significant number of people staying in the individual area. It is a huge problem
in India. In fact, in all over the world, it is increasing, especially in the poorer countries it is developing.

During the 1951 Census, the Population increased by 361 billion. During the 2011 Census, the Population increased
by 1.21 billion.

Causes of Population Explosion

Increases in birth rate

In India, there is Population Explosion increasing day by day. Most of the people don’t have the knowledge about
control the delivery. The birth rate is increasing due to the lack of awareness in people. There is the full range of
gaping has increased in Population.

The birth rate increases, when an average number of women born to the child came down from about six in the
fifties to 4.4.
In 1951-61, the average birth rate was 42 per thousand Populations.
In 1996, the average birth rate came down 28.1 per thousand Populations.

Decreases of infant mortality rate

Due to the age of science and technology, some people are getting the proper facility for improvement of good
health and best medical care. Because of the science, there is an extensive use of preventive drugs, which can reduce
the infant mortality rate.

During the past time, there was not any facility reduce the infant mortality, but that time science makes all possible
for everything.

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In 1995, the average infant mortality rate was 74 per thousand in India. In an Urban area, it was 49 per thousand,
and in the rural area, it was 80 per thousand.

Growth of life expectancy

In India, there is the life expectancy will become weak, when the proper nutrition and good health do not improve
by the human Population. Due to improved living condition, the better sanitation, better nutrition, and education in
the Human Population improves the life expectancy. It is significant for the person.

The good quality of food creates the life expectancy for the human being and it well-nourished to the people while
using of nutrition food. Population grows when they adequately nourished.

High level of illiteracy

Due to lack of illiteracy among women is the biggest problem of family planning. The female education directly
related to age at marriage, the general status of women, their fertility and infant mortality rate, and so forth.

In 1991, the male literacy rate was 64.13%, and female literacy rate was 39.29%.
In 1999, the male literacy rate was 73%, and female literacy rate was 49%.

In India, everyone should become literate either male or female. Education must develop the skill, personal liberal,
broad-minded, open to new ideas, and rational.

Effect of Population Explosion

Population Explosion creates by many facts which are following as:

Unemployment
Due to the growing countries, the unemployment is also increasing day by day. It is the main reason to back the
economy of countries. Millions of people are jobless in the India. They are not getting the job after finding
everywhere.

After all that, they lose their confidence about searching the job. The unemployed people are living with a very
dangerous condition of the economy. Without the job, they have ensured the living, left frustrated, and demoralize.
They lose their faith in their life.

It happens in India as compared to other countries such as South Africa and Asia.

Large Population
In India, there is the number of Population and also impressing day by day. It is more useful for the Population
Explosion. There are over Population in India. Because of this condition of India, people are not getting comfortable
and accommodate life. It also poses a threat to the environment.

Poverty
Poverty is the primary reason of Population Explosion. Most of the people, who belong from the poverty line, they
have not any knowledge about the overpopulation of country. They generate the high birth rate in India, which can
cause and effect of Population Explosion.

Due to the poverty, there is massive growth of Population. On the other hand, the large number of Population
almost increases by the poor people of the country.

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Due to the result of 2011 census, the poverty level was 1.21 billion while in the forties the poverty line was 400
million.

Illiteracy
In India, the illiteracy is the key reason of Population Explosion. The resource available fixed. In theory and
practice, the total available resources are shared by the people using them. Some of the people have not any sources
to provide the education to their children.

Small health condition

People get the low health status, when they have not adequate food and nutrition.

Pollution and Global Warming

Pollution and global warming are most effective for the Population Explosion. Much Population creates the pressure
on the earth. There arise excessive demands for finished products leading to over-industrialization and over-
utilization of resources.

Prevention of the Population Explosion

Awareness made by government

The government creates more awareness among our country. They cannot ignore or shelve the problem of
Population Explosion. Our nation is mostly active dependent on the government of India, how they treat and solve
the problem of India.

The government made this awareness, at the central and state to think about adopting an official program to educate
opinion and reduce the birth rate so that the Population can fit in well with the evolving pattern of developing
country.

The government also starts the program of family planning in 1952. The government is still trying to aware to
people for family planning campaign. The small family is right for every citizen of people, and they have to be
aware of it. Small families always become happy and healthy, and they can complete all needs of children. It is the
best advantage of small family. It controls the Population. It is much beneficial for the country.