India’s Central Pollution Control Agency (EPA) has revealed a shocking fact. The amount of air pollution in India has increased more than twenty-eight percent between the last two decades. This increase in air pollution is mainly caused due to the increase in the production of coal, the increase in animal-farming, the increase in industrialization and the increase in automobile emissions. These factors have made Delhi the most polluted city in the entire country.
According to the EPA, Delhi has the highest number of registered vehicles per capita than any other Indian city. This fact has led to the growth in air pollution throughout the country. India’s Central Pollution Control Agency has also projected that the number of deaths related to air pollution in the next four years will increase. As these facts have confirmed, it is essential that central pollution control is given utmost importance in the country.
The best way to reduce air pollution in India’s Central Pollution Control Agency would be the use of clean energy sources and strictly adhere to the pollution control norms. Cars should not be used on roads during rush hour, which in most cases is from seven in the morning to three in the evening. It is advisable to avoid using public transport like buses and taxis during rush hour as the buses carry heavy industrial wastes and fumes from factories. It also carries a lot of human pollution from dirty shoes worn by children. The best option to reduce air pollution in the city is to drive an economy car.
Delhi has one of the highest per capita pollution levels in the country. It has been found that despite all the air pollution control measures being taken, the number of vehicle-related deaths has not reduced drastically. According to the EPA, this rise in vehicle-related deaths can be attributed to excessive driving during rush hours, increasing use of diesel vehicles for transportation, increase in vehicle accident rates and increase in vehicle pollution. A recent study revealed that Delhi’s central pollution control district had the highest number of vehicle-related deaths followed by the national capital of India’s capital city, New Delhi.
According to the latest World Health Organization report, India’s air pollution poses serious threats to its human health and environment. Among the major causes are poor air quality due to outdated and inadequate air conditioning technology, emissions from power plants, inefficient manufacturing processes, fuel burning in automobiles and increased traffic. India’s pollution control and awareness programmes are largely unhelpful. Governmental policies, however, are taking positive initiatives to improve air pollution.
On the whole, India’s government has to take many initiatives to reduce or mitigate the adverse effects of air pollution. In this context, it is notable that, in spite of all the initiatives taken, air pollution still remains a significant cause for concern. It is recommended that continuous efforts should be made through research and action to reduce the incidence of air pollution. Strict laws regarding air pollution should be implemented and stringent penalties imposed on polluters, to create a more law-abiding population. Stricter legal provisions may also be brought into force, including a ban on industrial factories that release large amounts of airborne pollutants into the atmosphere.
