Industrial Pollution and Environmental Degradation in India

Industrial Pollution And Environmental Degradation: Although industries have contributed significantly to India's economic growth and development. The major polluting industries are thermal power plants which cause thermal pollution. Their waste products pollute the air by the presence of a high proportion of sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide. These waste products also contain air-borne particulate matter. Basically industries are responsible for four types of pollution i.e. air, water, land and noise.They are briefly discussed below

Air Pollution: It is caused by the presence of high proportion of undesirable gases such as sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide in the air. It adversely affects human health, animals, plants, buildings and the atmosphere. Toxic gas leaks can be very hazardous with long-term effects e.g. Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Smoke is also major cause of air pollution. It is emitted by chemical and paper factories, tnck kilns, refineries and smelting plants and burning of fossil fuels in big and small factories that ignore pollution. rules. Air-borne particulate materials contain both solid a liquid particles like dust, sprays mist and smoke.

Water Pollution: caused when organic and inorganic untreated industrial wastes are discharged into rivers. Paper, chemical, textile and dyeing, petroleum refineries, tanneries and electroplating industries are the main industries causing water pollution. Fly ash, phospo-gypsum and iron and steel slags are the major solid wastes in the steel industry. Major water pollutants are dyes, detergents, acids, salts and heavy metals like lead and mercury pesticides, fertilisers, synthetic chemicals with carbon, plastics and rubber, etc.

Relation of Soil and Water Pollution: Soil and water pollution are closely related. Dumping of wastes in the soil, especially glass, harmful chemicals. industrial effluents, packaging, salts and garbage renders the soil useless. Rain water goes into the soil, carrying the pollutants into the ground and the groundwater also gets contaminated.

Thermal Pollution: In water, thermal pollution occurs when hot water from factories and thermal plants is drained into rivers and ponds before cooling. Wastes from nuclear power plants, nuclear and weapon production facilities cause cancer, birth defects and miscarriages.

Noise Pollution: This type of pollution results in irritation, stress, anger,hearing impairment, increased heart rate and blood pressure among other physiological effects. Basically unwanted sound is an irritant and a source of stress. Noise from industrial and construction activities, machinery, factory equipment, saws, generators and pneumatic and electrical tools also contribute to noise pollution.

Control of Environmental Degradation: When one litre of waste water combines with fresh water, it pollutes water eight times. So, it is very essential to reduce fresh water pollution. Suggestions for reducing pollution of freshwater sources are

This can be done in three phases(i) Primary treatment by mechanical means (i.e.screening, grinding, flocculation and sedimentation.)(i) Secondary treatment by biological processes.(iii) Tertiary treatment by chemical, physical and biological processes.Note Sewage treatment plant under Yamuna Action Plan is located at Faridabad.

Some general points to minimise environmental pollution are

NTPC Shows the Way of Sustainable DevelopmentThe challenge of sustainable development requires integration of economic development with environmental concerns.National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) is a major public sector power generation company. It is certified for the EMS (Environment Management System) ISO 14001.It employs a proactive approach for preserving the natural environment and resources like water, oil, gas and fuels in places where it is setting up power plants in a sustainableway.

NTPC fulfils its approach through the measures given below