As the festive season is
approaching nearer, the air in the surroundings is deteriorating sharply to a
great extent. A large part of the northern area is facing severely poor air quality
shrouding it with a thick haze in the form smog made of tiny particulate matter
which can penetrate deep into the lungs leading severe troubles. Sufficient
contributions in this regard have been made by the setting fire to the crop
residue by the farmers in the said region.
Pollution
Problem
Pollution is the process of
introduction of solid, liquid or gaseous contaminants in the environment in
such a concentration, as may be, or tend to be injurious to environment results
in hazardous consequences. Some of the sources of pollution include emissions
from vehicular usage, industrial works, construction activities, burning of crops
and garbage, firecracker burning, etc. releasing harmful poisonous constituents
in the surrounding air.
Health
impacts
Rising pollution levels are a
source of number of problems such as chronic respiratory disorders,
cardiovascular problems, retarded foetal growth, dermatological issues, etc. The
problem of pollution not only affects humans but also other living creatures on
the planet even resulting in their death and extinction thereby hampering the
co-existence in the ecosystem.
Legal
control
With the objective of conservation
and improvement of environment, the Environment Protection Act, 1986 was
enforced along with the other legislative provisions specifically dealing with
the pollution of various components of the environment including the Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 introduced to prevent, control
and abate air pollution.
In order to protect environment and
creation of legal framework in this regard, the National Green Tribunal Act,
2010 (hereinafter referred to as the “NGT Act”) was brought into effect which established
the regulatory body - the National Green Tribunal (hereinafter referred to as
“NGT”) aiming to provide effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating
to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural
resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving
relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters
connected therewith or incidental thereto.
NGT snaps
electric supply
In order to impose strict
restrictions on those not obeying to the requirement of the law and instructions
of the authorities working towards reducing the pollution, the Punjab State
Power Corporation Limited on October 31, 2018, snapped the power
connections of 57 industrial units in Derabassi after NGT directed adherence to
its orders in this regard on October 25, 2018.[1]
The NGT ordered closure
of 44 industrial units for non-compliance of the pollution controlling norms issued
by the Central Pollution Control Board (hereinafter referred to as “CPCB”) and
imposed a liability on them in the form of environment compensation. 9 units
were found operating on the premises of a closed unit or non-operating industry
and without consent of CPCB board and 4 others were not complying with the
ground water standards.
Taking a stringent
measure to prevent the degradation of the already depleting standards of air
present in the environment, orders have been made to curb the power supply to
the industries flouting the environment protection guidelines.
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