Green War Room

Green War Room

Main Examination: General Studies Question Paper-3

(Environment protection)

October 07, 2023

 

Why in news:

  • Delhi government has launched 'Green War Room' on October 3, 2023 to control air pollution.
  • The Union Territory of Delhi has been plagued by high levels of air pollution emitted from various sources including vehicles, industry and construction for the past decade.

Green War Room:

Introduction:

  • ‘Green War Room’ is an integrated mobile application.
  • This mobile application is managed by a 17-member team of scientists and engineers.
  • This mobile application connects 28 government departments, and allows citizens to report pollution-related complaints through the Green Delhi app.

Winter work plan

  • Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal unveiled a comprehensive 15-point winter action plan on September 29, 2023, to tackle air pollution during the winter season.
  • As part of the plan, an anti-dust campaign is set to be launched on October 5, 2023.

Center for Science and Environment (CSE)

  • According to a report by the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), 31% of pollution sources are internal (within Delhi), while 69% are external (from nearby states).
  • Vehicles have been identified as a major real-time pollution source, contributing to PM 2.5 particle pollution, especially in Delhi.
  • Despite relatively low air pollution levels in winter 2022, Delhi remained the most polluted among the five major cities in the National Capital Region, the report said.
  • These cities are: Panipat, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Faridabad.
  • More than 70,684 complaints have been registered on the Green Delhi app, of which 90% have been resolved successfully.
  • Green Delhi App was developed by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and National Informatics Center (NIC). The iPhone friendly version of this app was launched in October 2022.

Delhi's situation in air pollution issue:

  • Delhi's air quality index (AQI) on October 3, 2023 was 155, which classifies it as 'moderate'.
  • According to the World Air Quality Report, Delhi was ranked fourth among the 50 most polluted cities in the world in terms of PM2.5 levels in the year 2022.
  • India was ranked eighth among 131 countries in the year 2022, with population weighted average PM2.5 level of 53.3 g/m3.

Major causes of air pollution in Delhi:

  • Burning of stubble by farmers in Punjab and Haryana increases air pollution levels in Delhi state, especially in winter.

PM 2.5

  • It is an atmospheric particle less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter.
  • These atmospheric particles enter the human lungs and disrupt the bloodstream.
  • Long-term exposure to PM 2.5 can cause lung cancer, heart disease and other health problems.

Air pollution

  • Air pollution refers to any physical, chemical or biological change in the air. It is the pollution of air by harmful gases, dust and smoke which significantly affects plants, animals and humans.
  • Primary pollutants directly cause air pollution. Sulphur-dioxide emitted from factories is a primary pollutant. The pollutants formed by mutual mixing and reaction of primary pollutants are called secondary pollutants. Smog, formed by the mixing of smoke and fog, is a secondary pollutant.

Causes of Air pollution

  • The combustion of fossil fuels emits large amounts of sulfur dioxide. Carbon monoxide released from incomplete combustion of fossil fuels also causes air pollution.
  • Gases emitted from vehicles like jeep, truck, car, bus etc. pollute the environment. These are major sources of greenhouse gases and are also responsible for causing diseases in individuals.
  • Ammonia is one of the most dangerous gases emitted during agricultural activities. Pesticides release harmful chemicals into the environment and pollute it.
  • Factories and industries are the main sources of carbon monoxide, organic compounds, hydrocarbons and chemicals. These chemicals deteriorate the air quality.
  • In the mining process, minerals from beneath the earth are extracted using large pieces of equipment. The dust and chemicals released during this process not only pollute the air but also deteriorate the health of workers and people living in the surrounding areas.

Impacts of air pollution

  • Prone to several respiratory disorders and cardiovascular diseases in humans.
  • Lung cancer cases have increased in the last few decades. Children living near polluted areas are at higher risk of pneumonia and asthma. Many people die every year due to the direct or indirect effects of air pollution.
  • Emission of greenhouse gases causes imbalance in the gaseous composition of the air. This has increased the earth's temperature. This increase in the Earth's temperature is known as global warming.
  • This has resulted in glaciers melting and sea level rise.
  • Burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases like nitrogen oxide and sulfur oxide into the air.
  • Water droplets mix with these pollutants and become acidic and fall as acid rain which harms human, animal and plant life.
  • Emission of chlorofluorocarbons, halons and hydrochlorofluorocarbons into the atmosphere is the main cause of ozone layer depletion.
  • The depleting ozone layer is unable to block harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun and causes skin diseases and eye problems in individuals.
  • Water bodies get polluted due to air pollution.
  • Water pollution causes aquatic organisms to die and a large number of aquatic species become extinct.

Measures to control air pollution:

  • People should give preference to public means of transport for travelling. This not only prevents pollution but also saves energy.
  • Energy-efficient appliances like CFL and LED should be used to protect the environment.
  • Clean energy resources- Air pollution is reduced on a large scale by the use of solar, wind and geothermal energy.
  • Industrial emissions are one of the major causes of air pollution, so pollutants can be controlled or treated at the source to reduce its effects. For example, if reactions with a certain raw material produce a pollutant, the raw material can be replaced with other less polluting materials.
  • Another way to control air pollution caused by industries is to modify and maintain existing equipment so that emissions of pollutants are minimized.
  • A very effective way to control air pollution is to dilute air pollutants.
  • The last and best solution to reduce the ill effects of air pollution is tree plantation. Plants and trees reduce a large number of pollutants in the air.

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Mains Exam Question

'What is the Green War Room? Outline the main causes and effects of air pollution and write solutions to control it.