Rising Air Pollution in India: Causes, Impacts and Solutions

RUNNING HEAD: REVISED PAPER & WRITTEN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK
REVISED PAPER & WRITTEN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK
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RUNNING HEAD: REVISED PAPER & WRITTEN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK
Part 1- Paper Resubmission
Rising Air Pollution in India
Introduction
Air pollution is a major environmental threat that faces most countries of the world
(Greenstone & Hanna, 2014). Especially in a developing country such as India, the impact from
air pollution is tremendous. Environmental pollution in general is on the rise and imposes major
threat for the Indian economy. The government has taken insignificant steps towards
improvisation of the environment of the country. There is tremendous rise in air pollution in the
country, with deteriorating quality of air inhaled. Globally environmental pollution imposes
major threat, and is gradually transforming the climate. With rising sea levels, depleting
atmospheric ozone layer, depletion of various species, environment pollution possesses to be a
major global threat (Lakshmi et. al., 2013). Air pollution has been attributed to the leading cause
for climatic change. In India the global challenge of environmental pollution is more prominent
and increasing with no measures to curb the same. The scope of the current argument analyses
environmental pollution against development in India.
Analysis
Environmental pollution comprises of air, water and soil pollution, in India all three are
on continuous rise. The direct impact from such pollution is on the health and on the increasing
burden of medical costs. With air pollution being one of the leading threats across the country,
the current argument focuses on some of the leading causes and impacts, with ways to overcome
the same (Shrivastava, Neeta & Geeta, 2013). Air pollution in India is primarily due to
deforestation, burning of crops, burning of coal for power production and factory production,
automobile industry and so on. The most significantly affected areas in India are the cities, such
as Delhi where air pollution causes lack of vision. Cities within India experience as high as
PM10 levels of air pollution with low visibility and having greater incidence of diseases. In
cities, causes of air pollution can primarily be attributed to automobiles combustion. Incomplete
combustible gasses from diesel engines causes significant amounts of air pollution. Increasing
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RUNNING HEAD: REVISED PAPER & WRITTEN RESPONSE TO FEEDBACK
sales of vehicles in India and automobiles is the cause for increasing air pollution. Most
importantly lack of public infrastructure and connectivity in transportation makes most
commuters avail their own transport facilities. Infrastructure spending in transport and road
connectivity is still lacking in India, where there is greater reliance on self-mode of transport
(Guttikunda & Calori, 2013). Metro railway links present provides connection to a limited area,
which further deters commuters from availing of public transport facilities. Most cities are
surrounded by suburbs or villages where farming is practiced. India being one of the largest
exporters of crops and other raw food materials, rotation of crops is practiced. In order for crop
rotation, after a crop has been plucked, reaming part is burnt in the field, for saving time and
costs of cleaning. This burning of crop leftovers produces immense amount of pollution which
gets added to the atmosphere.
Power plants in India are mostly thermal power plants due to presence of a number of
rivers in the country. Such thermal power plants make extensive use of burning of coal for the
production of electricity (Fullerton, Bruce & Gordon, 2008). Manufacturing industries in the
country also makes use of coal as a source of thermal energy for their production processes.
Extensive coal combustion has created a brown cloud over India, which is visible from space.
Coal is also used as a cooking source in villages and suburbs, where electricity and LPG is not
available. Deforestation in India by burning down forests is another leading cause for air
pollution. Large chunks of land are cleared in India for the purpose of supporting its ever
growing population. Such land spaces are converted into living spaces. There is extensive usage
of CFCs in the country for air conditioners, refrigerators, other appliances and so on (Smith,
2013). Usage of such CFCs release free radicles into the atmosphere that causes air pollution.
Heavy air in winter unable to ascend and dissipate causes more implications on the atmospheric
pollution, creating a thick haze. Industries, households, famers and other sources of pollution are
deterrent towards undertaking any action that might reduce the incidence of harmful gasses and
particulate matters from entering the atmosphere. The most integral cause for concern in air
pollution in India is that it is rising and there is little awareness to curb the same. There is no
prohibitions imposed form the government or any other authorities which might deter usage of
sources that causes air pollution.
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