Most religions ask the man not to pollute and defile the land as pollution takes away “the beasts of the land and the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea.” It has often been said that we are not the owners of the earth, the only planet with life, but simply its custodians for future generations.
Not many years ago, people drank water from canals and rivers without boiling it. That is no more the case. Water has become so polluted that fish and other aquatic creatures get constantly depleted. We often come across reports of several dead fish floating on water. Discharge from urban houses, agricultural fields, and industries go on polluting water bodies.
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The rainy season has become a dreaded one in hilly states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, causing the death of hundreds of people and animals. Joshimath in Uttarakhand is sinking, and hundreds of buildings have developed cracks, forcing the authorities to ask people to evacuate. Landslides and flash floods that wash away roads are regular occurrences. Unscientific construction activities prompted by greed are said to be the cause. It has also become common in other parts of the country though the loss is of lesser magnitude.
The ever-increasing population has made it necessary to clear forests to make space for new houses. Construction work that pollutes the air and blocks the natural flow of rivers and canals is going on year-round in most parts of the country. Landslides are a recurring occurrence in many hilly areas.
Our marriage season and festivals disregard all rules and regulations and cause large-scale noise and air pollution.
We burst crackers at all hours with scant respect for others. Idols are immersed in water bodies. Air-conditioners, televisions and other electronic devices cause different kinds of pollution.
Brahmapuram waste plant near Kochi caught fire some time back, choking people with toxic fumes for several days, compelling them to shut their doors and windows. Many with breathing problems left the city. Agencies like the fire brigade, Indian Navy and Airforce had to sweat it out for days to contain the fire.
Delhi has been suffering from thick fumes caused by the burning of the roots of paddy crops in the neighbouring states every winter. O Heraldo reported the other day that the residents and the panchayat of Saligao opposed ferrying waste through its narrow roads in massive trucks because of the contents spilling onto the roads.
When there was a devastating flood in Kerala a few years ago, all encroachments were washed away. Many thought the rivers had only taken back what was theirs. Environmentalists say that the best way to restore the environment is to leave it alone, without any interference from human beings.
Periodically, Good Samaritans embark upon planting seedlings in the presence of reporters and photographs, and volunteers roam through beaches every few days to pick up plastic and other waste.
Exhausts from vehicles that use fossil fuels pollute the air. The advent of plastics has taken the problem to a new and insurmountable dimension. Political mudslinging has been a corollary of problems created by pollution, but it has become a nightmare to administrators everywhere without any immediate solution in sight.
No wonder pollution has caused global warming, climate changes, droughts and famines.
