Pollution of air, water, light sound and soil causes
depredation to natural environment and ecosystem. Plastic wastes discarded into
soil enhance its dimension.
Air pollution: Large volumes of thick black smoke beltching out from
factory chimneys and smoke emited from transport vehicles; fishy odour
discharged from fish processing factories and other centers; stench of garbage;
stink of sewage and reeking canals contribute to air pollution. The presence of
harmful gases like Carbon dioxide, Sulphur dioxide, Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen
dioxide, Methane and dust in air are injurious to the lungs and causes
breathing problems, Asthma and allergy complaints.
Water pollution: The crude spilled in ocean during shipwrecks;
industrial effluvents and other toxic wastes and sewage containing germs and
viruses discharged into rivers; nitrates from fertilizers and detergents add to
pollution of water. It harms living organisms under water and cause health
diseases to people including cancer. The importance of flora and fauna in the
rivers, lakes and oceans cannot be underestimated, many of which are endangered
or extinct due to pollution. The indigenous flora and fauna of the world are dying
and the ecosystem as we know it is dying with them.
Light pollution: Flooding of light in workshops, factories and business
places situated by the side of residential areas; blazing bright lights from
vehicles blinds people and spoils their eyes.
Sound pollution: Noises of a higher decibel like disturbance caused at
the time of landing and take-off of Boeing and other air-crafts; piling for
foundation of multistoried apartments and shopping complexes; the hum of
traffic like demented shrieking of
train whistles; idling and honking of vehicles; ear-splitting sound of loud
speakers and noises of heavy electrical gadgets are harmful to human beings and
other animals. These badly affect their sleep and relax, and cause ear problems
including permanent deafness.These cause irritation and a reason for wordy
altercation and ensuing fights.
Plastic waste
pollution: Accumulation of plastic bags and other
discarded items are becoming a major menace to the life of fauna and flora on
earth. Soil pollution: Dumping of
industrial wastes, waste oil, use of chemical fertilizers, synthetic herbicides,
and pesticides pollutes the soil and it gradually becomes unfit for
cultivation.
Pollution of the environment is a serious global problem,
which has to be curbed at the source itself. I have noticed that Mariakutty,
our maid-servant used to mix the waste gruel with some coconut-cake for the
cows. Some of the waste was thrown into the backyard of our kitchen for the
fowls and ducks who would normally linger around there. The bio-degradable
waste that was unfit for even the birds were put into a pit and covered with
soil. These pits are normally dug up near the banana cultivation. Hence this
natural manure generated from this provided excellent manure for the banana
crop. The ‘Njalipuvan’ bunches from
such banana crop were really delicious.
I have noted people dumping wastes on vacant land and
large properties slyly. In a larger scenario developed countries dump their
wastes on under-developed and/or developing countries. Is it fair or proper or
a solution to the problem?
‘Umikkari’, a natural tooth cleaning
powder obtained from burnt paddy husk mixed with little salt or a spotlessly
clean mango leaf was used to clean our
teeth. They are better than fluoride tooth pastes. Similarly, leaves and
flowers of the shoe flower plant (Hibiscus
rosiness) to make ‘Thali’ a
natural homemade shampoo is better than soap. ‘Inja’, beaten bark of Acacia
intsia, was used to scrub the dirt from body. These are natural things,
which are eco friendly.
An attached bathroom was unheard of years ago. Toilets
were bottomless, which were made out-door by the side of pond, a little away
from the house. They opened into a pond where fish ate the excreta, a method of
recycling sewage. I have observed people at Angamali-Kalady belt in Kerala and
in various places in Tamilnadu used pigs to do the same job. But these cannot
be utilized for scavenging large quantities of excreta. As population
increased, modern amenities like attached bath rooms, toilets, wash basins,
kitchen sinks and sewage tanks started coming to this Island in 1970s. Diesel
powered motor pumps were used to fill up tanks which stored water for use in
the kitchen sink and toilets. Is sewage tank a foolproof method? During monsoon floods I have noted these
tanks overflow in many houses and percolate into potable water and become a
health hazard. Sewage tanks shall have a reasonable height so that contamination
during regular floods can be averted.
Scientists may be encouraged to put their heads together
and find solution to the global problem and such scientists should be liberally
financed by UN and member states especially the developed countries in the
world.
I have noted men burning plastic bags and
other items which will pollute the air and add to the global warming and the
resulting flooding and erosion of soil in the hills and valeeys and coastal
belt. All plastic wastes, as far as possible, should be reused or recycled. It
is definitely the duty of the administration to find suitable ways to recycle
the non-bio-degradable wastes and/or ban such items totally in the larger
interest of the state to protect the environment. People should start using
shopping bags made of cotton cloth instead of plastic bags.
The government should make proper
arrangements for disposal of large quantity of garbage from markets, hotel
wastes and rubbish from hospitals. The Pollution Control Board should be
vigilant against dumping of industrial effluence, toxic waste and sewage into
the rivers and stringent action and impose heavy penalty on those who break the
laws. The local authorities are justified in charging reasonable fees and
charges from such hotels, restaurants and other business places.
There are provisions in the Municipal
Corporations Act, Municipalities Act and Punchayath Acr, Electricity Act, Police Act, Pollution
Control Act and the Rules to take stringent action and impose heavy penalties
on the wrong doers. Littering in public
places should be fined heavily to deter such individuals.
The Clean City Campaign commenced in 2010 namely “Suchithwabhodhanayajnam (SBY)”
undertaken by Fr. Geoerge Pittapilly, a CMI friar, Co-ordinator Suchithwabhodhana-yajnam, Rajagiri
College of Social Sciences at Kalamassery, has created awareness among the
public. During 1st to 15th of January 2010 and 2011 he
had conducted marches carrying placards on a particular route of Ernakulam
district, held a cleaning work and in the evenings he held meetings various
points on his route and addressed the gatherings. The young and old alike
participated in his venture and encouraged him. As I understand he wishes to
continue the clean city campaign every year, A crusade for the protection of
environment is highly laudable.
I would like to appreciate the earnest efforts taken by
the government to create awareness among the public. Moreover, the subsidy
given by the government through local administration to erect composte pits and
bio-gas plants in an effort to reduce pollution is also commendable.
The Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi,
stressed the significance of improving the health and sanitation of the rural
poor in India. His “Clean India Campaign” is picking up momentum.
Excerpts from
MEMOIRS
An autobiography
by
Joseph J. Thayamkeril
Lawyer, Kochi, Kerala, India.
josephjthayamkeril.blogspot.com
josephjthayamkeril@gmail.com
Nice post.
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