• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

REPORT WEBINAR ON “CHANGE OF SEASON: INCREASING AIR POLLUTION – WAY FORWARD” AT 1000-1145 Hrs. on 22thOctober 2020 JOINTLY ORGANIZED BY NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DISASTER MANAGEMENT (NIDM), New Delhi AND DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING, INVERTIS University, Bareilly, UP Background As we all know, the constant pollution of the air has very negative effects on nature and on human health. If we talk about the negative impacts on air pollution, global warming is a direct consequence of the greenhouse effect, which is produced by the high emission of CO2 and methane into the atmosphere. Climate change is another consequence of global warming. Due to climate change, the mass of the poles is melting, and this is leading to flooding and the rising of sea levels. Further, the gases emitted by industries, power plants, boilers, heating and transport are very toxic. When toxic substances accumulate in the atmosphere and react with water, they form dilute solutions of nitric and sulphuric acid and such acid rain degrades the environment and surfaces. The smog effect happens when there is a kind of dark fog concentrated over the cities and fields. That fog is a load of pollutants and is dangerous to health. Acid rain, climate change and smog all damage the earth surface. Contaminated water and gases seep into the earth, changing the composition of soils. That directly affects agriculture, changing crop cycles and the composition of the food we all eat. Due to climate change, sea currents change, ocean temperatures change and migratory cycles of many fauna species change, and they are forced to seek food in environments unknown to them. Air pollution is probably one of the most obvious and worrying effects for human beings. Pollutants can cause respiratory illnesses and allergies ranging from coughs to asthma, cancer etc. Also, poor oxygenation can lead to cardiovascular problems. Air pollutants also deteriorate and change the constitution of building materials, so many buildings and infrastructure are weakened, eroded or destroyed at an accelerated rate over time. People develop intolerances and allergies to many agents present in the atmosphere and to other external agents that can go through due to the holes in the ozone layer. Many of the chemical intolerances directly affect people’s skin. All these important effects can increase if their causes are not rapidly acted upon. During the increasing Air Pollution times in the Delhi-NCR and Western UP region, NIDM and the Invertis University, jointly organized a Webinar on, “Change of Season, Increasing Air Pollution : Way Forward” on 22nd October, 2020 (1000-1145 Hrs.) INAUGURAL SESSION Shri Ashish Kumar Panda, Consultant and Faculty Member, NIDM initiated the programme by setting the context of organizing such webinar at a time when Delhi-NCR and Western UP, are facing the worst kind of air pollution due to change of season, opening of lockdown during the times of Covid-19 and Climate Change reasons like coming of winter too early etc. He highlighted to topics for discussion and welcomed everybody for this prestigious programme. Ms. Shilky, YP, NIDM coordinated the further ceremony. Dr. YDS Arya, VC, INVERTIS University in his inaugural address welcomed all. He said that more people die of pollutions than accidents. In winters, air becomes colder, denser, hence the movement is slow. He gave a relevant message to keep vehicles to the bare minimum to reduce the corbon emissions. He spoke about the causal agents of pollutants, such as crop residues burnt, festival fire crackers etc. and cautioned that it is our duty to convince others that these are harmful to our natural air environment. He also warned that the Covid virus can be there in the polluted air for days probably. He mentioned that Covid deaths are very cruel and we need to follow the slogan “Jab tak dawai nahin dhilai nahin” in letter and spirit. He concluded by saying that each one of us has responsibilities towards the forthcoming generation and we need to fulfill them at any cost. Dr. R. K. Shukla, Dean, INVERTIS University thanked everybody. He said that the cold waves in the Delhi NCR and Western UP are more dangerous than heatwaves. He talked about Parali and Dust Storm. He said that this webinar will help find solutions for all the problems in this regard. He wished programme grand success and hoped for many more of such events with social messages, in times to come. Prof. Anil K. Gupta, HoD ECDRM Division, NIDM, in his opening remarks, said that Particulate Matter 2.5 and 10 worries us more as it causes Health Hazards. Winter coming earlier due to climate change as several people are allergic to dust and pollens, they face health hazards due to pollution in winters. Air pollution is a new health emergency besides Covid 19. The Air quality standards are degrading on a regular basis. Better management for crop residue burning is required. He suggested to stop engines at red lights. There is also a Governance issue. There is a need of science cum policy integrated approach to curb the problem of pollution. He encouraged the participants to come up with innovative ways in contributing the cause of reducing air pollution across India. PANEL DISCUSSION Prof. A. P. Dimri, JNU, New Delhi during his discussions said that during lockdown, Delhi was clean, pollution was at low level. There was a reduction in CO2 and pollution emissions by imposing lockdown. In March there was less temp, more rainfalls. He talked about the Himalayas and relations to monsoons 15 million years back. He talked about the peculiar geomorphology of Himalayas and Shivaliks. Minor instability of the atmosphere and precipitation happens at one particular place and he explained it with the concept of sponge mechanism and the rapid behave of monsoon accordingly. He gave examples of cities like Hyderabad in this regard. Incidences of mortality are increasing due heat wave and cold wave in the northern region. Hot bio-diversity region of Indian subcontinent is much hazardous region as far as societal contexts are concerned. We are observing incidences of forest fire in month of august, a rare phenomenon. He talked about Parali burning in nearby states of Delhi. Ladies home cooking inside cooking house is also significantly causing pollution. The women are more vulnerable and facing health hazards due to unclean fuel. Delhi is not India, we have other issues elsewhere in India. He also pointed out on a peculiar phenomenon that there was triple increase of surface ozone in first lockdown, which is not good. Scientists are working to find out the reason. He concluded by saying that S&T innovations need to reach at ground levels to provide real time effect and relief to the common man. Prof. V. K. Sahgal, Principal Scientist IARI spoke on the issue of crop residue burning in northern India. He mentioned about the 1965- 66 - Civil Distribution System, people queuing up of rations and then the journey of India towards food reliance and surplus. However, in the process, no one thinks of managing the residues, hence the burning of crop residue system prevailed. There is a need to worry about the effect of agriculture residue burning upon the rest of biomass. We need to indulge krishi vigyan kendras, distribute IECs to educate farmers not to burn residues. Health of livestock’s is also a worrisome area. There is a remote sensing, satellite ground station in Delhi, where real times monitoring for fires, fire intensity, parali burning, on daily basis, is done. During such activities, pollutants arevemitted into the atmosphere and bring upon lots of health hazards. He concluded by saying that our priorities are misplaced by saying that parali is only reason for smog while vehicular pollution, inversion, metrological conditions, particulate matter etc. should also be given equal weightage. Prof. N. C. Gupta, GGSIPU spoke on increasing Air Quality Index of Delhi and nearby areas. He informed that the smog conditions also depend on meteorological conditions. Both Particulate Matter 2.5 and 10 are every harmful. But PM 2.5 is more harmful to health as it includes not just unburn carbon but incomplete combustion of biomass as well. Complexity of hydrocarbons is harmful for human health. PM 2.5 remains hanged in the atmosphere for 90 days. They move with only 17cm/hr and can reach up to the heights of 1 km. PM 2.5 intermix with blood easily and create adverse impact on health – the cardiovascular/carcinogenic conditions. During winters this height reduces to only 400-600 meters and that creates the real problem. He said that the wind direction, wind speed and the mixing height all play major role is the dispersion of pollutants and that is why, in winters, we see this pollution problem. He concluded by saying that it being a multi stakeholder problem issue, everybody has to chip in to provide all kinds of support and measures to reduce it to best extent possible. Mr. Ashish Kumar Panda, Faculty member NIDM opened his talk with the covid19 and impact on the environment. He said that the AQI were really great during the lockdown and there were news of Himalaya being visible from far places and several other environmental benefits accrued due to population mostly being inside their houses. He discussed how the pollutions are creating major health emergency citing the global air report 2019. Especially in Delhi during winters the westerly winds create a problem as the city is landlocked and pollution doesn’t get dispersed well. He explained all the causal agents of pollutions in Delhi region. He also discussed the legislation in Indian context, government initiatives to curb air pollutions, measure taken by the local governments and way forward in this regard.

Load more

  16

Copy Link