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The form of environmental pollution that we face every second of our life is the air pollution. WHO's recent nomination of Delhi as the worst city of air quality only postulates the dark air we breathe in. This announcement strained the nerves of our policy makers. Our technological savvy prime minister matched the situation by launching an AIR QUALITY INDEX to guage the real time level of air pollution. The theme was simple that in order to contain something firstly we have to gauge it. It was released by CPCB leveraged by the technical expert AK AGGARWAL.. In cohesion with international standards the index collates the CPCB pollution figures in the form of six colur coded levels. For eg the dark green for good air and maroon for the worst. The main forms of primary air pollutants that are gauged by it are PM2.5, some harmful gases and organic carbons. The output of the index is only in figures that will catch our conscience to the prevalent air quality of the place.
Definitely these type of innovatios are rare but this would not insulate it from the limitations Following the trend the zeal of announcement does not match the execution. The policy is not integrated with the capacity. What will be the combative steps after the collation of data's through these indexes are not evolved out. Only collating the data about the air quality is not the end but the initiation of the efforts to shun it. India is the key initiator of many pro environmental talks and policies at the global level and she should exemplify the same vigour in this regard. So that the heart and lungs of our country remain respirative and healthy.
Good answer, but u need to write what is asked in the question. Start for a separte para for sub-part of the question. Try to write the criticism in points so that u can hit the bull's eye.
Air Quality Index is a scale for measuring the quality and levels of air-pollutants that have an adverse impact on a large percentage of the population's health and environment. The index has been developed by Central Pollution Control Board in consultation with IIT-Kanpur and a group of experts comprising medical, air-quality professionals and other stakeholders. AQI has been categorized into six sections, namely 'Good', 'Satisfactory', 'Moderately Polluted', 'Poor', 'Very Poor' and 'Severe'. It was launched in New Delhi on 17 September 2014 under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. It is outlined as ‘One Number- One Colour-One Description’ for the common man to judge the air quality within his vicinity. The index constitutes part of the Government’s mission to introduce the culture of cleanliness. While the earlier measuring index was limited to three indicators, the current measurement index had been made quite comprehensive by the addition of five additional parameters. Under the current measurement of air quality, 8 parameters. The initiatives undertaken by the Ministry recently aimed at balancing environment and conservation and development as air pollution has been a matter of environmental and health concerns, particularly in urban areas. There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. The proposed AQI will consider eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (up to 24-hourly averaging period) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed. Based on the measured ambient concentrations, corresponding standards and likely health impact, a sub-index is calculated for each of these pollutants. The worst sub-index reflects overall AQI. Associated likely health impacts for different AQI categories and pollutants have been also been suggested, with primary inputs from the medical expert members of the group. The AQI values and corresponding ambient concentrations (health breakpoints) as well as associated likely health impacts for the identified eight pollutants. A monitoring station should be able to give you the concentration of a particular pollutant at that moment in time, and its average over a period of time – for CO and O3, the average is taken over eight hours, while for the other three, it is a 24-hour average. The unit of measurement is microgram (or milligram in the case of CO) per cubic meter.
Criticism of new Air Quality Index 1. Since 90s, industrial units have to install instruments to measure air-quality and send data to state pollution control boards. If too much pollution then unit will be shut down. 2. But Industrial units deliberately using India-made (faulty) machines to measure PM2.5. So reported number is less than actual pollution. 3. Such Instrument manufacturers only need to declare “self-certification” that their machine meets quality standards. Government not doing checks on such products, by itself. This will lead to lacking in standards of measurements. 4. They’ve prepared one index to be used uniformly for Entire India. We need separate indexes for residential vs industrial areas; cities vs towns vs villages. 5. For example: in village air, methane high due to open compost pits and animal husbandry. Yet under this index, village air-quality will be “good”, because methane not monitored. 6. It doesn’t monitor Benzene. Benzene is a carcinogen chemical from Petrol and diesel. USA monitors its level but we do not. 7. Mere informing the citizens through a color-coded table is insufficient. Need to include more conditional safety protocols in it. 8. For example, In China- if air quality index reaches red level, they shut down primary schools. Delhi is in purple category i.e. one step more dangerous than Red. So Delhi will have to permanently shut down schools and coaching business expands. More cost to parents’ and guardians. 9. Doubts over data-collection methodologies adopted by CPCB and SPCBs. 10 10. Needs at least one continuous monitoring unit (CMU) in each state capital and million-plus population city. 11. Existing CMUs understaffed and known to give inaccurate data 12. Inorganic linkages b/n SPCB and CPCB, former accused of being political appointees and prone to data fudging To conclude, the AQI is a credible first step towards hazard mapping, providing information to vulnerable citizens such as the elderly and asthmatics, for assessing efficacy of policy interventions, and for scientific and academic research. However, to be efficient we need to ensure integrity of the data collected as well as its extension to all major urban areas.
Since the exam is near and as per the demand, we can increase the number of questions per day. For today there are 2 questions related to past one year happening (earthquake and flash floods) and can be asked in GS1 as a part of geography. 2. Classify India into major earthquake zones. 3. What are flash floods and how it is caused? How it is different from Urban floods?
Earthquakes are by far the most unpredictable and highly destructive of all the natural disasters.
Earthquakes that are of tectonic origin have proved to be the most devastating and their area of influence is also quite large. These earthquakes result from a series of earth movements brought about by a sudden release of energy during the tectonic activities in the earth’s crust. As compared to these, the earthquakes associated with volcanic eruption, rock fall, landslides, subsidence, particularly in the mining areas, impounding of dams and reservoirs, etc. have limited area of influence and the scale of damage.
Indian plate is moving at a speed of one centimetre per year towards the north and northeastern direction and this movement of plates is being constantly obstructed by the Eurasian plate from the north. As a result of this, both the plates are said to be locked with each other resulting in accumulation of energy at different points of time.
Excessive accumulation of energy results in building up of stress, which ultimately leads to the breaking up of the lock and the sudden release of energy, causes earthquakes along the Himalayan arch.
Some of the most vulnerable states are Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, and the Darjiling and subdivision of West Bengal and all the seven states of the northeast.
The central-western parts of India, particularly Gujarat (in 1819, 1956 and 2001) and Maharashtra (in 1967 and 1993) have also experienced some severe earthquakes. Earth scientists have found it difficult to explain the occurrence of earthquakes in one of the oldest, most stable and mature landmass of Prominent block for a long time.
Some earth scientists have come up with a theory of emergence of a fault line and energy build-up along the fault line represented by the river Bhima (Krishna) near Latur and Osmanabad (Maharashtra) and the possible breaking down of the Indian plate.
After an intensive analysis of more than 1,200 earthquakes that have occurred in India in different years in the past, and based on these, India is divided into the following five earthquake zones:
(i) Very high damage risk zone (ii) High damage risk zone (iii) Moderate damage risk zone (iv) Low damage risk zone (v) Very low damage risk zone.
Out of these, the first two zones had experienced some of the most devastating earthquakes in India.
Areas vulnerable to these earthquakes are the North-east states, areas to the north of Darbhanga and Araria along the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar, Uttaranchal, Western Himachal Pradesh (around Dharamshala) and Kashmir Valley in the Himalayan region and the Kuchchh (Gujarat).These are included in the Very High Damage Risk Zone.
Similarly, the remaining parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Northern parts of Punjab, Eastern parts of Haryana, Delhi,Western Uttar Pradesh, and Northern Bihar fall under the High Damage Risk Zone.
Remaining parts of the country fall under moderate to very Low Damage Risk Zone. Most of the areas that can be considered safe are from the stable landmass covered under the Deccan plateau.
SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF EARTHQUAKES
The idea of an earthquake is often associated with fear and horror due to the scale, magnitude and suddenness at which it spreads disasters on the surface of the earth without discrimination.
It becomes a calamity when it strikes the areas of high density of population. It not only damages and destroys the settlements, infrastructure, transport and communication network, industries and other developmental activities but also robs the population of their material and socio-cultural gains that they have preserved over generations.
It renders them homeless, which puts an extra-pressure and stress, particularly on the weak economy of the developing countries.
EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES
Earthquakes have all encompassing disastrous effects on the area of their occurrence. Some of the important ones are listed in Table 7.3.
Earthquakes also have some serious and far-reaching environmental consequences. Surface seismic waves produce fissures on the upper layers of the earth’s crust through which water and other volatile materials gush out, inundating the neighbouring areas.
Earthquakes are also responsible for landslides and often these cause obstructions in the flow of rivers and channels resulting in the formation of reservoirs. Sometimes, rivers also change their course causing floods and other calamities in the affected areas.
EARTHQUAKE HAZARD MITIGATION
The damages caused by earthquakes are more devastating as compare to other disasters. Since it also destroys most of the transport and communication links, providing timely relief to the victims becomes difficult.
It is not possible to prevent the occurrence of an earthquake; hence, the next best option is to emphasis on disaster preparedness and mitigation rather than curative measures such as:
(i) Establishing earthquake monitoring centres (seismological centres) for regular monitoring and fast dissemination of information among the people in the vulnerable areas. Use of Geographical Positioning System (GPS) can be of great help in monitoring the movement of tectonic plates.
(ii) Preparing a vulnerability map of the country and dissemination of vulnerability risk information among the people and educating them about the ways and means minimizing the adverse impacts of disasters.
(iii) Modifying the house types and building designs in the vulnerable areas and discouraging construction of high-rise buildings, large industrial establishments and big urban centres in such areas.
(iv)Making it mandatory to adopt earthquake-resistant designs and use light materials in major construction activities in the vulnerable areas.
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Comments
The index has been developed by Central Pollution Control Board in consultation with IIT-Kanpur and a group of experts comprising medical, air-quality professionals and other stakeholders.
AQI has been categorized into six sections, namely 'Good', 'Satisfactory', 'Moderately Polluted', 'Poor', 'Very Poor' and 'Severe'.
It was launched in New Delhi on 17 September 2014 under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. It is outlined as ‘One Number- One Colour-One Description’ for the common man to judge the air quality within his vicinity. The index constitutes part of the Government’s mission to introduce the culture of cleanliness.
While the earlier measuring index was limited to three indicators, the current measurement index had been made quite comprehensive by the addition of five additional parameters. Under the current measurement of air quality, 8 parameters. The initiatives undertaken by the Ministry recently aimed at balancing environment and conservation and development as air pollution has been a matter of environmental and health concerns, particularly in urban areas.
There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. The proposed AQI will consider eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (up to 24-hourly averaging period) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed. Based on the measured ambient concentrations, corresponding standards and likely health impact, a sub-index is calculated for each of these pollutants. The worst sub-index reflects overall AQI. Associated likely health impacts for different AQI categories and pollutants have been also been suggested, with primary inputs from the medical expert members of the group. The AQI values and corresponding ambient concentrations (health breakpoints) as well as associated likely health impacts for the identified eight pollutants.
A monitoring station should be able to give you the concentration of a particular pollutant at that moment in time, and its average over a period of time – for CO and O3, the average is taken over eight hours, while for the other three, it is a 24-hour average. The unit of measurement is microgram (or milligram in the case of CO) per cubic meter.
Criticism of new Air Quality Index
1. Since 90s, industrial units have to install instruments to measure air-quality and send data to state pollution control boards. If too much pollution then unit will be shut down.
2. But Industrial units deliberately using India-made (faulty) machines to measure PM2.5. So reported number is less than actual pollution.
3. Such Instrument manufacturers only need to declare “self-certification” that their machine meets quality standards. Government not doing checks on such products, by itself. This will lead to lacking in standards of measurements.
4. They’ve prepared one index to be used uniformly for Entire India. We need separate indexes for residential vs industrial areas; cities vs towns vs villages.
5. For example: in village air, methane high due to open compost pits and animal husbandry. Yet under this index, village air-quality will be “good”, because methane not monitored.
6. It doesn’t monitor Benzene. Benzene is a carcinogen chemical from Petrol and diesel. USA monitors its level but we do not.
7. Mere informing the citizens through a color-coded table is insufficient. Need to include more conditional safety protocols in it.
8. For example, In China- if air quality index reaches red level, they shut down primary schools. Delhi is in purple category i.e. one step more dangerous than Red. So Delhi will have to permanently shut down schools and coaching business expands. More cost to parents’ and guardians.
9. Doubts over data-collection methodologies adopted by CPCB and SPCBs. 10
10. Needs at least one continuous monitoring unit (CMU) in each state capital and million-plus population city.
11. Existing CMUs understaffed and known to give inaccurate data
12. Inorganic linkages b/n SPCB and CPCB, former accused of being political appointees and prone to data fudging
To conclude, the AQI is a credible first step towards hazard mapping, providing information to vulnerable citizens such as the elderly and asthmatics, for assessing efficacy of policy interventions, and for scientific and academic research. However, to be efficient we need to ensure integrity of the data collected as well as its extension to all major urban areas.
2. Classify India into major earthquake zones.
3. What are flash floods and how it is caused? How it is different from Urban floods?
INDC,NEPAL Vs INDIAN CONSTITUION,SAFETT DEVICE,SDG MDG,NJAC,EMERGENCY,ASTROSAT,SHANGHAI COPERATION ORZ(MANDATE,STRUCTURE,BENEFIT FOR INDIA),SC BOSE IDELOGY CRITICAL ANALYSIS,NET NUTRALITY,MP/MLA SALARY ISSUE,EARTHQUAKE PREPARDNESS,UN PEACE KEEPING MISSION-ANALYSIS,PALLAVA ART/ARCITECTURE,SWISS MODEL,BLUE ECONOMY,STARTUP INDIA,CAPITAL PUNISHMENT
PS- i failed this year
Earthquakes are by far the most unpredictable and highly destructive of all the natural disasters.
Earthquakes that are of tectonic origin have proved to be the most devastating and their area of influence is also quite large. These earthquakes result from a series of earth movements brought about by a sudden release of energy during the tectonic activities in the earth’s crust.
As compared to these, the earthquakes associated with volcanic eruption, rock fall, landslides, subsidence, particularly in the mining areas, impounding of dams and reservoirs, etc. have limited area of influence and the scale of damage.
Indian plate is moving at a speed of one centimetre per year towards the north and northeastern direction and this movement of plates is being constantly obstructed by the Eurasian plate from the north. As a result of this, both the plates are said to be locked with each other resulting in accumulation of energy at different points of time.
Excessive accumulation of energy results in building up of stress, which ultimately leads to the breaking up of the lock and the sudden release of energy, causes earthquakes along the Himalayan arch.
Some of the most vulnerable states are Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, and the Darjiling and subdivision of West Bengal and all the seven states of the northeast.
The central-western parts of India, particularly Gujarat (in 1819, 1956 and 2001) and Maharashtra (in 1967 and 1993) have also experienced some severe earthquakes. Earth scientists have found it difficult to explain the occurrence of earthquakes in one of the oldest, most stable and mature landmass of Prominent block for a long time.
Some earth scientists have come up with a theory of emergence of a fault line and energy build-up along the fault line represented by the river Bhima (Krishna) near Latur and Osmanabad (Maharashtra) and the possible breaking down of the Indian plate.
After an intensive analysis of more than 1,200 earthquakes that have occurred in India in different years in the past, and based on these, India is divided into the following five earthquake zones:
(i) Very high damage risk zone
(ii) High damage risk zone
(iii) Moderate damage risk zone
(iv) Low damage risk zone
(v) Very low damage risk zone.
Out of these, the first two zones had experienced some of the most devastating earthquakes in India.
Areas vulnerable to these earthquakes are the North-east states, areas to the north of Darbhanga and Araria along the Indo-Nepal border in Bihar, Uttaranchal, Western Himachal Pradesh (around Dharamshala) and Kashmir Valley in the Himalayan region and the Kuchchh (Gujarat).These are included in the Very High Damage Risk Zone.
Similarly, the remaining parts of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Northern parts of Punjab, Eastern parts of Haryana, Delhi,Western Uttar Pradesh, and Northern Bihar fall under the High Damage Risk Zone.
Remaining parts of the country fall under moderate to very Low Damage Risk Zone. Most of the areas that can be considered safe are from the stable landmass covered under the Deccan plateau.
SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES OF EARTHQUAKES
The idea of an earthquake is often associated with fear and horror due to the scale, magnitude and suddenness at which it spreads disasters on the surface of the earth without discrimination.
It becomes a calamity when it strikes the areas of high density of population. It not only damages and destroys the settlements, infrastructure, transport and communication network, industries and other developmental activities but also robs the population of their material and socio-cultural gains that they have preserved over generations.
It renders them homeless, which puts an extra-pressure and stress, particularly on the weak economy of the developing countries.
EFFECTS OF EARTHQUAKES
Earthquakes have all encompassing disastrous effects on the area of their occurrence. Some of the important ones are listed in Table 7.3.
Earthquakes also have some serious and far-reaching environmental consequences.
Surface seismic waves produce fissures on the upper layers of the earth’s crust through which water and other volatile materials gush out, inundating the neighbouring areas.
Earthquakes are also responsible for landslides and often these cause obstructions in the flow of rivers and channels resulting in the formation of reservoirs. Sometimes, rivers also change their course causing floods and other calamities in the affected areas.
EARTHQUAKE HAZARD MITIGATION
The damages caused by earthquakes are more devastating as compare to other disasters. Since it also destroys most of the transport and communication links, providing timely relief to the victims becomes difficult.
It is not possible to prevent the occurrence of an earthquake; hence, the next best option is to emphasis on disaster preparedness and mitigation rather than curative measures such as:
(i) Establishing earthquake monitoring centres (seismological centres) for regular monitoring and fast dissemination of information among the people in the vulnerable areas. Use of Geographical Positioning System (GPS) can be of great help in monitoring the movement of tectonic plates.
(ii) Preparing a vulnerability map of the country and dissemination of vulnerability risk information among the people and educating them about the ways and means minimizing the adverse impacts of disasters.
(iii) Modifying the house types and building designs in the vulnerable areas and discouraging construction of high-rise buildings, large industrial establishments and big urban centres in such areas.
(iv)Making it mandatory to adopt earthquake-resistant designs and use light materials in major construction activities in the vulnerable areas.