Positive change in pollution due to lockdown

POSITIVE CHANGE IN POLLUTION DUE TO LOCKDOWN

Corona virus is an infectious disease and infected people will experience illness in respiratory system (difficulty in breathing), high fever and cough. According to WHO, older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions have high risk from the virus. The best way to prevent and slow down COVID-19 virus is to protect yourself by maintain social distancing, stay at home, washing your hand with soap or alcohol based hand rub and avoid touching your face. A Lockdown is an emergency protocol that prevents people from leaving an area only stay at home. At this time, there is no specific vaccine for COVID-19, the solution is only LOCKDOWN and maintain SOCIAL DISTANCING. 

Present status of COVID-19 in India 

On 15 April, 2020 the total confirmed positive cases of corona in India are 11,439 among these 1,306 are recovered from COVID-19 and 9,756 are active cases of corona virus in India. Death rate in India on 14 April is 377. More active case of corona virus in India are in Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and Telangana all these states have more than 500 cases. 

If we discuss about the worldwide data, the total number of confirmed positive cases of virus are 19, 81,239 and among these 4, 86,622 are recovered from virus and overall death in world are 1, 26,681. United States is a country on top with the maximum number of confirmed cases of 6, 14,180 with the death rate of 26,061. After U.S., Spain is on another position with the total number of cases 1, 74,060 and death rate is 18,255. After US and Spain, Italy is on the 3^rd position with the total number of confirmed case 1, 62,488 and death of 21, 067. 

   

Lockdown period 

 You all know, India imposed a nationwide lockdown from 25 march to 14 April 14, 2020 i.e. 21 days lockdown announced by our honorable Prime Minister Narendra  Modi on 24 March. 

On 14 April 2020, Second lockdown announced by our honorable prime minister till 3^rd may, 2020. The Lockdown shut the offices, schools, colleges, malls, markets and non-essential services. All modes of public transport such as metro, trains, buses, domestic and international flights all are stopped till 3^rd may. In this lockdown, 130 crore people are asked to stay home to break the chain of corona virus. The main objective of this lockdown is to stop the spread of corona virus along with this lockdown create a positive impact on pollution of India. This situation is very disaster for the economy but it improves the quality of life because the air becomes pure free from pollution. Delhi is one of the most polluted cities of India but now Delhi air breathes like a pure mountain air.

View of roads in many areas of India due to lockdown on 2 April, 2020 

This world largest lockdown stop all factories, plants, biomass burning, construction work halted and along with public transport private vehicles traffic are reduced to very minimum level. All Indians are asked to stay home. As per the data analyze, many polluted cities have lower level of harmful microscopic particular matter known as PM 2.5 and dangerous air pollutants which is released by vehicles and power plants. Due to decrease in dangerous gases in air, the clear blue skies signed a dramatic shift for India in polluted cities.

Lockdown impact on air pollution 

Image posted on social media by the residents of Delhi,

 Clean sky with the flying of birds.

“I have not seen such blue skies in Delhi for the past 10 years” said Jyoti Pande Lavakare, the Co-founder of India Environmental organization care for Air.

Delhi air Quality index was moderate at 42. Below 50 is determined to be good air. But in November, 2019 it maxed out of 999, New Delhi and some cities in Northern India was blanketed in a dark yellow haze zone due to high level of air pollution. The level of air pollution hit high and Delhi government declare a public health emergency and all the schools are closed. After 4 months, the skies are now cleaning up due to lockdown.

The India Gate in New Delhi on October 17, 2019 and on April 8, 2020 after Air pollution dropped.

In India, 51% of pollution is caused by the industries pollution, 27% by vehicles, 17% by crop burning and 5% by Diwali fireworks. Traffic jams are considered to be one of the leading sources of increasing pollution of matter nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and other pollutants which increase air pollution. Due to corona virus lockdown, no public vehicle and less amount of private vehicles increase the quality of air,  

The nationwide lockdown create a positive impact on air pollution, water pollution and noise pollution. This level of pollution never came in India from past many years, so this period breaks the record. The nationwide curfew in India on March 22 also result in lower one day traffic pollution level analyze by CREA.

Other countries also shared picture on social media during lockdown.

First China, then Italy now the UK, Germany, India and dozens of other countries are experiencing temporary falls in carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide of 40% , temporary not permanent improve in Air Quality and it will reduce the risk of asthma, heart attacks and lung diseases.

The WHO estimates that dirty air kills 7 million people globally from the respiratory infections diseases. Now the air become pure, no one feel problem in breathing. Even people who have breathing problem or have asthma, also feel comfortable in this clean air. We are able to treat asthmatic patients with minimum mediation.  Recently heavy rains in the North and west of country also helped in controlling the pollutions level. Rain is very effective in remove aerosol particulars from the atmosphere.  

In northern India, the air quality varies from poor to clean air, depending on time of lockdown it gives during an annual monsoon. The air is clear, the skies are blue. I see the evening stars with clarity and hear the chirruping of excited birds at this period they have received. 

Himalayan Mountain Range from north states of Punjab

People from the northern states of Punjab are reacting with the sight of the Himalayan Mountain Range, is now visible from more than 100 miles away due to the reduction in air pollution caused by lockdown in nation. Residents of Jalandhar woke up with an incredible sight from the distance: the Dhaladhar mountain range in Himachal Pradesh. They posted online photos of the beautiful view from their home; with some quote they haven’t seen the peaks of Himalaya from decades.

Harbhajan Singh shared his view on twitter about Himalaya range 

“For the first time in almost 30 years I could clearly see the Himalayas due to India’s lockdown clearing air pollution. Just amazing” Manjit kang wrote.

During the March 2020, the average of Nitrogen dioxide decline by 40-50% in cities of Mumbai, Pune, Ahmadabad, Delhi said by Gufra, being a scientist of Air quality and weather forecasting and research. 

Lockdown impacts on water pollution 

Ganga River view from Uttrakhand after lockdown  

 Lockdown not only make positive impact on air pollution, but it also makes drastic change in water pollution. Water of the rivers becomes very pure and clean. Ganga River has seen improve due to nationwide lockdown that has led to reduction in the dumping of industrial wastage in Ganga river. According to the real-time water monitoring data of the CPCB, 36 places at various points of Ganga River are monitored and the water quality of around 27 points was suitable for bathing and propagation of wildlife and fishers. It is a very good time for CRCB to study the level of pollution coming from the industry because domestic sewerage has not reduced but industrial disposal are finished due to water quality is increasing. It is also expected to be increased in coming period because the lockdown is increasing till 3^rd may. The organic pollution level in the river but chemical pollution which is created by disposal of industry reduce and it destroy the river self cleaning properties. The self cleaning properties have improved due to which the water quality has improved. 

 Pictures of Ganga River shared on twitter after lockdown.

After Ganga River, the Water quality of Yamuna River has also improved. The stoppage of industrial waste made a positive impact on water quality.

Picture of Yamuna River before and after the lockdown in nation

 The improvement in this period hints that cleaning of Yamuna is in the hands of people and governement. If people and government come together, the Yamuna River gets clean very easily. According to report by India-based television news channels, the closure of industrials units in the national capital region led to improve in the water quality of river. The waters of the sea, lakes and canals are running very clear. 

Sounds of birds replace noise pollution 

View of Kolkata shared on social media after lockdown 

The sounds of birds replace the sound of car horns, industrial activities, social events, construction noise and many other sources of noise pollution due to the nationwide lockdown in country due to COVID-19. In Kolkata, air and noise pollution reduced by 50-75% during the lockdown period and this situation will also feel in coming few day because lockdown will be extended till 3^rd may. The number of birds has not increased but lack of vehicles and decrease in pollution allowed them to come out in open and everyone enjoy their beautiful chirruping specially in morning and evening.    

Investing in a cleaner future   

We all know, this is not the ideal way to reduce the air and water pollution, but it proved by this lockdown is that air pollution is manmade and it gives a encouragement and hope that we can bring pollution level down in air and water both. This should be a wakeup call for India to address the problem. When we come out of the outbreak, it will be very interesting to see if we invest money for cleaner future and we need to stop use fossil fuel based incentives industries or go towards the sustainable option and the government should commit to keep exist policy and when things under better control, we need to move towards renewable energy faster. It should be really said if we repeat the same mistake again by using coal and non-renewable energy. This corona virus also present India with an opportunity to invest in a clean energy future, said Dahiya from CERA.

Protection measure against the COVID-19 

• Wash your hand very frequently with alcohol based rub or soap and water for 20 seconds.
• Maintain social distance between you and other person, the distance should be at least 1 meter.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth because it transfer virus into your body and make you infected.
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty in breathing seek medical care and isolate yourself from other.
• Cover your nose and mouth with mask or disposable tissue.
• Download the AAROGYA SETU APP in your phone.
• Make sure that people around you follow good respiratory hygiene.
• Stay home, stay safe. 
• Improve immunity by follow the guideline of AYUSH MINISTRY 

·   At last, it can be concluded that this situation is very drastic for our economy not for our country but for all over world. This situation brings a positive impact on the pollution level of our country by lowering the level of air, water and noise pollution level. This lockdown create a lot of problem in life of human beings by close all the markets, schools, malls and construction but on other side the quality of life is increased due to clean air. Everyone enjoy fresh air, birds enjoy their life and person enjoy the fresh morning by birds voice. Now car horns and various high noises in environment are replaced by the singing of birds. The quality level of river like Ganga and Yamuna are also improved due to lockdown period. This is not the better method to decrease the pollution in our economy but it gives an view that the pollution control are in the hands of human being and it is manmade. After the India fight with this virus, then the situation again change with the past scenario which was faced by Delhi in November, 2019 so government and people need to stop pollution which is possible from their hands. So, now onwards there is only one solution for COVID-19 is maintain social distancing, stay at home, wear mask and wash your hands very frequently.   

AUTHOR 

  TARA RANI

           49170102

         BBA 3^RD YEAR