Environmental Degradation

[Nity Nishant]

           Environmental degradation has been increasing over the years, causing damage for the maintenance of ecological balance and reducing the life span of mankind. Environmental pollution is faced by all the major urban cities of developing countries like India; it arises due to rapid industrialization, urbanization, transportation, over population and lack of public awareness. Increase in pollution gives rise to severe congestion and respiratory disorders along with other air and water borne ailments. Fossils fuel driven vehicles account for nearly 60-70 per cent pollution in the urban environment in India. In Delhi, the intensity of noise pollution has reached 90 decibels, which is equal to the noise of a flying jet aeroplane. About 300 million tons of pollutants are emitted annually in the air world-wide, of which 10 million tons are contributed by India in the form of particulate CO, SO₂ , NOx etc. Plantation plays an important role in mitigating the environmental pollution and enhances the economic and aesthetic status of the surroundings; the vegetation normally acts as an absorbent of various air pollutants, filtering out dust, soot, smoke and many other fine particulate matters present in the air by the process of absorption, detoxification, accumulation and metabolization. Plants play the most important part in the cycle of nature. Without plants, there could be no life on Earth. They are the primary producers that sustain all other life forms. Plant species like Ficus infectoria, Morus sp. are known for mitigating noise and air pollution, plants such as Eucalyptus, Silver oak are good for arresting the drifting dust and smoke and to cut down noise. Thick and broad foliage plants, like Ficus elastic, are known for their noise absorption capacity. Shrubs likeNeriumindicum, Lantana camara are good accumulator of lead, sulphates and particulate matter. Peepal, Neem and Gular are tolerant to pollutants and to establish green belt, can be planted around factories, industries and at national highways. People’s participation in the forestry and horticultural programmes is the best way to turn huge barren lands into green landscape for improving the present status of the environment.