Environment, Pollution, and Solutions : UP ( Science & Technology )

Introduction

The nexus of science, technology, and environmental issues holds particular significance in the context of Uttar Pradesh (UP). As one of India’s most populous and industrially dynamic states, UP faces a unique set of challenges and opportunities concerning its environment. This introduction sets the stage to delve into the intricate interplay between science, technology, environmental concerns, and the innovative solutions tailored to the specific needs of UP. It explores the pressing issues of environmental degradation and pollution within the state, while also highlighting the role of science and technology in both exacerbating and mitigating these challenges. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of region-specific strategies, research, and sustainable technologies in the pursuit of a greener and healthier future for Uttar Pradesh.

The Environmental Directorate

The Environmental Directorate is a department of the state government, established in 1976. Through this directorate, various measures are being taken for environmental protection, conservation, and pollution control in the state. There are regional offices of the Environmental Directorate in Meerut and Varanasi.

Rules and Regulations

Under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, of the Government of India, the ‘Uttar Pradesh Water Pollution Control Board’ was established in the state in 1975.

Under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, of the Government of India, there was no separate air board established in the state. Instead, the responsibility for air pollution prevention and control was assigned to the previously established Water Pollution Control Board. On July 13, 1982, the state government renamed this board as the ‘Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board.’

In accordance with the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the relevant powers were also delegated to the State Board by the Government of India.

In 1998, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, enacted the Biomedical Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, 1998. The responsibility for compliance with these rules was also assigned to the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board.

To combat pollution in the state, apart from the headquarters in Lucknow, 25 regional offices have been established.

In the year 2010, the first-ever Environmental Report was prepared in the state.

The Ganga

The Ganga Action Plan

• The Ganga Action Plan was initiated in February 1985 under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. Its aim was to reduce pollution in the Ganges and make it suitable for bathing, with the goal of limiting the maximum Biological Oxygen Demand (B.O.D.) to 3 mg/litre and the minimum Dissolved Oxygen (D.O.) to 5 mg/litre.
• The Ganga Action Plan’s first phase received 100% central funding and included only 5 cities: Farrukhabad, Fatehgarh, Kanpur, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Mirzapur. In this phase, sewage treatment plants, crematoriums, pump stations, etc., were established in these cities.
• In 1993, the second phase of the Ganga Action Plan was initiated, covering a total of 23 cities along the banks of the Ganges and its tributaries. This phase included the original 5 cities from the first phase. In this phase, the Yamuna and Gomati rivers were also included, resulting in the creation of three components :
  • the Ganga Action Plan,
  • Yamuna Action Plan, and
  • Gomati Action Plan.
• In the second phase, there is also financial support from the state government.
• In the Ganga Action Plan’s second phase, 7 new cities along the Ganges (out of a total of 12) were included.
• The Yamuna Action Plan includes cities like Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, Noida, Agra, Mathura, Vrindavan, and Etawah, totalling 8 cities.
• This plan receives assistance from the Government of Japan.
• The Gomati Action Plan includes the cities of Lucknow, Sultanpur, and Jaunpur.

The Ganga River Conservation Authority

• In November 2009, the Uttar Pradesh State Ganga River Conservation Authority was established under the guidance of the Central government.
• This authority is responsible for the conservation of the Ganga River and effective measures to control its pollution in the state.
• It also implements decisions and directives of the National Ganga River Basin Authority.
• The Chief Minister serves as the Chairman of this authority, and the Chief Secretary serves as a Member Secretary.

Lake Pollution Control Program 

Under this program, four lakes in the state have been included – Ramgarh in Gorakhpur, Mansi Ganga in Mathura, Laxmi Tal in Jhansi, and Madan Sagar in Mahoba.

The work of monitoring

Climate Quality Monitoring :

• Under the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board, there are 1 central laboratory in Lucknow and 19 regional laboratories.
• These laboratories collect samples from industrial effluents, rivers, canals, ambient air quality, and noise pollution.

Gomti Monitoring :

• Within this study, daily monitoring (examination) of the water of the Gomti River is carried out in the city of Lucknow. This helps in assessing the quality of water in the Gomti River.

National Water Quality Monitoring Program :

• Under this project (formerly known as MINARS), water quality monitoring is conducted once a month at 58 designated locations along various rivers in the state. This helps gather information about the water quality of different rivers. This project is financially supported by the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi.

National Air Quality Monitoring Program :

• Under this project, environmental air quality monitoring is conducted at 72 designated locations in 21 major cities of the state.
• This project is also financially supported by the Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi.

The current plan for controlling air pollution includes the supply of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) for vehicle operations in cities like Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Bareilly, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar, among others. The supply of CNG has been in operation in Lucknow and Kanpur since April 2006.

 

Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) 

• STPs are being installed to treat urban wastewater and purify polluted urban water from the cities’ outskirts before discharging it into the rivers.
• Under the Ganga Action Plan, STPs have been set up in Kanpur, Prayagraj, Farrukhabad, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Vindhychal, Anupshahr (Bulandshahr), and Muzaffarnagar.
• Under the Yamuna Action Plan, STPs have been installed in Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad, Noida, Mathura, Vrindavan, Agra, and Etawah.
• STPs have also been established in Lucknow, located along the banks of the Gomti River.
• So far, 34 STPs have been set up in the state.
• Noida is the first city in the state to have 100% sewage treatment capacity.

Noise Pollution 

• Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and related regulations, the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, have been promulgated by the Government of India. District Magistrates, Police Commissioners, and the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board fall within the definition of authorities for the purpose of these regulations.
• For the control of noise and air pollution, campaigns are periodically conducted by the State Pollution Control Board in collaboration with the Transport Department and the Traffic Police. These campaigns involve checking vehicle emissions, verifying Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, and inspecting the functioning of pollution control devices in diesel-operated tempos.
• A minimum of 100 meters around all hospitals, educational institutions, religious places, and courts has been declared as a silent zone.

Report on highly polluting industries 

• Uttar Pradesh has 553 highly polluting industries.
• These industries have a B.O.D. load exceeding 100 kilograms per day or involve tanker transportation.
• They discharge their effluents into 13 major rivers in Uttar Pradesh, including the Ganga, Yamuna, Gomti, Ramganga, Hindon, Sarayu, Kali East, Kali West, Ghaghra, Rapti, Sai, Rihand, and Sharda.
• 435 of these industries have installed Effluent Treatment Plants (ETPs).
• The remaining 118 industries have been shut down.

 Awareness campaign

polythene awareness campaign :

• In response to the increasing issue of polythene pollution in the state, the board has initiated a polythene awareness campaign across several cities. The campaign’s objective is to raise awareness about the detrimental impacts of polythene and promote the use of paper and cloth bags as alternatives.

Ban on Polythene :

• Since March 2011, the use of polythene bags up to 40 microns in thickness has been prohibited in the state.
• From 1999 until now, only bags up to 20 microns in thickness were banned.
• According to the new regulations issued by the state government, only recycled carry bags approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards can now be used.
• These carry bags should be white in colour.
• Since January 21, 2016, under the Environmental Protection Act of 1986, the manufacturing, selling, importing, storing, or cleaning of plastic carry bags has been banned throughout the state. This ban only excludes plastic bags used in bio-medical waste management.

Workshops, seminars, and various events are organised throughout the state on –

• International Biodiversity Day (May 22),
• World Environment Day (June 5), and
• International Ozone Day (September 16).

Awards :

• In the state, Uttar Pradesh Environment Awards are given for outstanding environmental efforts.

Taj Trapezium :

• Since 1999, this project has been initiated by various responsible departments/agencies to protect the Taj Mahal from pollution.
• For this purpose, the Taj Trapezium Environmental Protection Fund was established on May 31, 1999, to mobilise financial resources.

National Green Corps Program :

• This program is being implemented by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, in all states and union territories of the country.
• The aim of this program is to create environmental awareness among school students and ensure their participation in environmental activities.
• Under this program, State Steering Committees have been formed by the government.
• There is a provision to establish Eco Clubs in 250 schools in each district. For this purpose, each selected school is provided with an annual grant of 2500 rupees.

The National Green Corps Program (NGC) The National Green Corps Program (NGC) is a nationwide initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, to create environmental awareness among school students and engage them in environmental activities. The program is implemented in all states and union territories of the country. Under the NGC, State Steering Committees have been formed to oversee the implementation of the program. Each district has a provision to establish Eco Clubs in 250 schools. Each selected school is provided with an annual grant of Rs. 2500 to support its activities. The NGC aims to: Raise awareness about environmental issues among school students Empower students to take action to protect the environment Build a cadre of young environmental leaders The NGC Eco Clubs undertake a variety of activities, such as: Tree plantation and conservation Waste management Water conservation Energy conservation Biodiversity conservation Environmental education and awareness The NGC has been successful in mobilising school students to take action on environmental issues. The Eco Clubs have planted millions of trees, cleaned up rivers and lakes, and educated their communities about the importance of environmental protection. The NGC is a valuable program that is helping to create a generation of young people who are committed to protecting the environment.

Environmental Information System

This program involves the creation of databases related to the environment through various organizations/departments and making this information available. This program has been initiated by the central government since 2002. In Uttar Pradesh, Environmental Information System Centers have been established under this program since April 2005.

The Environmental Information System (ENVIS) The Environmental Information System (ENVIS) is a nationwide program initiated by the central government in 2002 to create and maintain databases on environmental issues and make this information available to the public. The ENVIS program works through a network of ENVIS centres, which are located in different states and union territories. The ENVIS centre in Uttar Pradesh was established in April 2005. It is responsible for collecting, collating, and disseminating environmental information to researchers, policy makers, and the general public. The ENVIS centre also provides technical support to other organisations working on environmental issues. The ENVIS program provides a valuable resource for information on a wide range of environmental issues, including: Air pollution Water pollution Soil pollution Biodiversity conservation Climate change Disaster management Environmental governance The ENVIS program is a valuable tool for promoting environmental awareness and decision-making. Here are some of the specific benefits of the ENVIS program in Uttar Pradesh: It provides a centralised repository of environmental information, which can be accessed by researchers, policy makers, and the general public. It provides technical support to other organisations working on environmental issues. It helps to raise awareness about environmental issues and promote informed decision-making. It helps to build capacity in environmental management and research. The ENVIS program is a valuable asset to Uttar Pradesh and is helping to make the state a more sustainable and liveable place.

Conclusion

In Uttar Pradesh, the convergence of environmental issues, pollution, and potential solutions presents a complex landscape. The state, known for its large population and diverse industries, faces significant environmental challenges. Air and water pollution, deforestation, and waste management are among the pressing concerns. However, there is also a growing recognition of the need for sustainable practices and innovative solutions.

Science and technology play pivotal roles in both contributing to environmental issues and offering remedies. Industrialization and urbanization, driven by technology, have led to pollution concerns. Yet, advancements in clean energy, waste management techniques, and eco-friendly practices offer hope for mitigating these problems.

For Uttar Pradesh to tackle its environmental challenges effectively, a concerted effort is required. This involves promoting sustainable practices, investing in green technologies, and raising awareness about the importance of environmental conservation. Moreover, region-specific strategies and collaboration between government, industries, and communities are crucial for achieving a cleaner and healthier environment in the state.

Pollution and Environmental Issues of UP

Pollution Control Board and its functions

Science and Technology : Its issues, advancements and efforts in U P

Information Technology In UP ( Science and Technology )

Agricultural Technology In UP ( Science & Technology )

Medical and Health Technology In UP ( Science & Technology )