National Pollution Control Day is annually celebrated on 2nd December in India. This day is celebrated with an aim to raise awareness about the serious implications caused by pollution in the country.
This day is celebrated as a remembrance day for the people who have passed away because of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy as it commomerotes the day on which Bhopal Gas Tragedy took place in 1984.
The National Pollution Control Day is celebrated in India to make the citizens aware of laws that exist in India that help to contain pollution. As pollution is a very serious problem which is affecting the country today and hence it is very important to tackle it for a better and healthier future.
| Event | National Pollution Control Day |
|---|---|
| Date | December 2, 2022 |
| Day | Friday |
| Significance | The day aims to raise awareness about the serious implications caused by pollution |
| Observed by | India |
National Pollution Control Day History:
Upon independence from Britain, India adopted a constitution and numerous British-enacted laws, without any specific constitutional provision on protecting environment. That's why for a very time India didn't have a clear policy on dealing with the issue of pollution and that's why because of these long term negligence and irresponsibility by the authorities and people, India is considered one of the most polluted countries of the world today and it is serious issue which the country is dealing with today.
This day commemorates a very tragic incident in modern India's history and this is also related to pollution and negligence by authorities. We are talking about the Bhopal Gas Tragedy, which took place in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, on 2nd and 3rd December, 1984. This devastating chemical leak was said to be one of the worst industrial disasters of all time. Approximately 45 tons of methyl isocyanate escaped from an insecticide plant from the Union Carbide Corporation's Indian subsidiary.
This highly dangerous gas spread over the overcrowded neighbourhood and instantly killed over thousands of people. Amongst the death and anxiety, thousands of people rushed to flee from Bhopal. A death toll of 15,000 to 20,000 people was calculated with over half a million more injured and suffering various diseases. The exposure to methyl isocyanate caused eye irritation, blindness and several respiratory problems. Sadly, most families who suffered were given a compensation of only a few hundred dollars.
Much to the disgust of environmentalists, more than 400 tons of industrial waste still lay present on the site, even today. Because of this the deteriorating soil and water qualities has been blamed for generations worth of birth defects. With the high death toll and the years worth of sorrow it caused, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy was commemorated by raising awareness through National Pollution Control Day on the day it took away the lives of thousands to gather attention of the people towards this very serious and important issue.
National Pollution Control Day Significance:
From schools to news, we all have listened enough from our childhood about the devastating effects caused by pollution in our environment. But despite all of this awareness, pollution still remains a very serious problem in nation today. Unless proper actions are not taken and implemented in dealing with pollution it will remain a major problem and that is what the primary message that this day is trying to convey. It is urging both the authorities and people to take this responsibility for the eradication of pollution from our environment.
This day is very important as it highlights the issue of pollution which is causing great damages to the country today especially in terms of air pollution. As India is home to 21 out of 30 polluted cities in the world. According to World Health Organization, around 140 million people in the country breath air that is ten times above the safe limit set by WHO. Air pollution is responsible for 12.5% of all deaths in India. The harmful gases in the air kill an average of 8.5 out of very 10,000 children in India before they turn 5 years old.
This day is also served as an opportunity to pay tribute and remember all of those who lost their lives during the tragic Bhopal Gas Tragedy in 1984. As informed earlier that thousands of people lost their lives in this incident which could be easily avoided through proper actions and responsibility by the authorities. It was a great loss for the country and effects of this incident is even felt today in the form of birth defects in the region because of the harmful gases and waste which was leaked during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy which still remains in the region even today.
As much as it sounds depressing, it's true that most of the world has been already damaged due to pollution. This day reminds us to be more sensible and take precautions to rescue ourselves from the mess which the humans have created for the world. Pollution is man-made, and it's killing marine organisms and animals on the land as much as it's killing humans. So it's high time we take charge and reduce, if not stop, we are gonna witness many further deaths because of pollution. Making a difference lies in our hands!
National Pollution Control Day Celebrations:
It is time to adopt the RRR in your life, no we are not talking about the movie here but we are talking about the three R's which are Reduce, Recycle and Reuse. So think twice before throwing away those plastic containers and bottles next time. As you know, plastic is non-biodegradable and poisonous to the environment. So instead, try to reuse or recycle them and also try to reduce the consumption of unwanted materials in your life.
If you're looking for a sustainable solution to pollution control, planting trees is what you need to do. It's an age-old method and the most effective! So go on now and start with making your neighborhood green and then expand from there! Also try to encourage others to do the same as well. Try to raise awareness about this issue and the day as well to more and more people so they can also be inspired to make a change!
Today plastic plays a very important role for the cause of pollution in our world, so why not stop using plastic altogether? Instead, opt for cloth bags, glass bottles, wooden or bamboo toothbrushes, and fabric tissues to start with. I mean already many types of plastic has already been banned by the government and in future also there are gonna be more such bans so it is wise to shift for alternatives now only.
Most Searched FAQs on National Pollution Control Day:
1. When is National Pollution Control Day celebrated?
National Pollution Control Day is annually celebrated on 2nd December in India.
2. What does National Pollution Control Day commemorates?
National Pollution Control Day commemorates the tragic Bhopal Gas Tragedy which took place in 1984.
3. Who is the environment minister of India in 2022?
The present India's Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is Shri Bhupender Yadav.