ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND WAYS TO CREATE AWARENESS AMONG PEOPLE IN THANE CITY

Locations of Thane Lakes

Impacts• Water pollution

• The consumption of polluted water

• Contamination of water (surface and ground)

Water Quality Monitoring • lakes, creeks, nallahs are currently being tested for water quality.

However, it is suggested that the parameters being monitored should follow the parameters specified in the standards as per

designated water use to enable true assessment of the system.

Comparison of BOD with standards for Thane lake

Past Initiatives by TMC

• Lake Restoration Project • Creek Conservation • Low‐Cost Sanitation Project • Immersion of Ganesh Idols in Lakes

Actions • Design and construction of sewers in areas not covered by underground

sewerage through centralized and decentralized options

• Treatment and disposal facility for waste

Conti..• Clean‐up of city nallahs:

– Protection of mangroves within TMC’s jurisdiction through regular monitoring/

– patrolling along the creek and ecological restoration of degraded mangroves:

• Provision of public sanitation facilities in slum areas (including their maintenance)

• Improvement in Environmental Monitoring Program for water quality

Air Pollution• Air quality mainly gets affected due to industrial activities, vehicular

movements and construction activities.

• Major pollutants produced by human activities are :Sulfur OxidesAmmoniaChlorofluorocarbons Nitrogen OxidesCarbon Monoxide

• It is estimated that some 7 million premature deaths may be attributed to air pollution.

• India has the highest death rate due to air pollution.

Impact of air pollution• Air pollution can cause severe problems like :

Cardiovascular diseaseLung diseaseCancerCystic fibrosis

• High level of RSPM (Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter)

• Also there is no buffer between industrial estates and residential areas in Balkum and Kolshet.

• Increase in the number of people with heart or lung diseases and asthma. Children and older adults are the most likely to be affected by RSPM exposure.

• Negative impact on climate change.

Air pollution index

Awareness & ways to prevent air pollution

• Planting trees

• Carpooling

• Use bicycle for short distances

• Cutting down on the use of our automobiles, or by using hybrid cars

• Maintenance of Chimneys

• Recycle Reduce and Reuse

Noise Pollution• Noise is generally said as an unwanted sound, or sound which produces

unpleasant effects and discomfort on the ears. when such noise in the environment becomes unbearable it is termed as noise pollution.

• Sound becomes undesirable when it disturbs the normal activities such as working, sleeping, and during conversations.

• It is an underrated environmental problem because of the fact that we can’t see, smell, or taste it.

• World Health Organization stated that “Noise must be recognized as a major threat to human well-being”

Sources of Noise Pollution• Transportation systems

• Construction of buildings, highways, and streets

• Industrial noise

• Loud speakers, plumbing, boilers, generators, air conditioners, fans, and vacuum cleaners add to the existing noise pollution

CPCB Noise Standards

Issues Related to Noise Pollution

• Hearing Problems

• Health Issues

• Sleeping Disorders

• Cardiovascular Issues

• Trouble Communicating

• Effect on WildlifeSound Monitoring in Thane city Places , Feb 2014

Sound levels recorded at various Visarjan locations in 2013

Ambient Noise Monitoring Observations at Silent Zone Locations

Land Pollution

• Land pollution is the deterioration (destruction) of the earth’s land surfaces, often directly or indirectly as a result of man’s activities and their misuse of land resources.

• It occurs when waste is not disposed off properly, or can occur when humans throw chemicals unto the soil in the form of pesticides, insecticides and fertilizers during agricultural practices.

• Exploitation of minerals (mining activities) has also contributed to the destruction of the earth’s surface.

Sources of land pollution• Population growth: due to migration of people Mumbai and other city and

fast residential development .

• Industrialization: due to change in classification of industrial area in TMC to zone I, the change in zone to residential area resulted in high rise towers for commercial developments.

• Construction: many projects of big players from Mumbai have invested in land for development such as rustumjee, hiranandani ,lodha . The booming IT and BPO sector has also boosted the real estate industry

Creating Awareness• It has to start at home

• Educate and practice

• Reduce, Reuse and Recycle – the three R’s

• Make each community as self-supporting as possible.

• Planting saplings of trees; every tree cut for development projects must be replaced by planting at least 50-100 saplings.

• Targeted Efforts targeted to specific groups or populations Showing people how much money they could save.

• Local Outreach Make it one of the top priority of the government government organization or non-governmental organization (NGO) educate

the people. Participation by government at international level Adopting the action plan in government policies

• The Media Promoting the idea through stories as ads on TV and radio. Awards, recognition and incentives for industrial set ups at green sites, and

those who take initiatives for environment protection. issuing printed press releases, or setting up online databases that can be

used as information

• Classroom Education It should be taught to all children from primary to middle class as core

subject.

There should be awards and recognition for children who show good work in this regard.

Thank You