I must quantify my statement that there is no serious concern for environmental protection. I am giving below my observations and experiences which led me to the above conclusion.
1. While studying in IIT, Kanpur during 1973-1976, there was a lot of uproar in media about the pollution of Ganga river due to number of small tanning units. Vam organic company situated near Kanpur had given IIT, a research project to remove color from water. Environmental officer appointed by the company used to be quite active in writing articles about such pollution. We used to go to Vam Organic and I had good respect and acquaintance with him.Just by curiosity, I asked him to show his company's waste treatment plant. He said, there is no proper road to that place and I have to take permission of management for that. When I insisted, he took me to the spot reluctantly. What I saw there was shocking A large flow of black colored water ( supposed to be treated effluent) was mixing in the river water through a large size outfall sewer. Company was sensitive about water it was taking but careless about its own responsibility of treating its own waste. There was no news about that pollution.
2. As an educational tour we had taken our students to Lote Parshuram MIDC near Chiplun. We were very happy to see the excellent pollution control systems set up by chemical industries there and the effluent quality so good that fish were surviving in the final chamber of most of the plants. After visiting the industries, we came to see the final disposal arrangement provided by MIDC. We were horrified to see the sump full of colored polluted water which was collected through underground sewerage system provided for the area. Every industry claimed to satisfy effluent standards, but the combined effluent was exposing the real situation. We learnt that many industries were dumping their solid wastes in private lands by paying money to land owners, who were unaware of the dangerous properties of such waste.
3. We had taken our students to many industries where we had designed their effluent treatment plants. But what we used to experience often were overloaded and badly maintained plants. We had conducted many training programs for proper operation and maintenance of the plants for technicians and officers, but they were helpless in many cases due to managements negligent attitude. If there is power shortage or load shading, the first victim is effluent treatment plant as it is unproductive process. Overflowing of waste or improper sludge removal due to pump failures, disturbance of biological systems due to stoppage of power to aerators, insufficient manpower, pH disturbance due to inadequate chemical dosage were some of the common reasons of such failure.
4. In case of sewage treatment plants provided for many cities, the situation is still horrible. Many plants have stopped functioning due to no repairs or maintenance. Transfer of such plants from MWSSB to civic bodies have worsened the situation as there is paucity of funds and skilled manpower and absence of supervision by higher officers.
5. We had been to Alandi and were glad to see the cleanliness and good management of temple, but when we reached the riverside, the solid waste, littering, and dirty area opened our eyes to the public apathy towards environment.
6. When there is construction of posh multistory building, invariably there is growth of slum area nearby. The high rise building already consumes all available the civil amenities and overloads the services like water supply, sewerage, solid waste disposal, road traffic, parking. The manpower needed to serve the rich families in such building have to stay nearby in unauthorized huts without any basic facilities. This creates unhygienic slum. Rich people in high rise complain about it to corporation, but forget that it is their own creation. As corporates do not want to lose vote bank the slum thrives with deterioration in environmental quality and increase in violence. The people get accustomed to the presence of slum but generally try to remain aloof from improvement of that area. They are afraid of health risk, theft or violence. Insecure and unstable combination of rich and poor habitat is the outcome of such development.
6. I had been to Paithan to visit paper mill there, Early morning I went for a walk to see the village. I was pleased to see that the ladies there, were cleaning their front area of houses and busy in sprinkling water and drawing rangoli. It was really a refreshing experience. But I saw that the dust and dirt swept from each house has accumulated in heaps between the two houses. Those heaps taught me We care cleanliness for our area but are not bothered about environment.
7. We often notice poor formers in rags selling fruits or small dhabas erected near new townships serving tea and snacks for visitors. We fail to realize that these people were the owners of the land grabbed by the corporates and are now depending for their survival on the same empire. Now they are not allowed to enter that area as it is reserved for elite few. The township or resort owners never think that they should distribute their wealth for upgrading the standards of the neighborhood habitat or environmental quality.
8. Doctors and hospitals who are the main pillars of health services seldom show social responsibility in treating medical wastes and try to get economical way out.
9. Why to talk of industries and corporates. We ourselves are not sensitive to environmental quality. Those who have their own houses constructed on plot have beautiful garden at the front door but backside septic tank remains unattended. We seldom segregate the wastes,unless forced to do so. We are careful about quality of water we drink and use but never worry about keeping the drains clean. We talk about global warming and need of tree plantation, but do not hesitate to cut tree which affects our front view or creates uncleanliness due to falling leaves.
10. We participate in tree plantations, take active part in seminars, visit places of natural beauty, worry about endangered species but it is far from what we have to do to prevent environmental pollution. Much of our love for our nature or sensitivity to pollution control is shallow and created for gratification of our thinking and enjoyment.
We have to go a long way, if we really wish to succeed in environmental protection and avoid global warming.
