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The environment is getting polluted day-by-day. What is the reason? 

 a)Industry 

 b)Stubble burning or waste/garbage burning 

 c)Vehicles

Introduction 📝

•  Environmental pollution is rising rapidly due to human activities such as industrialisation, agricultural burning, and transportation growth. 
• These factors release harmful pollutants into the air, water, and soil, affecting human health and climate stability.
  

Industry 🏭

Industries are among the largest contributors to pollution in India.

Facts and Data

• Industrial pollution contributes around 51% of India’s air pollution, making it one of the biggest sources. ✅

 • Industries such as thermal power plants release harmful gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that cause respiratory diseases and acid rain. 

 • Industry and power plants together contribute about 37% of PM2.5 emissions in India. ✅

• The brick kiln industry alone contributes 8–14% of air pollution in the Indo-Gangetic region. ✅
Example
Coal-based power plants and brick kiln industries release smoke and toxic chemicals, severely affecting air quality, especially in northern India.

Impact

• Causes asthma and lung diseases

• Leads to acid rain and climate change

• Damages vegetation and ecosystems

Stubble Burning or Waste/Garbage burning 🔥
Burning agricultural residue and waste is a major seasonal cause of pollution.

Facts and Data 

• Crop residue burning contributes about 6.5% of total PM2.5 emissions in India. ✅

• During peak winter months, stubble burning can contribute 25–30% of air pollution in Delhi on certain days. • Punjab alone reported nearly 74% of stubble burning incidents among major agricultural states in one recent dataset. ✅

 • Scientific studies show crop residue burning can account for more than 50% of PM2.5 pollution during peak episodes in north-western India. ✅

Example
Farmers burn leftover paddy straw to prepare fields quickly for wheat sowing, which creates severe smog in northern India during winter.
Impact

 • Produces toxic gases and fine particulate matter

 • Reduces soil fertility by destroying nutrients

• Causes severe respiratory illnesses and visibility problems

c) Vehicles🚙
Vehicular emissions are one of the fastest-growing pollution sources, especially in cities.

Facts and Data

 • Vehicles contribute about 20–35% of overall air pollution in India. ✅

 • Studies show vehicles contribute nearly 40% of PM2.5 emissions and 81% of nitrogen oxide emissions in India. ✅ • India’s vehicle population has increased from 55 million in 2001 to over 300 million in 2023, significantly increasing pollution. 

 • In many cities, transport contributes more than 50% of local pollution, making it the largest urban pollution source. ✅
Example
Rapid urbanisation and increasing private vehicle ownership have increased pollution levels in metropolitan cities.
Impact

• Leads to heart diseases and lung disorders

• Increases greenhouse gas emissions

• Contributes significantly to global warming


Conclusion

• Environmental pollution is mainly driven by industrial emissions, burning of agricultural and urban waste, and rapid growth in vehicular traffic. 
• Data clearly shows that these sources contribute a major share of pollution and threaten public health and ecological balance. 
• Effective control requires strict environmental regulations, adoption of clean technologies, and public participation in sustainable practices.