Every year, Pollution Control Day is observed on December 2nd, ever since the disastrous accident of Bhopal Gas Tragedy happened in 1984. The day also remembers the innocent people who lost their lives due to the horrifying Gas tragedy incident. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy occurred due to a gas leak on the night of December 2nd 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant in Madhya Pradesh. More than 5 lakh people got exposed to the toxic fumes of methyl isocyanate gas meanwhile more than 3700+ deaths were reported by the government of Madhya Pradesh due to this gas leak. Read on for more information about National Pollution Control Day 2020 and check out the history associated with National Pollution Control Day or National Pollution Prevention Day.
National Pollution Control Day History
December 2nd 2020 would mark the 36th anniversary of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. Being considered as one of the world’s worst industrial disaster, the day was later marked as the National Pollution Control Day since then. Apart from raising awareness about the rising pollution of air, water, and soil, this day also shifts the attention of people with regards to the pollution control acts. It tells us how industrial accidents could be prevented by abiding by the rules and regulations listed out in the pollution control acts.
What happened in Bhopal Gas Tragedy?
On 2nd and 3rd December 1984, Bhopal Gas tragedy in which a poisonous chemical MIC (Methyl Isocyanate) and some other chemicals were released from a pesticide plant UCIL (Union Carbide India Limited) in Bhopal, MP. More than 500,000 people were exposed to MIC poisonous gas. Around 2259 died immediately and later MP government declared that around 25,000 died. In the history world wide it was identified as the biggest industrial disaster.
See other Important Days and Dates In December 2020: National And International
National pollution control day Objectives
There are basically three major objectives of National Pollution Control Day.
- To spread awareness of ways to manage and control industrial disasters
- Prevent pollution caused by industrial processes or human negligence
- Create awareness about the importance of pollution control acts
National Pollution Control Day Facts
National Pollution Control Day is observed in the memory of those who have lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas tragedy on 2nd December, 1984.
There are several factors that are responsible for causing pollution like the bursting of crackers, vehicles running on the roads, bomb blast, leakage of gases via industries, etc. Nowadays the problem of pollution is increasing day by day and it is the duty of the respective government and also people to reduce the level of pollution. We should generate ideas and plans to control pollution.
The Indian government has launched various acts and rules from time to time to control and prevent pollution in India.
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974
- Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act of 1977
- Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981
- Environment (Protection) Act of 1986
- Environment (Protection) Rules of 1986
- Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemical Rules of 1989
- Manufacture, Storage, Import, Export & Storage of Hazardous Micro- Organisms Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells Rules of 1989
- Chemical Accidents (Emergency, Planning, Preparedness and Response) Rules of 1996
- Bio-Medical Waste (Management & Handling) Rules of 1998
- Recycled Plastics Manufacture and Usage Rules of 1999
- Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation) Rules of 2000
- Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules of 2000
- Municipal Solid Waste (Management & Handling) Rules of 2000
- Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules of 2001
- Environment Impact Assessment Notification of 2006
- The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
- Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016
- Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016
- Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016
- Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016
- E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2016
- Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016
What are the ways to reduce Pollution
- Pollution can be reduced by treating and managing solid waste.
- By the facility of Biochemical waste, the reuse of waste pollution can be reduced.
- By the treatment of Electronic waste, pollution can be reduced.
- Pollution in Urban areas can be reduced by the Clean Development Mechanism Project.
Therefore, it is necessary to control pollution and it is not the Government duty we should also participate and make the environment clean and live disease-free. Clean Environment helps people to do their task in a better way and live life happily.
