Earth5R News Article: Air Quality, Deforestation And Waste Management In Indore
Indore is a rapidly growing Indian city with environmental problems. Air pollution is worsened by industries, waste management is a big task, and water is both polluted and scarce. The city is also losing trees due to expanding infrastructure. These issues need urgent attention as Indore continues to expand.
Earth5R Community Action In Hyderabad
In Indore, residents are actively using the Earth5R App to get informed about environmental challenges and to take actions to address them. Individual actions and increased public awareness play a crucial role in solving these environmental problems.
The Earth5R App presents complex environmental data in an easy-to-understand manner. This feature is beneficial for our community members like Arohi Malviya, a university student who’s interning remotely with Earth5R, enabling her to understand and respond to the environmental conditions in her local area.
The Action And Research Survey
Here’s how Earth5R community member Arohi Malviya is making a difference in Indore using the Earth5R app:
- Personal Sustainability: Arohi completed the survey to assess her personal sustainability practices. She found they are 93% in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. She encourages others to also take this enlightening survey.
Since 2000, Indore has lost 12ha of relative tree cover, equivalent to 0.13 percent of the global total. This is due to rapid Urbanization and Industrialization. Earth5R’s volunteer, Arohi rightly captured this in her tree count survey.
- Deforestation Prevention: On a walk in Kishanganj, Dr. Ambedkar Nagar, Arohi counted only 23 trees in a 1-kilometer stretch, highlighting the ongoing need for tree conservation and deforestation prevention.
Deforestation issue led to other environmental problems like Air pollution. Air quality in Indore has risen to moderate levels with increase in pollutants like PM10 and PM2.5. It gets much worse in Indore when there isn’t much wind, which is mostly in the winter.
In Indore, people are encouraged to put their trash in 6 different bins– (i) dry waste, (ii) wet waste, (iii) domestic hazardous waste, and (iv) domestic bio-medical waste, which includes used masks, gloves, sanitary napkins, diapers, waste drugs, etc., (v) electronic waste, and (vi) plastic waste. They are told that if they separate these kinds of trash, they will do a big part in making Indore number one. Arohi’s waste clean up initiative helped in proper segregation of the waste.
- Responsible Consumption and Production: Arohi carried out a detailed waste analysis in Mhow Gaon, Indore. The collected waste was broken down into various categories for better understanding and management:
- Multilayer Packaging: Formed 38% of the collected waste, posing significant recycling challenges due to the complexity of the materials involved.
- Synthetic Fibers: These non-degradable materials, often found in textiles and clothing, made up 15% of the waste.
- LDPE (Low-Density Polyethylene): Commonly used in packaging and plastic bags, it formed 8% of the waste. Though recyclable, it requires appropriate disposal measures.
- PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate): This material, frequently used in beverage bottles and food packaging, made up 15% of the collected waste. It is widely recycled, but proper disposal is essential.
- HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene): Used in heavier-duty plastic items, HDPE represented 8% of the waste. While recyclable, it demands proper segregation for effective recycling.
- Organic waste: Constituting 8% of the total, this waste has potential for composting and recycling into a resource but needs to be segregated correctly.
Each waste type presents unique recycling and disposal challenges, underscoring the need for responsible consumption and waste management practices.
- Community Sustainability: Arohi organized an Urban Plantation activity in Kishanganj, Santer, to help offset carbon emissions and promote sustainability in the local community.
- Energy Conservation: Arohi undertook a Light and Energy Conservation Study at a department store in Umariya, which uses natural light to reduce its environmental impact.
- Environmental Pollution: During a Noise Pollution Survey in a residential area of Umariya, Arohi recorded a maximum noise level of 73 decibels and an average of 56 decibels, indicating an issue with noise pollution.
- Ecosystem and Biodiversity Conservation: Arohi conducted a Water Ecosystem Survey at a lake in Dr. Ambedkar Nagar. The lake’s colour was grey colour. Lack of foam suggests there is no chemical pollution, but she discovered LDPE waste around the water body, indicating pollution problems.
- Climate Change Awareness: Arohi facilitated a Climate Change Training session at the SIS in Borkhedi, educating 6 individuals on the importance of climate change issues.
The Key Sustainability Issues
Waste Management in Indore
Indore, a rapidly developing city in Madhya Pradesh, grapples with an escalating problem of solid waste management. The city produces approximately 1,100 metric tonnes of waste daily. This is mainly due to its swift urbanization and burgeoning population.
However, the Indore Municipal Corporation (IMC) has been proactive in addressing this issue. The city has successfully implemented a ‘Zero Waste’ model, focusing on segregation of waste at the source and scientific disposal, which led to it being recognized as the cleanest city in India for four consecutive years. This model aims to transform wet waste into compost and recycle dry waste effectively.
Deforestation in Indore
Rapid urbanization in Indore has led to concerns about deforestation and loss of green cover. The city administration has undertaken several initiatives, like the plantation of trees under the “Green Indore, Clean Indore” initiative. However, balancing the demands of urban development with environmental conservation remains a challenge.
Air Pollution in Indore
Air pollution is a pressing issue in Indore, largely due to industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, and dust from construction sites. As per the Central Pollution Control Board, Indore frequently experiences ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ Air Quality Index (AQI) levels, particularly during winter. However, the Indore Municipal Corporation and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board are taking measures to address this issue. These include the promotion of cleaner fuels, stricter industrial emission norms, and encouraging public transportation use.
Water Management in Indore
Water scarcity is a pressing issue in Indore, particularly during the summer months. Over-reliance on the Narmada river and the depletion of local water bodies has heightened the problem. However, the city has been pushing for rainwater harvesting systems in new buildings and restoration of old water bodies to tackle this issue.
Noise Pollution in Indore
Noise pollution, primarily from traffic, construction, and public gatherings, is another environmental challenge in Indore. This issue is particularly acute in densely populated and commercial areas of the city. Noise pollution can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health. In response, local authorities are implementing stricter regulations on permissible noise levels, particularly during nighttime hours and in residential areas.
Energy Conservation in Indore
Energy conservation is a significant concern for the fast-growing city of Indore. To tackle this, efforts are being made to promote renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy. The Madhya Pradesh Urja Vikas Nigam has been facilitating the installation of rooftop solar panels in the city. Energy-efficient building designs and technologies are also being promoted.
Urban Heat Island in Indore
Indore, like many other rapidly urbanizing cities, is experiencing the phenomenon of Urban Heat Islands (UHIs). This is primarily due to concrete structures, reduced vegetation, and increased energy consumption leading to a rise in the ambient temperature in the city as compared to the surrounding rural areas. The increasing use of air conditioners in the city is also contributing to the UHI effect. To mitigate this, the Indore Municipal Corporation is encouraging the development of green spaces, rooftop gardens, and tree planting drives.
Volunteer And Intern With Earth5R Community To Restore The Ecosystem
In the journey to better environmental conservation, every individual’s participation is paramount. It’s the collective effort that transforms the idea of environmental preservation from just a theoretical concept into a living, breathing reality. By actively fostering sustainable behaviours, we ensure a brighter and greener future for all.
The Earth5R app does more than just provide information; it’s a catalyst that empowers its users to make concrete, significant improvements in their local environment. The spark of change ignites within you, and Earth5R provides the essential tools and knowledge to fan that spark into a blaze of transformation.
Earth5R provides Recognition to the volunteers and interns for Sustainability action
Join the ranks of Earth5R’s mission to gain recognition for sustainable action. By partaking in the app’s environmental internships and volunteering opportunities, you can directly contribute to enhancing your local area’s cleanliness and overall health.
Don’t wait; be part of the Sustainability Revolution with Earth5R app.
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