Delhi ranked “the most polluted capital city in the world” for three consecutive years from 2017 through 2020, according to a report by a Swiss group.
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The cities were ranked based on their air quality on basis of levels of ultrafine particulate matter (PM 2.5). These ultrafine particles can enter the organs and cause long-term damage.
Data of top 50 polluted cities had Delhi at the 10th position, and 22 out of the top 30 polluted cities were Indian. Ghaziabad in NCR ranked second only to the global topper-China’s Hotan. Moreover, all the cities from rank 2 to 14 were Indian.
Other metro cities are catching up too. The headlines for November 15, 2021 read that South Mumbai had worse AQI (air quality index) than the national capital. The overall problem of air pollution seems to be worse in winters when there is smog.
Now, that’s a lot of bad news. On the brighter side, there are innovations from our own country that are gaining much appreciation all over the world. Few such innovations are listed below:
- Carbon dioxide reduction at source
A team at IIT Bombay recently won a Rs. 2.5 crore grant from Elon Musk Foundation for their innovation to capture carbon dioxide at source (in industries). This innovation captures carbon dioxide at its source and turns it into carbonate salts, which can be used commercially. In this way gaseous CO2 emission, which causes global warming is reduced.
- Retro-fit emission control
Developed by a Delhi-based innovator “Chakr Innovation” is a retro-fit emission control device for diesel generators, a first of its kind in the world. It curbs air pollution by capturing most of the of particulate matter emissions (approx. 90%) from the exhaust air and does not even reduce energy efficiency. What’s more, the diesel soot which is thus captured is converted into inks and paints.
- Clean Technology for Clean Air in the field of Health
Coimbatore-based Cellzyme Biotech has replaced solvents with a specially engineered enzyme to make their antibiotics at room temperature. Solvents are main contributors of pollution and poor air quality.
- Clean energy: Solar energy
Aptly named Aditya, NavAlt Solar & Electric Boats have built India’s first solar-powered ferry. This innovation in naval design and engineering marries solar power and advanced controls. It is a commercially viable solar-powered ferry, which gets over 80% of its energy from the sun. It is a 75-seater and can cruise around 6 hours on a sunny day.
- Cooking with Radiant Heat
Agnisumukh has developed commercial kitchen equipment inspired by traditional charcoal cooking. These are innovative, energy efficient radiant heat gas burners, which are ultra-efficient and save approx. 30% on gas. They improve cooking and help counter indoor air pollution in commercial kitchens.
- Biomedical Waste Management
Special microwaves that treat infectious waste are now available in Indian market. These also eliminate air emissions, that includes toxic POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants). We can now treat syringes and a lot of other plastic-based biomedical waste without worrying about the environment.
- Waste to best: way to go
As a part of its sustainability and circularity initiatives, a leading industry in the country has built 40-kilometer road using 50 tonnes of plastic as a key ingredient. The plastic used here is the one difficult to recycle, such as single-use bags and wrappers. Such initiatives are a win-win for both the environment and our roads.
The problem is global and we are in it together! If each one of us vouches to use cleaner, greener ways and technologies in our daily life, we can achieve better “Global Goals.”
Source:
Dr. Mamta Lele- Pawara
(MD Ayurveda-Internal Medicine, CRAV-Kayachikitsa, MA Sanskrit)