CORONA EFFECT AND EARTH DAY
Corona Effect
and Earth Day
Rajesh Deoliya
Key Words: Earth Day, Corona Effect, Environment, CPCB
_________
The
50th Earth Day (https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2020/) coincides Novel Corona virus hit worldwide epidemic, making this Earth Day
special one where human activities are stand still and fear for survival is
prime. The large scale confinement and lockdown has affected day to day life.
Probably first time in history, mankind is fighting a battle for survival. Absence
of solid information about enemy is making
remedial tasks further complicated. The Earth Day is a holistic annual event to
pay attention about the deteriorating environment leading to climate change.
The first Earth Day was celebrated on 22nd April,1970 to spread the
awareness about the conservation of environment. It lead the creation of "Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), environmental laws, laws related to the clean air and
water. (https://www.epa.gov/ )
In
general, the Earth Day is considered as a celebration for protection of
environment while it should raise more pragmatic concerns about the betterment
of environment. The protection of environment is more than the rally's and
poster competitions. In that way Earth Day fails in its objectives. When we are
drifting away from nature the efforts on Earth Day must have more efforts to
bring human beings close to nature. Failing which, the Pre Earth Day's and Post
Earth Day's concerns are alike. The depletion of natural resources, poor air
and water quality, increasing gaseous emissions and climate change is making
planet earth virtually unlivable. Agonies are that the post earth
day era could not stop climate change, environmental degradation processes.
When we talk about the clean air and water then we cannot
ignore the "CORONA EFFECT" on environment as this year's Earth Day
coincides worldwide with the lockdowns coupled with the closure of the
industrial activities for considerable time. The emissions are reduced and vehicular
traffic too. The Corona has contributed more to reset the environment than the
cumulative efforts of 50 years by Earth Day activists. The CNBC in its report
stated that the canals in Venice, Italy have clean water due to the absence of canal
boat activities (https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/18/photos-water-in-venice-italys-canals-clear-amid-covid-19-lockdown.html
)
In India, reports are indicating that the Ganga river in its many stretches is
flowing with clean water particularly near Haridwar town. This happened due to
limited discharge of sewage and industrial waste in the river due to lockdown. The
COD and BOD of water are improving. The data compiled from the websites of
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), India (https://www.cpcb.nic.in/) shows
that during lockdown period air quality shows decrease in the concentrations of
Particulate Matter 2.5 and 10, Nitrogen Dioxide(NO2) , Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and
Carbon Monoxide (CO) making it good for use of living creatures. Particulate Matters,
NO2, SO2 and CO if present in more than the desirable limit in the air, affect
lungs and breathing. For the understanding of the effect of lockdown on Ambient
Air Quality (AAQ) the data available from CPCB was studied for various
important Indian cities for dates 30.03.2019, 30.03.2020 and 13.04.2020
avoiding holiday dates. The data in the table shows considerable decrease in
the PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2 and CO but it is still on the upper fringe of the desirable
/ accepted norms. The Cities of Delhi, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad show reduction
in the particulate matter concentration while Chennai is stable and Mumbai
shows little fluctuation in the concentration of particulate matter. The
concentration of Carbon Monoxide is also reduced during lock down period. The
values of NO2 and SO2 seems to have some error of recording as these values are
not showing reduction in line with the particulate matter which is not logical.
Rather these value are either stable or shows abnormal fluctuations. Anyway, it
is for sure that the lock down has improved the quality of air. The lower contamination must have helped the corona patients to resist the virus effect.
Although the air and water quality improvement seems to be for short period but
we know that through the lock down type mechanism earth's environment can be
repaired.
City
|
Date of Observation
|
AAQ
|
PM 2.5
|
PM 10
|
NO2
|
SO2
|
CO
|
(µ / m3)
|
(µ / m3)
|
(µ / m3)
|
(µ / m3)
|
(µ / m3)
|
(mg/m3)
|
||
Delhi
|
30 March,2019
|
209
|
191
|
209
|
32
|
NA
|
83
|
(IGI Airport)
|
30 March,2020
|
51
|
43
|
51
|
NA
|
NA
|
30
|
13 April,2020
|
122
|
122
|
111
|
NA
|
NA
|
32
|
|
Mumbai
|
30 March,2019
|
97
|
48
|
97
|
8
|
37
|
73
|
(Bandra)
|
30 March,2020
|
55
|
24
|
55
|
21
|
31
|
48
|
13 April,2020
|
79
|
31
|
79
|
6
|
30
|
48
|
|
Chennai
|
30 March,2019
|
24
|
24
|
NA
|
23
|
7
|
46
|
(Alandur Bus
Depot)
|
30 March,2020
|
41
|
41
|
NA
|
11
|
10
|
15
|
13 April,2020
|
23
|
23
|
NA
|
26
|
4
|
23
|
|
Ahmedabad
|
30 March,2019
|
195
|
195
|
NA
|
78
|
19
|
36
|
(Maninagar)
|
30 March,2020
|
81
|
45
|
81
|
42
|
20
|
13
|
13 April,2020
|
61
|
27
|
61
|
25
|
32
|
18
|
|
Hyderabad
|
30 March,2019
|
131
|
84
|
131
|
61
|
8
|
35
|
(Central
University)
|
30 March,2020
|
55
|
34
|
55
|
2
|
2
|
13
|
13 April,2020
|
60
|
48
|
60
|
37
|
6
|
16
|
(Source: Central Pollution Control Board)
Figures in table are average numbers
Figures in table are average numbers
Rajesh Deoliya
Note: Readers are requested to share their thoughts and post in the comment box of this blog to improve the content for the benefit of society.
Comments
Although, entire world (human community) is suffering from this corona pandemic-an invisible disease, yet our mother earth is healing up in every bit.
As far as water quality is concerned, all the rivers and streams are recovering to their basic characteristics. River Ganga water is found fit for drinking purpose in Rishikesh-Haridwar district as per CPCB. Apart from that most of the rivers have attained a better quality in different stretches doe to lower domestic input as well as complete industrial lockdown. Similar reports were observed from Venice city of Totally with improved water quality due to restricted boating activities.
Rivers have been rejuvenated during this Corona Effect...What we could not achieve even after investing a lot of money, time and efforts in various government/non-government schemes such as Namami Gange and Yamuna Bachao.
Moreover, now we are able to observe..Clean roads, Clear Skies with stars at night, Self-purified Air, More greenery, Chirping of birds and last but not the least..Developing a close bond among human being to fight against this CORONA.
Good article.
You are very right that like the other Token days, Earth day has also proved meaningless .You are again quite right that water quality of river Ganga has improved remarkably near Haridwar. At least for a while, potential improvement has also been observed in air quality across the world.
As always,data given by the CPCB for air quality is seems to be incomplete and incorrect . If data given in the table are true, anomalies in the observed values of PM 2.5 during 30th March 20 and 13th April 20 be explained by the CPCB authorities. Probably, AAQ given in the table (in µ / m3) would be AQI (with no unit).
Moreover " Noise", an important factor of pollution should also be taken in to account during Corona period with reference to improvement of biodiversity of aquatic and wild life.
Best wishes,
Subhash