The fresh and quality air is very essential for the survival and growth of living organisms and without the fresh and quality air, the existence of living flora and fauna is impossible in the environment. The fragile ecosystems of Jammu and Kashmir known for its fresh and rejuvenating quality air is grappling with rising air pollution for the last few years. The air pollution here is fast spreading and the air quality in the eco fragile Kashmir has been constantly deteriorating leading to health concerns for residents. Deteriorating air quality in twin cities of Srinagar and Jammu is very high during winters and has a profound impact on ecosystems and biodiversity. Soaring air pollution is catching the attention of the environmental conscious citizens of Jammu and Kashmir. The air quality index in Kashmir valley is getting worse every passing year. Increasing number of vehicles, constructions, brick kilns, cement factories, burning of biomass like leaves, grasses, twigs, woods in agricultural fields, household premises, kitchen gardens, and on roads are significantly contributing to high levels of particulate matter in air. Particulate matter load is very high during autumn and winter in the Kashmir valley particularly due to anthropogenic source emissions. For the past many years, there has been unregulated growth of vehicles, brick kilns, and cement factories in the Kashmir valley. These are emitting poisonous air pollutants like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons into the atmosphere adding to air pollution leading to global warming and climate change. Burning of twigs and fallen leaves for coal making during autumn and winter is common not in rural areas of the valley but also in urban areas as well. It also deteriorates air quality in the valley. The temperature inversions are common during winters in the Kashmir valley because the Kashmir valley surrounded by the high mountain ranges do not allow air masses to find an escape route. The temperature inversion is a geographical term that restricts vertical mixing of air leaving the warm air above the cold air that builds up haze consisting mainly of dust and smoke. Particulate matter of high levels trapped in the ground layer of the atmosphere is causing serious health hazards to the residents of Kashmir valley particularly respiratory disorders like tuberculosis, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, chronic bronchitis, asthma attacks, running nose etc. According to a report of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK), air pollution increases the risk of lung cancer and heart attacks and there are thousands of deaths attributed to air pollution every year in Jammu and Kashmir. Air pollutants in the atmosphere affect the elderly, young and healthy individuals. It increases chronic lung diseases, heart diseases as well as strokes to elderly. For the very young, air pollution increases acute respiratory infections that can be fatal. It reduces life expectancy. According to a report of Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago EPIC (study), people in India would live 4.3 years longer if the country met the WHO guidelines. Particulate pollution on life expectancy is comparable to that of smoking, twice that of alcohol and drug use and three times that of unsafe water. Fog is also associated with the temperature inversion that reduces visibility during winters causing loss of innocent lives due to road accidents in the valley.
“The Jammu and Kashmir pollution control committee needs to install air quality monitoring systems in every tehsil to check and control the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere. There should be proper transportation planning to reduce vehicular traffic. Green Vehicles’ like solar and electric cars should be promoted. Use of bio fertilizers, alternative sources of energy like solar energy and trees acting as lungs on the earth should be planted more and more. Joint and sincere efforts are needed at local level, community level and the government level otherwise there will be no respite in the air pollution in the near future and air pollution levels are likely to escalate further and the situation on the health front can add further woes to the people by affecting their health”.
Air pollution is one of the main reasons for global warming and climate change. Over the last few years, Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh have been witnessing unprecedented melting of glaciers amid global warming and climate change. The glaciers that are a source of freshwater for perennial rivers and springs have been rapidly melting and retreating. The melting of glaciers like Kolahoi glacier, Drang Drang, Thajwas etc. have caused great impact on regional water availability and hydrological regimes of Jammu and Kashmir. Many glaciers have developed crevasses and cracks and subsequently turned into glacial lakes that are more vulnerable to Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF). Glacial Lake Outburst Floods can be very disastrous for downstream as they have devastating impact on infrastructure and living flora and fauna. The GLOF in Sikkim, Rumbak in Leh, and Joshimath in Uttarakhand are a few examples that have sent shock waves among the Indian people. It is pertinent to mention that Kashmir valley has been currently facing acute power shortage owing to low water levels in all water bodies. The low water levels in water bodies is due to melting and retreating of important glaciers. Decreased precipitation like rain and snow over Kashmir are other negative impacts of global warming and climate change. Air pollution reduces agriculture and horticulture production as well. The Budgam district of the Kashmir valley famous for an unregulated growth and number of brick kilns is witnessing severe air pollution in all seasons. Air pollution in Budgam is proving disastrous to agricultural and horticultural lands. Almond, walnut, plum, apple orchards, vegetable, and paddy fields have been continuously hit by soaring pollution from brick kilns, dismaying progressive, poor and marginal farmers. Illegal soil excavation and traditional brick kilns have turned the Budgam district into an ecological disaster. Air Pollution in Budgam and Khanmoh Srinagar is leaving a sizable population prone to several deadly diseases including COPD, TB, cancer, heart and skin diseases. For the better health and life of flora and fauna in a sustainable environment, there is an urgent need for a collaborative and participatory approach to combat the rising air pollution in a comprehensive and time bound manner. Education and awareness among the people about the importance of quality air through seminars, campaigns, workshops, debates, discussions etc. is the need of the hour. Promotion and adoption of green technology, Emission control technology, energy efficiency and global environment friendly technologies will lessen the air pollutants to a much greater extent in the atmosphere and improve the air quality index of the entire Jammu and Kashmir. Adoption of eco-friendly technology in brick kilns, cement factories; vehicles and avoiding unnecessary burning of biomass will reduce the gravity of air pollution to a greater extent. The Jammu and Kashmir pollution control committee needs to install air quality monitoring systems in every tehsil to check and control the emission of pollutants into the atmosphere. There should be proper transportation planning to reduce vehicular traffic. Green Vehicles’ like solar and electric cars should be promoted. Use of bio fertilizers, alternative sources of energy like solar energy and trees acting as lungs on the earth should be planted more and more. Joint and sincere efforts are needed at local level, community level and the government level otherwise there will be no respite in the air pollution in the near future and air pollution levels are likely to escalate further and the situation on the health front can add further woes to the people by affecting their health.
(The author is a teacher at Govt Boys Higher Secondary School Beerwa Budgam. The views, opinions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author and aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
[email protected]