Title: 19 - Describe a place you visited where the air was polluted
Cue Points
- - Where the place is
- - When you visited
- - Why the air was not good
- - And explain how you felt about the place
Answer
- Pollution is everywhere nowadays, and it’s difficult to find a place where the air is not polluted.
- I would like to talk about New Delhi, a city I visited last year with my parents to visit some relatives.
- There was a function in their house, so we went by train and then hired a three-wheeler.
- As we were sitting in the auto, I started feeling a burning sensation in my eyes and my eyes started watering.
- I looked at my parents and felt they were also experiencing the same.
- We live in a small town in Punjab, where the air is much less polluted than in Delhi.
- I noticed that the local people in Delhi were not having much problem, perhaps their eyes were used to that pollution.
- When we reached our relatives' house, I washed my face with cold water and felt some relief.
- My uncle told me that Delhi is probably one of the most polluted cities in India.
- The main reason for this is the unplanned development of Delhi, with industrial units spread over residential and commercial areas.
- Another reason for Delhi's air pollution is its landlocked geography, with the Himalayas obstructing the escape routes of air.
- Stubble burning in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan during the winter months causes a thick blanket of smog over Delhi.
- Air pollution affects human health severely, with a higher prevalence of chronic bronchitis in more polluted areas.
- I was happy that I was just visiting Delhi and not living there permanently.
- I really feel pity for my relatives who permanently reside in Delhi.
Follow Up Questions
- Is there more pollution now than in the past?Answer: Yes, there is more air pollution now than in the past. New industries are opening every day, and strict rules and regulations have not been laid down for effluent treatment. Industries are not planned well to be opened in designated areas, so all this development is leading to more air pollution now than in the past.
- In what ways can the air pollution be reduced effectively?Answer: Many steps can be taken to reduce the level of air pollution. The government can lay down strict rules and regulations for effluent treatment. New industries should only be allowed to open in designated areas. It is not the responsibility of only the government but the people also to follow the rules and regulations nicely.
- Do you think the city is cleaner or dirtier than the countryside? Why?Answer: I think the cities are dirtier than the countryside. The main reason is that all the development, the new industries, are opening in the cities. The industrialists do not follow the rules and regulations laid by the government nicely. Proper treatment of effluents is not done. Another reason is that the population of cities is more than the countryside. So more vehicles are there in the cities which are also adding to the pollution. Not only air pollution, but noise pollution is also more in the cities than the countryside. So for all these reasons, I feel that cities are more polluted than the countryside.
- What can factories and power plants do to reduce pollutants?Answer: Factories and power plants can do a lot to reduce pollution. The first thing they can do is follow the norms laid down by the government. For example, if the factory has a chimney, the height of the chimney can be increased according to government regulations. New industries should start with alternative sources of energy, whereas the older ones can switch to alternative sources of energy. These steps can go a long way in decreasing pollution.
- Do you think many companies have been forced to reduce pollutants?Answer: Yes, many companies have been forced to reduce pollutants. However, unfortunately, these industries find loopholes to escape the penalties, and so the steps taken by the government are not proving very effective. When companies pay fines, they start thinking that now they have the license to cause pollution.
- Do you think the wind has any effect on pollution? How?Answer: Yes, I think the wind helps to disperse the pollutants. That is why, despite the high automobile population, Chennai has less pollution than in Delhi. This is because the sea breeze provides an effective entry and exit for dispersing pollutants. Delhi is landlocked, so the whole pollution accumulates there only.