BHOJPUR DISTRICT HAS HIGH WATER, AIR AND SOUND POLLUTION PRONE TO DIFFERENT DISORDERS AND DISEASES

Ara, 13 June 2023, (RNI): Water, air and sound pollution has reached all-time high in Bhojpur district causing a disastrous health hazard for human being as well as animal heads. In the blind race of modernity, humans are themselves responsible for eco-imbalance though the government is making every effort to maintain eco balance by enacting several rules and regulations. The present air, sound and water pollution status is far exceeded from the norms. As a result we are destined to inhale poisonous air, drink poisonous water.

The sound pollution should be around 35 decibel during sleeping hour and during day hour it should be around 55 decibel as the hearing capacity of a human being is in between 55 to 60 decibel. If it exceed far from 60 decibel, it is called noise pollution and it damaged nervous system and hearing capacity.  

The PH value of normal water is 7 and if it is more, it is alkaline and if it is less, it is acidic while as per national quality standard, the average pm level must be 60 microgram per cubic meter but at present it exceeded the national standard. The air pollution is 120 microgram per cubic meter and sound pollution is 170 decibel in Bhojpur district. As per standard quality, the air quality index 0 to 50 is considered good whereas 51 to 100 is considered satisfactory, 1001 to 150 is average, 151 to 300 is bad 301 to 400 is very bad and over 400 is severe.

Pollution is rising in Bhojpur district due to construction of buildings in unplanned way, pitiable condition of garbage dumping and burning of crops remains in the field. At least 14 percent of waste, straw and wheat stacks are being burnt. As per rough estimate, the farmers burnt over 2 lakh tones of straws in Bhojpur district alone besides straws are burnt in large amount in Rohgas, Kaimur, Buxar, Patna, Aurangabad, Nalanda districts of Bihar.

Bhojpur district has five pollution test centres including at Badkagaon, Zero Mile and Giddha of the transport department where vehicles are tested after expiry of licenses and certificates are issued. The Transport Department had investigated these Pollution Test Centres two months ago and action was taken after complaints were received against these centres. It was complained that these centres issued fitness certificates to the junk vehicles.

Reportedly, Bhojpur district has 15 years old over 25000 vehicles most of which belong to the Ara Municipal Corporation while the Bhojpur district administration makes 15 years old vehicles run on hire. Besides, Bhojpur district has 40000 vehicles including 20000 two wheelers, 10000 commercial four wheelers and 5000 private four wheelers.

Bhojpur District Transport Officer Madhav Kumar Singh said that the over 15 years old vehicles would be phased out.

The construction work of buildings whether they are private or government, is going on in the opening without covering them with cloths.

Over 200 tones of garbage come out every day in Bhojpur district but the Ara Municipal Corporation (AMC) failed to arrange their proper dumping though the AMC planned every year for the dumping of garbage and places are fixed but no action is taken in this regard and huge amount is reportedly also spent on it. The AMC garbage carrying vehicles carry garbage without cover liter garbage all over the road and dump them in unplanned manner that creates pollution problem and cause health hazard. The AMC failed to done the work of cleaning the garbage.

PM 2.5 refers to particulate matter with a size of less than 2.5 microns and PM 10 refers to particulate matter with a size of less than 10 microns. Both of them cannot be see with naked eye. The particulate matter less than 2 microns enters into the lungs and causes respiratory tubes whereas particulate matter in between 2 to 5 microns accumulate in the lungs and affect blood vessels, infect them and cause acute pain and particulate matters upto 10 microns affect nose, throat.

Bhojpur district has 36 hectare of forest land which is called ‘Green Cover’ while the total area of the district is 2474 square kilometer and it plays a pivotal role in increasing pollution in Bhojpur district.

Civil Surgeon, Bhojpur Dr Suresh Prasad Singh said that water pollution causes diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration while air pollution causes heart attack, shortness of breath, cough, eye irrigation and allergies and sound pollution causes irritability, aggression, high blood pressure, stress, hearing loss, sleep disturbances and other harmful effects but no patient has been admitted in the Ara Sadar Hospital showing the above symptoms.