India observes National Pollution Prevention Day on December 2 in the memory of people who lost their lives in Bhopal gas disaster. The industrial accident occurred in 1984 when the gas Methyl Isocyanate leaked on the night of December 2–3 and kllled thousands.
The main objectives of the day are to spread awareness on managing and controlling industrial disasters, prevent the pollution produced by industrial processes or human negligence, to make people and industries aware about the importance of pollution control acts. The day also aims to bring awareness to people about prevention of air, soil, noise, and water pollution.
This year's theme is like any other year - raise awareness about the importance of pollution control and to educate people on how to prevent pollution.
The National Health Portal of India data reveals that around 7 million people die every year due to air pollution. The data also reveals that nine out of ten people globally do not have access to clean and safe air.
As many as 9 Indian cities are on the list of 10 most polluted cities in the world, with levels of Particulate Matter (PM) exceeding 200 in some places.
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First Published: Dec 02 2020 | 6:30 PM IST