Environmental Pollution
- In the pursuit for higher economic growth and human development, several externalities arise leading to potential conflict in ensuring a healthy natural environment. Given that there is a limit to extraction of the natural capital, the undue extraction of natural resources to meet the growing needs of the population, industries, and other economic activity have resulted in their degradation and pollution in the state.
- Significant environmental pollution is evident through high atmospheric particulate matter, and contamination of water bodies leading to significant reduction in health of the humans and the ecosystem.
- Water Pollution:
- Bihar is well endowed with both surface water and groundwater resources. Besides rainfall, lakes, ponds, canals, wells, and other water bodies provide the much needed water for different activities.
- However, owing to rapid population growth, increase in developmental activities, and indiscriminate use of water is leading to diminishing the quantity and quality of water resources.
- Quality of River Water:
- The state is endowed with a favourable river system, comprising the river Ganga with a total length of 445 kms with a catchment area of 5473 sq.kms in Bihar, its tributaries such as Ghaghra Budhi Gandak system, Kosi, Sone, Gandak, Punpun, Kosi, Bagmati, and Mahananda, which supply adequate water to the state during different seasons.
- However,
- some rivers have been facing a decline in flow and some are prone to extreme flooding leading to their depletion.
- Also, the demand for water in agricultural and industrial sectors is going up in recent years.
- The use of chemical fertilizers and other pesticides in the agricultural sector has led to water contamination.
- The Bihar State Pollution Control Board is monitoring the quality of river water under the national water quality monitoring programme wherein the polluted river stretches are monitored for different parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, bio-chemical oxygen demand (BOD), and Faecal and Total Coliform. Maintaining adequate levels of dissolved oxygen in the water is crucial to protect aquatic ecosystems.
- The assessment of water quality of river Ganga in Bihar indicates the presence of higher value of bacterial population such as Total Coliform and Faecal Coliform mainly occurring due to the discharge of sewage/domestic wastewater from cities located on the bank of river Ganga.
- The other parameters viz. PH, Dissolved oxygen, and BOD have been observed within the prescribed limit indicating that water is fit for aquatic life and wildlife propagation.
- The same status has been observed in case of tributaries of river Ganga in Bihar.
- Quality of Groundwater Resource
- In the vast drought-prone regions of Bihar, the groundwater resources play an important role in making water available to the dry areas, thereby supporting food supply and sustenance of human life.
- The rapid economic and urban growth have led to their over-extraction leading to a decline in groundwater table.
- The presence of various contaminants such as fluoride, nitrate, arsenic, iron, lead, cadmium, and chromium more than the prescribed limits in water can lead to degradation of groundwater quality.
- In Bihar, the commonly observed contaminants include arsenic, fluoride, iron, manganese, which are harmful for drinking purposes.
- Through the enactment of Groundwater Act 2006, the State Government is working towards minimizing the excessive exploitation and pollution of groundwater resources in the state.
- As per the estimates, the annual extractable groundwater resource was the highest in the district of West Champaran (1.61 bcm). The leading districts in groundwater recharge from rainfall during the monsoon season are — West Champaran (0.99 bcm), East Champaran (0.92 bcm) and Rohtas (0.88 bcm).
- On the other hand, Sheikhpura (0.14 bcm), Arwal (0.13 bcm) and Sheohar (0.12 bcm) had lower levels of groundwater recharge from rainfall during the monsoon season.
- Among the different purposes of annual groundwater extraction, the highest was observed in the category of irrigation (10.78 bcm), followed by domestic purposes (1.83 bcm) for the state as whole.
- The leading districts for extraction of groundwater for irrigation purposes were Muzaffarpur (0.62 bcm), Gaya (0.59 bcm) and Katihar (0.56 bcm), accounting for nearly 16.4 percent of the total extraction during 2017.
- The stage of groundwater extraction, expressed as percentage, is the ratio of annual groundwater draft and net annual groundwater availability. The overdraft of groundwater resource has been the highest in the district of Jehanabad (95.7 percent), while the least in Araria (19.6 percent). The assessment of groundwater recharge in 2017 shows that the groundwater recharge from rainfall during monsoon was higher at 19.83 bcm, compared to that of non-monsoon recharge (3.14 bcm).
- It is alarming to note that nearly 19 districts had the stage of groundwater extraction higher than that of the state’s average of 45.8 percent. The dependency of irrigation on groundwater resource is one of the leading causes for depletion of water tables.
- Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) is regularly monitoring the water quality of river Ganga (34 locations), its tributaries (64 location), ponds, and lake (05 locations) on a fortnightly and monthly basis.
- The ground water quality is monitored at 70 locations on a six-monthly basis by BSPCB. During 2019-20, the board collected a total of 1424 water samples from different locations and analysed the same.
- Air Pollution:
- In the recent decades, significant increases in economic activities related to agriculture, manufacturing, and mining have affected the quality of air.
- In the context of intensification of global warming, the burning of fossil fuels, crops, and open waste, brick manufacturing, mining, emissions from industries and vehicles have increased the level of air pollutants in Bihar, affecting the health of both the humans and the environment.
- Also, occurrence of natural phenomena such as forest fires, dispersion of pollens in air, and biological decay have also contributed to air contamination.
- The main pollutants of atmospheric air are — particulate matters (PM 1o) and fine particulate matters (PM2.5)•
- The burning of crop stubble in agricultural fields in Bihar has added to the increase in concentration of particulate matters in the air to 1000 micrograms per cubic metre. The air quality of cities such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya are categorised ‘very poor’.
- Schemes of Bihar State Pollution Control Board for monitoring Air Pollution
- The action plan for prevention and control of air pollution for the non-attainment cities such as Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya has been prepared by the Air Quality Monitoring Committee (AQMC) constituted by the DoEF and CC, Government of Bihar in compliance with the order of the Hon’ble NGT in 2018. These action plans have been approved by CPCB and are being implemented.
- Bihar State Pollution Control Board had one Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAAQMS) each in Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya whose operations began in 2011, 2013 and 2014, respectively.
- Bihar State Pollution Control Board has installed additional 05 CAAQMS in Patna and one each in Gaya, Muzaffarpur. and Hajipur. All aforesaid CAAQMS are connected to CPCB server.
- As per the criteria laid down by the Central Pollution Control Board, the state board has also prepared a proposal for expansion of CAAQMS network in Bihar.
- The new 22 categories of polluting industries shall not be established in the “Master Plan Demarcation Area of Patna” and “Planning Area of Muzaffarpur and Gaya” for prevention of air pollution in the aforesaid non-attainment cities of Bihar.
- The state has prepared a “State Fuel Policy on use of pet coke and furnace/fuel oil” in June 2020 for prevention of air pollution.
- Accordingly, Pet Coke shall not be used as industrial fuel. However, it can be used as feedstock or in the manufacturing process in certain category of industries, namely, cement for clinker production, calciner producing calcine pet coke etc.
- New proposed industries in the NACs and Hajipur Industrial Area shall not use furnace oil as fuel. The existing industries may use FO in compliance with emission standards notified by the MoEF and CC, Government of India till the development of LNG/PNG as cleaner fuel supply network is developed in the State.
- In order to reduce the emission from brick kilns, the Bihar State Pollution Control Board has directed all the brick kilns of the state to adopt and switch over to cleaner technologies.
- Approximately 3000 brick kilns have been converted into cleaner technology.
- The level of air pollution in Patna, Muzaffarpur, and Gaya has been a matter of serious concern during the winter season due to higher levels of PM 10 and PM2.5.
- The meteorological and geographical conditions are responsible for higher levels of particulate matters concentration in addition to the local sources viz. road dust, vehicular emission, uncovered construction activities, open burning of solid waste etc.
- However, gaseous pollutants have been observed within the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality Standards.
- Schemes in the Transport Department (E-rickshaw, CNG, other initiatives)
- Augmenting public transport system (Electric buses, Hybrid diesel buses, CNG buses) : The Transport Department has procured 10 electric buses and has plans to procure 25 more electric buses.
- Introduction of cleaner fuels (CNG/LPG) for vehicles: The Gas Authority of India Limited has started the supply of CNG as cleaner fuel for vehicles through 05 CNG outlets (IOCL retail outlet near Rukanpura, Patna, City Fuel Bypass Toll Plaza, Patna, Sonali Petrol Pump near Transport Nagar, Saguna More, and Naubatpur in Patna under ‘Energy Ganga Project‘.
- Restriction on plying and phasing out of 15-year-old commercial diesel driven vehicles: Transport Department, Bihar has restricted plying of 15-year-old government vehicles in the entire State till further orders since November 2019.
- The State Government has also restricted plying of 15-year-old diesel driven commercial vehicles in the jurisdiction of Patna Municipal Corporation, Danapur Municipal Council, Khagaul Municipal Council and Phulwari Sharif Municipal Council with immediate effect till further orders since November 2019.
- The plying of diesel-driven three-wheeler vehicles shall also be restricted from January 31, 2021 in the jurisdiction of Patna Municipal Corporation, Danapur Municipal Council, Khagaul Municipal Council and Phulwarisharif Municipal Council with effect from March 31, 2021.
- Incentivizing the use of cleaner fuels – electric vehicle and (CNG/LPG) for private vehicles.
- As per the Bihar Cleaner Fuel Policy, 2019, one-time subsidy of Rs. 40,000 for replacement of existing three-wheelers CNG vehicles, one-time conversion incentive of Rs. 20,000 for conversion of three-wheelers into CNG to cover the cost of CNG Kit retro-fitment, and one-time subsidy of Rs. 25,000 for replacement of three-wheelers into new electric vehivles is being given.
- Noise Pollution:
- The rising noise pollution levels in the cities of Bihar a major concern. The main sources of noise are construction and industrial activities, traffic sounds, and other loudspeakers.
- The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) is monitoring the noise level at five different locations in Patna to formulate an action plan to control the noise pollution level in the city.
- There are mixed trends in noise levels with regard to the permissible decibels at day and night times. Notably, there has been a declining trend in the noise pollution levels in Patna over the period.
- To monitor the noise level in city limits, the State Government is promoting awareness drive against honking and using loudspeakers at night.
