(a) Explain the role of industries in increasing air pollution and suggest measures to control it.

Role of industries in increasing air pollution-

(i) Air pollution is caused by the presence of high proportion of undesirable gases, such as sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide.

(ii) Airborne particulate materials contain both solid and liquid particles like dust, sprays mist and smoke.

(iii) Smoke is emitted by chemical and paper factories, brick kilns, refineries and smelting plants, and burning of fossil fuels in big and small factories that ignore pollution norms.

(iv) Toxic gas leaks can be very hazardous with long-term effects.

Suggestions to control air pollution-

(i) Particulate matter in the air can be reduced by increasing the height of chimneys.

(ii) Fitting smoke stacks to factories with-

a. electrostatic precipitators,

b. fabric filters,

c. scrubbers and

d. inertial separators.

(iii) Smoke can be reduced by using oil or gas instead of coal in factories.

(iv) Shift to renewable energy sources.

(b) Explain the measures taken by ‘National Thermal Power Corporation’ to prevent environmental degradation.

(i) The corporation has a proactive approach for preserving the natural environment and resources like water, oil and gas and fuels in places where it is setting up power plants.

(ii) This has been possible through optimum utilisation of equipment adopting latest techniques and upgrading existing equipment.

(iii) Minimising waste generation by maximising ash utilisation.

(iv) Providing green belts for nurturing ecological balance and addressing the question of special purpose vehicles for afforestation.

(v) Reducing environmental pollution through ash pond management, ash water recycling system and liquid waste management.

(vi) Ecological monitoring, reviews and on-line database management for all its power stations.