Clean air is a Fundamental Right under ‘Right to Life’ in the constitution of India as interpreted by the Supreme Court. As the country takes sure steps towards progress and development, the air quality starts getting compromised.
Air pollution has catastrophic effects on the health and wellness of an individual. Recognizing the upcoming threat, in December 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to observe this day on 7th September every year, starting from 2020. The Day aims to demonstrate the close link of air quality to other environmental/developmental challenges and raise public awareness related to air quality at all levels.
In this regard let us look at the efforts made by corporates through CSR to prevent air pollution.
BreatheFree Program by Volvo
In an effort to reduce vehicular air pollution, Volvo Cars has fitted 50 school buses in Delhi NCR with a device called as ‘Minus2point5’. The device is attached to the exhaust pipe of the vehicle. This reduces air pollution by converting PM2.5 particles in ambient air into coarser dust and making them fall to the ground. The device is developed by tech start-up PerSapien Innovations and has been very well received by the school authorities. PerSapien fitted the interiors of the school buses with PM2.5 air filters too, this reduces the entry of PM2.5 inside the buses so that the air is clean for children to breathe.
Sustainable Operations by Jindal Steel and Power
Jindal Steel and Power is highly committed to sustainability and maintenance of a clean environment in and around its plants. In order to ensure this, the company follows a Total Procedural Maintenance (TPM) to prevent air pollution.
As part of TPM, the company monitors every aspect of pollution generated due to plant activities in detail. To minimize pollution, it has installed state-of-the-art pollution control devices suitable for the purpose of reducing atmospheric pollution.
The company has installed dust settling chambers and electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) to control process emissions. The system controls fugitive dust through multiple point suction hoods attached to bag filters. In addition to this, the company has installed a centralised de-dusting system with an electrostatic precipitator is installed for dust control in the raw material handling area.
The company has also installed a Coke oven plant which ensures that waste gases are burnt completely and the heat generated is used in waste heat recovery boilers (WHRB) for power generation. This checks the escape of untreated toxic gases from escaping the environment.
Air is basic to the existence of life. More organised and collective efforts are required to prevent pollution.
