Mangalore, November 3: Various skin diseases also originate from air pollution and 15 per cent among those born with defects are born so due to air and water pollution, said Mangalore North MLA Krishna J Palemar.
He was delivering the inaugural address at 'air pollution control' month celebration jointly organised by Dakshina Kannada district administration, Transport Department and Lion Club, Mangalore, at Lions Seva Mandir here on Saturday.
Speaking on measures to control air pollution, he said that public co-operation was important in curbing pollution. It is necessary for every individual to work together for the welfare of the environment. The public are also affected when contaminated fuel is used in auto-rickshaws, but instead of lodging complaints against the wrong-doers, they keep mum. They ought to come forward and report instances of malpractices, he said.
Advising the people not to burn plastic waste in piles, he said that people should refrain from using plastic ware given in shops as it caused a lot of pollution. “People should become aware of the threat caused by air pollution; we need to ponder over ways to curb this. Awareness should be brought in villages and small towns, while strict action should be taken on those who do not follow procedures,” he said.
In his presidential address, Deputy Commissioner Dr N S Channappa Gowda said that it was the responsibility of citizens to comply with the guidelines issued by the administration to curb pollution. While the increase of private vehicles plying in the city has not contributed to air pollution in particular, strict rules should be implemented with regard to stop noise pollution in hospital and school surroundings. There should be mutual understanding between the administration and the bus owners/drivers. Only then can the menace loud honking be removed.
He said that the Indian outlook was such that a person would not hesitate to litter his surroundings, but the person in a foreign country would not break the rules. “We clearly lack self-discipline in India. There is a need to change the mind-set of citizens to ensure a cleaner district. An appointed officer cannot accomplish much without response from citizens. We can try to implement measures to make the city sound-free for a whole month,” he said.
Regional Transport Officer C Mallikarjuna said that 72 per cent of air pollution was caused by emission from vehicles, while smoke spewed out by industries and domestic wastages made up the remaining part. The quality of health is less in India. Harmful gases such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide causing air pollution and acid rain can result in cancer, lung infection and brain-related diseases. The resulting noise pollution from vehicles and buses can be toned down if the use of horns are limited to the maximum extent by the month-end, he said.
President of Canara Bus Owners' Association Rajavarma Ballal expressed his views on the occasion. President of Lions Club Mangalore Dr Kedige Arvind Rao and Vice-president Nagaraj Sharma were present.
Stickers spreading awareness on air pollution and a public service radio advertisement were released on the occasion.
A Yakshagana performance on ill-effects of smoke and air pollution was presented by a group of amateur artists at the end of the programme.
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