National Pollution Prevention Day: December 2 is celebrated as the National Pollution Prevention Day to commemorate the victims of the Bhopal Gas tragedy and spread awareness about managing and preventing industrial disasters and the hazards of air pollution.
The Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 happened on the intervening night of December 2 and December 3 due to leak of methyl isocyanate in the Union Carbide India Limited plant. Exposure to toxic gas led to thousands of deaths over the years. The accident is considered to be one of the biggest industrial pollution disasters.
Many victims of the tragedy still live with severe illnesses. And the newborns from the areas around the plant developed serious diseases. Around 7 million people across the globe die every year due to air pollution, according to the National Health Portal of India.
Objectives Of National Pollution Prevention Day:
- To spread awareness on managing and controlling industrial disasters
- To prevent the pollution produced by industrial processes or human negligence
- To make people and industries aware of the importance of pollution control acts
Acts After The Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Although the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) was constituted in 1974, after the accident, the government formulated many more laws for preventing pollution and raising awareness.
Different Acts were drafted for different types of pollution. Some of the Acts are the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act of 1977; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981; Environment (Protection) Act of 1986.
Under the National Green Tribunal Act of 2010, a tribunal was formed for effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection.