Page 34 - Shelter-October-2022
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THEME PAPER


              construction. Several cities  Decentralised              and    Air Quality Management
              in India have become water      Intelligent Services            Air quality in Indian cities
              stressed. Only 18% of the                                       is  deteriorating   due    to
              renewable water resource is     Surveys      reveal      that   indiscriminate use of fossil
              being  recycled,  while  10%  of   approximately   40%     of   fuels, coal-based energy plants
              the  annual  rainfall  is  being   urban population in India    and vehicular and industrial
              harvested in India. The issues   is not covered by sewerage,    emissions.  According to the
              of concern are increasing       sanitation,  drainage    and    surveys conducted by the
              coliform levels  and Bio-       solid waste disposal. Various   CPCB ambient  air quality
              chemical Oxygen demand          alternative technologies based   in more than 20 Indian
              (BOD) in surface waters and     on decentralized systems can    cities  have  reached  a  very
              increased  concentration  of    be  explored. The  use  of IT,   critical  situation.  Relatively
              nitrates in the groundwater.    simulation,  blockchain  and    high levels of suspended
              To overcome these problems,     automation  can make the        particulate  matter   (SPM),
              water sources need to be        services smart and intelligent.   dust, SO , NO , CO  and
                                                                                                    2
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              protected   by    sanitation/   The common method of land       heavy metals, including  lead
              sewerage  interception,  and    filling for solid waste disposal   content in the exhaust of
              recycling and treatment of      is an environmental disaster.   automobiles and scooters,
              wastewater. Swales, porous      Instead,        decentralized   have been observed. The
              paving, floating sub-strata in   systems based on 5 R strategy   recent initiatives like electric
              wastewater ponds, coupled       of waste management  may        and    hydrogen     powered
              bacterial micro- algae, biofilm,   be considered for solid and   vehicles, adoption of clean
              bio-drainage    and    storm    liquid waste management.        technologies,  new  emission
              surge gates in river, drains    Underground        pneumatic    norms,    development      of
              and canals and zero run off     conveying systems can be        shared taxis, NMTs and mass
              drainage,   conserve   water    more hygienic, economical       rapid transport  systems can
              and save human settlements      and avoid movement  of          reduce the pollution levels
              from floods. Water resources    trucks   for   transportation   due to vehicular emissions.
              can be augmented through        of wastes. Common utility       Airshed planning, continuous
              recharging of groundwater       ducts or tunnels carrying       ventilation, use of cooler
              and by rainwater harvesting     electricity,  water,  sewerage,   and light shaded surfaces/
              (not only in building, but also   wastes, cables and broadband   materials and water spray are
              on roads, parks and parking     internet  minimize  damage      some other methods to reduce
              areas), besides conservation    from traffic,  road repairs,    air pollution.
              of rivers and water bodies,     rains, etc.  A series of low
              water efficient taps/fittings,   carbon zones across the city   Air quality data is significant
              dual plumbing, curbing Non-     with co-located tri-generation   to  gaining   a    thorough
              Revenue Water and recycling     energy systems (combining       understanding     of    local
              of wastewater. Blockchain       power, cooling and heating),    air     pollution.    Recent
              and SCADA systems can help      and automated, segregated       technological advancements
              in a more efficient 24x7 water                                  have made it possible to
              supply of potable quality. The   waste collection and recycling   gather data, with low-cost
                                              can lead to bundling ‘green
              LiFE movement can help the                                      monitoring    devices    and
              citizen in a discernible impact   infrastructure’ together. These   advanced methods of collating
              on water conservation and       areas can be one of the central   and analysing  it. Smart
              recycling.                      areas of LiFE movement.         electricity  poles with sensors


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