2 minute read
Nature Bloom in Pandemic Gloom
Nature Bloo in pandem ic Gloo
India is the home to 21 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities, but recently the air pollution level is dropping down. As we all know that Covid-19 has become a pandemic in India as well as in most countries of the world. Except for a few countries, all are facing the outbreak of this deadly virus. The world is battling with a virus that has taken the lives of many. In the meantime, when the curfew is imposed in India and human activities have slow down, only one positive outcome that can be seen is nature is prospering and is healing itself. The ecosystem has found its way to heal.
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Due to lockdown, air quality is improved. The AQI (Air Quality Index) is an index for reporting daily air quality. As per the data given on the site of the centralpollution control board, graphs were drawn, showing a decrease in AQI of polluted cities. Many peoples in polluted cities start saying that they have not seen such blue skies for the past ten years.
River water quality is also improved as human activities have slow down and reduction in the dumping of industrial waste into rivers. Experts say the water quality of Ganga and Yamuna rivers have improved especially around the industrial cluster, since the enforcement of the lockdown. Even water has become potable in upper cities along the Ganga like Rishikesh and Haridwar.
Nowadays, when we wake up in the morning, there is no noise of vehicles, industries and we only catch the beautiful sounds of nature creations like the chirping of birds, feel cold and fresh air free from pollutants, but we have to enjoy this from our balcony only. We have to live in harmony with nature.
According to the ‘UN’s environment chief, Inger Andersen, Nature is sending us a message with the coronavirus — Jagreeti Gupta
pandemic and the ongoing climate crisis. He said humanity was placing too many pressures on the natural world with damaging consequences and warned that failing to take care of the planet meant not taking care of ourselves. Other environmental impacts, such as the Australian bushfires and the swarm of the worst locust outbreak in East Africa and Pakistan, also happened recently. In all of these events, nature is sending us a message. To prevent further outbreaks, the experts said, both global heating and the destruction of the natural world have to end, as both drive wildlife into contact with people.
I hope this situation will end soon, and life gets back to normal. Stay safe and strong! n
Author: Jagreeti Gupta, Ph.D, Assistant Professor Department of Floriculture and Landscape Architecture Dr. YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry College of Horticulture and Forestry, Neri, Hamirpur (HP)
