In Kanpur alone, the PM-10 (a fine particulate matter found in air) is 200 times more than the standard which stands at 60 micrograms," The vehicles largely contribute to the ever-increasing air pollution which is really a cause of concern", said B Sengupta, ex-secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) while talking to TOI during his visit to IIT-Kanpur on Tuesday. He was here to take part in the three day-long international conference on Environmental Health and Technology.

Ironically, Kanpur has once again found its name in the list of the cities having alarmingly high air pollution level. And the reasons accounted were the emission of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and other harmful gases.

Explaining about the damage caused to the human body by PM-10 emitted in the air, Sengupta said: "The particulate PM-10 directly enters into the human lungs and harms the body leading to heart attack, blood pressure disease and diseases of respiratory tract. Therefore, at all such places where the PM-10 is several times higher than the requisite standards, the air pollution is becoming bane for human beings."

He further went on to add that the emission of hydrocarbons, oxides and nitrogen are also harmful for the environment. "When hydrocarbons, oxide and nitrogen react in the air, an ozone layer is formed. This ozone (a pollutant) is both harmful to human health and agriculture."

While speaking about the amount of sewage left untreated in the country that causes water pollution, Sengupta said: "A total of 33,000 MLD sewage is generated in the country out of which only 7,000 MLD sewage is treated in the sewage treatment plants. The remaining is drained out in the rivers. Therefore, it can be imagined that what a large quantity of waste is directly flown into rivers, harming our rivers to the worst." We are short of sewage treatment plants which should be commissioned in large numbers to handle the menace otherwise the situation will be very grave, he added.

Giving similar data about the amount of hazardous waste which is left untreated, Sengupta said eight million tonnes of hazardous waste is generated in the country and only 10 lakh tonnes is treated. The remaining is illegally dumped that adds to the pollution both on the land surface and in the water.

Suggesting reasons as to how the menace can be curbed, the ex-CPCB chief maintained that several norms made by the government should be implemented for securing better results. The shortage of skilled man-power in the state pollution boards and the lack of commitment on their part is another big reason for the tremendous growth of pollution, despite the efforts, concluded Sengupta.