Suggest any three steps to minimise the environmental degradation caused by the industrial development in India. (CBSE 2016)

Industrial pollution leading to the degradation of the environment is caused by four factors, namely, air, water, land and noise. The following measures can be adopted to prevent environmental degradation-

1. Ground water resources and reserves, especially those which are used for drawing water by the industries, need to be regulated legally and actively.

2. The harmful particulate matter in the air can be reduced by fitting smoke stacks in factories with electrostatic precipitators. Smoke can also be reduced by substitutes of coal such as oil and gas.

3. All kinds of machinery can be redesigned to increase efficiency and reduce the levels of noise. The level of noise pollution can also be reduced by noise absorbing materials and silencers.

NOTE – Environmental degradation refers to the destruction caused to the natural environment and its resources leading to varying levels of pollution at different levels.