“The industries are major air polluters in India.” Evaluate the statement.

Air pollution is the release of unwanted contaminants and particulate matter like dust, fumes, gas, fog, odour, smoke or vapour to the air in significant amount and duration. It is harmful to flora and fauna and to both natural and built environment. According to recent reports, 15 of the 20 most polluted cities with poor air quality is in India. Burning of fossil fuels, mining and industries are the main sources of air pollution. Among these, manufacturing industries account for the highest pollution. The major ways in which industrial pollution occurs are:

• Mining: Mining is the extraction of resources from the earth’s surface. The operation of mining industries will cause serious damage to the environment. It will result in the release of particulate matter and dust into the atmosphere and will cause air pollution.

• Fossil fuel combustion: Fossil fuels are the major sources of power generation. But the burning of fossil fuels will release gas, smoke, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide to the atmosphere. This mainly occurs in power generation industries, acid industries and petrochemical industries.

• Waste management: Tanneries, wastewater treatment plants, breakdown in industrial operations, scrap burning and other waste management industries also creates air pollution. They release chlorine, ammonia, mercury, lead and other gases to the atmosphere.