Risks And Hazards Around Us

Moirangthem Rachandra Singh *

River, pond water highly polluted : Testing by Manipur Pollution Control Board in May 2011 :: Pix - TSE

A hazard is a potential source of harm or adverse health effect on a person or persons. The term hazard and risk are often used interchangeably but this simple example explains the difference. Risk is the likelihood that a person may be harmed or suffers adverse health effects if exposed to a hazard.

Here, Environmental hazard is the state of events which has the potential to threaten the surrounding natural environment and adversely affect people's health. Important hazards are chemical, physical, mechanical, biological and psychosocial. Some of the examples are allergens anthrax, antibiotic agents, arsenic, asbestos, cosmic rays, DDT drought, dysentery, electromagnetic fields e-waste, explosive material, food poisoning, fungicides, lead in paints, light pollution, lighting, malaria, mercury, noise pollution, pathogens rabies, tobacco smoking, toxic waste ultra violet light, vibration, wild fire X-rays etc.

Many don't take much care of the area around the house i.e. drainages, roads. It is very important since bad/failed drainage system can cause a number of environmental hazards which are harmful to human. If we leave to government alone the affected people of the area may remain to suffer. Scientific ways/methods of wastes disposal must be taken up jointly by local groups and concerned authorities.

If at all we are serious to avoid the effects next to drainages, the bigger drainages or small rivers in plain area are found full of wastes, plactics, papers etc. are the home of germs,worms, insects, mosquitos etc. cleaning once in a year say Irabot Day or Gandhi Jayanti can't kill the harmful hazards. So long as these drainages small rivers remain with all hazards the risks to our lives will remain. How to clean? Who will clean?

When to clean? Are the questions remained unsolved.

While waiting in Q in petrol pump when we talk about the hudge lumps of wastes just by the side of petrol pump, one said "forget about these wastes in big nulah/small river, the petrol bringing under lock and key from outside are polluted (adulterated) and will harm our vehicles and produces more smokes in air".

In countries like Singapore, the life span (maximum usable time) of vehicles are fixed (say 10 years) the vehicles are regularly inspected by concerned authority for pollution. Horns are strictly used. Thus the air and noise pollutions are checked. Transport department has all documents/ records of vehicles of this state. The usable/ serviceable life time of all vehicles can be fixed and ensure application. Everybody saw a number of old vehicles (say above 30 years) on roads producing hudge smokes and polluting air. Of course the said old vehicle must be carrying pollution certificate/smoke test certificate because it is very easy and cheap to buy this certificate without physical test.

Who will take up proper action to check these vehicles either by pollution control board or transport (motor vehicle dept.)? Loud gas horns are very common particularly to heavy vehicles. Many ear drums could have been damaged without complaint because the law of the land permits users and people have extra-ordinary patience. A number of roadside workshops are seen with welding machines openly exposed to everyone nearby. It is a questionable whether these workshops are registered to the concerned authority (say industry dept) and following the prescribed norms to be observed by such workshops.

Bright light/rays coming out of the welding machines harms the eyes of many persons and the electromagnetic waves-a dangerous hazard harm many persons and smoke with bad smell polluted air. Taken for granted is the formula adopted by workshops against gentle people of state. Discussions, seminars, debates can be organized in all sub-divisions on pollution, risks and hazards, its related schemes, projects, steps etc taken up Govt. There must be good lessons/chapters in the syllabus of books in schools, colleges so that a student could understand his body and his environment.

Education Minister must get the reports of toilets, washrooms, latrines regularly above the attendance reports of teachers and students. If public places like schools, higher secondary and colleges can't maintain latrines, toilets, then hazard and risk are still with them. Teachers and students should pay more importance to latrines and toilets than classrooms, offices and libraries. All Head Offices of Govt. departments should ensure that the staffs under him working 6 to 8 hours a day gets minimum good and scientific latrines and toilets. Minimum budget provision should be earmarked to keep these highly necessary and essential human needs. This article may not be mistaken as the writer is simply highlighting care of human against hazard and risks around us.

Hospital and Hotels are another two very important area where one must take extra care since the disposal system needs scientific and effective. Concerned should pay attention to safe life.

One survivor of Second World War in one room in hotel said. "No much change in Manipur where the rest of the world changes". How a patient can be treated if the drainage, latrines and toilets of the hospital are under risk? Everyone knows the conditions of private and govt. hospitals with dangerous hazards and risks. Latest electronic and latest scientific disposal systems will help patient and people of Manipur to be free from several hazards and risks.

No success tourism projects and no viable waste disposal projects are seen in the state so far which indicates that the hazard level is still high. For want of dependable and scientific drinking water schemes there is still threat to health of common people. Banned tobacco products are becoming more earning business thereby increasing risk factor to all consumers. Muds during rains and dust during summer is shortest poem of everyone including visitors from outside state. There is no visible electronic display boards on public places to indicate pollution level to people.

Smoking can't be stopped but smoking zones can be earmark to reduce number of passive smokers. NGO, Clubs can take up a number of voluntary activities to safe ourselves from dangerous hazards. Burning of leaves, papers, rubbers, tyre etc can be stopped because the smokes coming out of these burning are risks to life. The aim and object of NGOs, Clubs and Social organizations are to serve the people by doing good for the people.

Sincere and dedicated service of the clubs, NGOs, and social bodies are highly needed to fight enemies like HAZARDs. Though complicated and late people can do many things and can reduce risks by removing hazards to around us. If concerned authorities of govt. take up adequate actions in practice and people of state extends dedicated services, Manipur will be one of the place with least hazards and risks.