One app for all your study abroad needs
The National Pollution Control Day is among the most important days and dates in India. It is observed annually on 2 December. On this memorable day, people across the Indian subcontinent honour and commemorate those poor countless people of Bhopal who lost their lives during the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. This tragedy, which wept out a major part of the population and left many heavily injured remains one of the most disastrous industrial events of all time. It happened on the nights of 2nd and 3rd December in 1984 and resulted in numerous fatalities including loss of life. Additionally, many people who survived the incident were later admitted to hospitals in critical condition.
| Name of the event | National Pollution Control Day |
| Date | 2 December |
| Objective | To commemorate those who lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas Tragedy. |
Table of Contents
History of National Pollution Control Day
Before moving on, let us first explore a bit about the history of National Pollution Control Day:
- The National Pollution Control Day is closely related to the Bhopal Disaster of 1984.
- The Bhopal Gas Tragedy, also known as the Bhopal Disaster, is among the world’s most deadly industrial disasters of all time.
- It occurred on 3rd December 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) plant located at Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
- Around 45 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas leaked from the plant which further resulted in exposing citizens to a highly toxic and deadly gas.
- This release of the toxic gas resulted in the immediate death of many people around the neighbourhood. Those who survived continued to deal with other medical conditions such as cancer, eye-related issues, and respiratory problems.
- In addition to this, the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 also resulted in the soil and water pollution in the area thus, making it unsafe for use.
Also Read: Environmental Conservation: Definition, Importance, UPSC
National Pollution Control Day 2024 Theme
Till now, there is no official theme of National Pollution Control Day for 2024. However, like every other year, the celebration of this day aims to raise awareness about the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 as well as the importance of adopting sustainable practices to combat environmental challenges.
Significance of National Pollution Control Day
National Pollution Control Day which is observed annually on December 2 is a day of great significance in India. It raises awareness about the destructive effects of pollution on our environment and the immediate need for effective control measures. As mentioned earlier, it commemorates the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 which resulted in thousands of casualties, causing an undying impact on the environment and public health.
Moving on, the significance of this day is clearly reflected in its objectives such as raising awareness of pollution, preventing similar industrial disasters in the future, protecting and preserving the environment, and collectively working towards a more sustainable future.
Also Read: World Nature Conservation Day 2024- History & Significance
Union Carbide Corporation v. UOI
Here is the overview of the Union Carbide Corporation v. UOI case and its final judgment:
- Considering the disastrous aftermath of the Bhopal Gas tragedy, the Union of India filed a lawsuit against Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) on behalf of the affected families and victims.
- The case was filed to seek compensation for the damage caused by the unanticipated disaster.
- However, UCC denied paying the compensation and argued that it was in fact the Government of India who was responsible for insufficient regulations of the plant.
- Moreover, the UCC also considered the compensation amount
- After consistent negotiations, UCC finally agreed to settle the case with $470 million in 1989.
- This settlement was further approved by the apex Supreme Court of India. Subsequently, the funds were later distributed to the victims of the tragedy.
5 Popular Quotes to Fight Pollution
Here we have jotted down a few popular quotes to fight pollution along with the famous personality who said them.
| Quote | Said by |
| Environmental pollution is an incurable disease. It can only be prevented. | Barry Commoner |
| The activist is not the man who says the river is dirty. The activist is the man who cleans up the river. | Ross Perot |
| The environment will continue to deteriorate until pollution practices are abandoned. | B. F. Skinner |
| The earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future. | Marya Mannes |
| Environmental pollution is a blight on people’s quality of life and a trouble that weighs on their hearts. | Li Keqiang |
Interesting Reads
FAQs
The National Pollution Day is celebrated every year on December 2. On this day, India honors those who lost their lives in the Bhopal Gas tragedy which took place on 2nd and 3rd December in the year 1984. In this catastrophe, thousands of people died in Bhopal due to the leakage of MIC, Methyl Isocyanate gas.
The World Pollution Prevention Day takes place on 2nd December every year.
The aim of pollution control measures is to protect and conserve the environment. This can be done by switching to renewable sources of energy, protecting natural resources, planting more trees, and other measures.
There are numerous ways to control pollution such as not burning the garbage, switching to electric or lawn equipment, using public vehicles rather than private vehicles, limiting the production of waste, etc.
This blog was all about the National Pollution Control Day. For more information about such informative articles, check the trending events page of Leverage Edu.