2007 saw India as one among the most polluted countries.  The following years have also kept us in the top 10 list and it may be the same for 2010 as well.  This statistic was given by the Blacksmith Institute, a non-profit organization based in New York and dedicated to help reverse the effects of pollution.  In fact one of their triumphant interventions was the cleaning up of the polluted groundwater in Kanpur, India.

But the question is why do we need someone else to clean up India?  A few steps followed by every citizen will go a long way to a cleaner greener India and thereby save the planet.

So let us start to reverse pollution and its effects by not polluting in the first place.  The planet will repair itself slowly if we stop dirtying it.  Let us give it time to recuperate from contamination.  Not littering up the place is a good idea.  Litter is a conducive environment for disease causing rodents and pests.  Throw even the small chocolate wrapper in the dustbin.  If one is not in sight, then put it into your bag till you come across a waste paper basket.

The government should take steps to turn litter into something productive like recycling and using litter for alternate means of fuel.  Doing so will help reduce other kinds of pollution as well.  For example, recycling will help prevent industrial pollutants from being released into the air when new products are manufactured.

As citizens let us go beyond the normal.  Each one of us should take the initiative to reduce pollution.  Our eating habits may unintentionally cause us to damage the soil.  Buying fruits and vegetable which are grown organically will encourage farmers to stop using chemicals which change the chemistry of the soil.  Contamination of the soil is harmful for the lower level of organisms to survive and we may end up losing a part of our ecosystem.  So let us do our bit by eating right.

There is a growing awareness of the effects of air pollution.  However, that has been proven to be not enough.  People must be motivated to do something about it.  Walking to work and car pool are old ideas but good ones.  The rising cost and of non-renewable fuel should encourage us to take such steps to cut pollution.

A little bit of thought and effort from us can save the planet from all kinds of contamination.