194 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(i) Electricity
Electricity from various sources is a major requirement of expanding cities, towns and
villages. Each and every activity of mans life is now someway related to electricity
consumption. Housing gadgets like mixer-grinder, T.V., computer, music systems, geysers,
fans, lights, A.C.s, microwave, water lifting pump, warm blowers, coolers, etc. form the
essential components of a house. This all together has led to an electricity energy crunch.
It is well known that some part of electricity is lost in transmission and greater part
is stolen. The remainder is simply not enough to support the majority of people in the city
and that’s why the problem of electricity in cities is on the rise. The buildings are empowering
the cities like anything but nowhere we see dams, supplying electrical units, increasing in
number at the same pace. Therefore, what majority of the cities face today is a usual cut
of electricity for a minimum of 6-8 hrs. This makes today’s urban life handicapped. Resourceful
enjoy the resource benefit from the rising generator and inverter culture, which in turn put
pressure on resources and lead to pollution problems.
(ii) Fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas and coal)
Fossil fuels have always been under a great threat from times immemorial. In the
absence of technological advancements these have served mankind for several years. In this
quest for energy the coal reserves have suffered a lot. With rise in technical know how man
started generating power from nuclear sources, hydroelectric power, wind power etc. But
still these contribute a little. We still depend on thermal power a lot.
(a) Petrol and Diesel: Transport and communication has brought the petroleum reserves
of the world under a great threat. The rise in number of vehicle per year is immense.
To understand the gravity of the problem a glance of metropolitan roads and lanes
is enough. Even the roads and lanes of big cities, small cities and towns are loaded
with two wheelers.
(b) Natural Gas: The common usage of natural gas is in the form of Liquid Petroleum
Gas (LPG). There is a terrific rise in the usage of LPG driven household commodities
with the expanding population. Earlier the LPG usage was only limited to kitchen
for cooking. The advent of technology introduced a numerous household items
making its use like gas geysers, gas heaters, gas fans, gas lanterns etc. In a way
it is serving as a substitute of electricity, which is other reason for increasing
pressure on oil wells/reserves.
(c) Coal: The world population has extracted and used coal reserves thinking as if it
is a never-ending commodity/resource. It has served Sustainable Development,
— Urban Problems,
— Water Conservation and Management,
— Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People,
— Environmental Ethics,
— Global Warning,
— Environment Protection Act,
— Issues involved in Enforcement of Environment Legislation,