As a developing country and an emerging economic powerhouse, India has a large number of heavy industries and increasingly depends upon the expansion of such industries for greater economic growth.
Over the next few decades, as the government’s “Made in India” initiative gains momentum, there shall be a greater reliance on industry to provide employment to millions. Many citizens of the country who are employed in rural regions are expected to be the workforce powering “Make in India”. Workers who currently work in rural sectors such as agriculture shall see an increase in their standard of living when employed as skilled or even unskilled workers in modern industries.
The demand for energy in the country is expected to double within 15 years. Due to the limited resources of fossil fuels in India, more efficient industries shall be needed to ensure abundant energy and harmonious economic growth. Such industries shall also ensure that fewer emissions are released into the atmosphere every year.
The impacts of so many factories
A caveat to any nation which relies on a large number of modern industries for economic growth is that such industries spew pollutants into the atmosphere. The expulsion of such pollutants is a given when a nation has within its borders even a large number of medium scale industries. Often industries can cause pollution in distant nations as well.
Much of the industry from the developed world relocated to poorer countries such as China because of lower wages in that country but also due to lower environmental safeguards in China. The lower environmental safety standards in China allowed developed countries to guard against environmental degradation at home. The movement of an immense number of industries to China led to many Chinese cities and parts of its countryside to become heavily polluted.
To prevent such large scale environmental problems in India as a result of greater industrial activity, more efficient industries shall be needed. Factories which leave a much smaller carbon footprint, are more efficient, and which make optimum use of resources shall be required if we are to increase the standard of living for millions while keeping the environment relatively free of pollutants.
As an industry becomes more efficient in utilizing its resources, lower amounts of emissions are released by it into the atmosphere. The use of sustainable energy is also crucial for a secure environment and economic progress.
How do we combat industrial pollution?
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) promises greater efficiency for manufacturing facilities across the board. But this process data management colletion adn analysis is just the start.
There is today great potential to harness the wind to generate energy. Due to close proximity to the sea, wind potential in India to generate energy for millions is a viable option. The Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation is one of the leaders in the country when it comes to promoting policies favorable to renewable energy. To make “Make in India” a success the leaders of the country must guard against pitfalls which often lead to erosion in the quality of air and water in the country. The citizens of China who live in many of its largest cities today pay a heavy price due to widespread pollution in their city’s air. Even the US is paying a price for relocating industries to China and not taking adequate safeguards against pollution as a jet stream over China carries pollution to the western part of the United States.
With widespread economic degradation across the planet today, there is a greater need than ever before for utilizing sustainable energy to promote greater wealth and a higher standard of living for the citizens of India. Sustainable energy derived from the sun and the wind is increasingly becoming viable and should be pursued to preserve the environment for future generations.