178
A. Chauhan
Fig. 7.4 Nitrogen dioxide concentration over India. Source https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multim
edia/Images/2020/04/NO2_concentrations_over_India. Credit Copernicus Sentinel data (2019–
20)/ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/igo/)
7.2.2 Impact on Hydrosphere [Water]
Hydrosphere constitutes the total amount of water on our planet earth. Water is an
essential part of our lives and no living organism on this earth can imagine its life
without water. But gradually man for his desires has exploited and polluted water
to such an extent that it has made other species of plants and animals endangered
and time is not far away when we could read about these organisms in books only.
The corona lockdown has given an insight into human beings to realize the amount
of harm it has done to the environment. The coronavirus has shown some positive
impact on the quality of water of different water resources. The quality of river
water has improved due to decreased effluents released in the rivers. In river water
total dissolved solids (TDS) level reduced by two times [41]. The water of River
Ganga is fit for consumption after certain treatment [45]. There are also reports of
clearer water of River Ganga in Uttar Pradesh due to shut down of industries due to
coronavirus. Fishes were seen near the Varanasi Ghat step which is not a common
sight due to fewer crowds. The water of Yamuna River has also appeared clearer
due to absence of toxic foam formed due to detergents, chemicals and sewerage of
industries. The decrease in religious activities and lesser cremations can also be one
of the reasons. The reduced tourism and the reduced number of motorboats have led
to cleaner waterways [18]. In Venice, waterways are benefitted due to lack of boat
traffic as visit of tourists to this place has been reduced due to lockdown. Lack of
A. Chauhan
Fig. 7.4 Nitrogen dioxide concentration over India. Source https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multim
edia/Images/2020/04/NO2_concentrations_over_India. Credit Copernicus Sentinel data (2019–
20)/ESA, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/igo/)
7.2.2 Impact on Hydrosphere [Water]
Hydrosphere constitutes the total amount of water on our planet earth. Water is an
essential part of our lives and no living organism on this earth can imagine its life
without water. But gradually man for his desires has exploited and polluted water
to such an extent that it has made other species of plants and animals endangered
and time is not far away when we could read about these organisms in books only.
The corona lockdown has given an insight into human beings to realize the amount
of harm it has done to the environment. The coronavirus has shown some positive
impact on the quality of water of different water resources. The quality of river
water has improved due to decreased effluents released in the rivers. In river water
total dissolved solids (TDS) level reduced by two times [41]. The water of River
Ganga is fit for consumption after certain treatment [45]. There are also reports of
clearer water of River Ganga in Uttar Pradesh due to shut down of industries due to
coronavirus. Fishes were seen near the Varanasi Ghat step which is not a common
sight due to fewer crowds. The water of Yamuna River has also appeared clearer
due to absence of toxic foam formed due to detergents, chemicals and sewerage of
industries. The decrease in religious activities and lesser cremations can also be one
of the reasons. The reduced tourism and the reduced number of motorboats have led
to cleaner waterways [18]. In Venice, waterways are benefitted due to lack of boat
traffic as visit of tourists to this place has been reduced due to lockdown. Lack of