Green Muffler is related to pollution of:

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — B or C (both accepted). 'Green Muffler' is the term used, especially by Indian highway authorities, for a dense belt of trees and shrubs planted along a road, highway or around an industrial unit specifically to abate noise: the vegetation absorbs and scatters traffic or industrial sound waves, cutting the noise reaching nearby areas — the primary, defining purpose of the term. The same plantation belt also intercepts dust and vehicular particulate matter, giving it a secondary role in curbing air pollution, which is likely why the commission granted grace and accepted both (b) Air and (c) Noise.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) Tree belts can help check soil erosion incidentally, but that is not what the term 'Green Muffler' specifically refers to — its defining purpose is noise (and secondarily air) mitigation, not soil pollution.  (d) A roadside/industrial tree belt has no established role in mitigating water pollution — unrelated to the Green Muffler concept.

Concept: 'Green Muffler' refers to a purpose-planted belt of trees and shrubs along highways, roads or around industrial areas, used as a natural, low-cost alternative to concrete noise barriers. The dense vegetation absorbs and scatters sound waves from traffic or machinery, reducing the noise that reaches nearby residential or sensitive areas. As a secondary co-benefit, the same belt also traps dust and particulate matter from vehicle exhaust, contributing to air-quality improvement.

State PCS 2023 Q10 — Environment & Ecology PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q10 — Environment & Ecology PYQ with Answer