Indian Economic Development Chapter 9 Environment And Sustainable Development

Environment is defined as the total planetary inheritance and the totality of all resources.

Global warming

Ozone depletion

(a) Overuse of environmental resources:

1. land, 2, forests

(b) Misuse of environmental resources:

1. electricity, 2, water

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs.

Tips: -

Imp.

Fuller or excessive utilisation of the resources may lead to their depletion so fast that it will reduce the production capacity of the future generation. 'So development cannot be termed as ‘sustainable’ for future generation as it reduces production capacity for them.

Tips: -

Imp.

When the population increases and the industrialization takes places the demand for resources increases but the environment with its finite resources fails to supply these resources. Besides, the environment also fails to absorb the waste produced by different sectors of society. Thus, we have to face reverse supply-demand relationship for environmental quality and issues like waste generation and pollution.

Tips: -

Imp.

This movement aims at protecting forests in the Himalayas.

Started on the pattern of “Chipko Movement” this movement was started in Karnataka to save trees. Appiko means ‘to hug’. On 8 September, 1983, 160 men, women and children hugged the trees (to save them) in Salkani forest in Sirsi and forced the woodcutters to leave.

The carrying capacity of the environment is like a “plimsoll line” of the ship which is its load limit mark. In the absence of the plim soll line for the economy, human scale grows beyond the carrying capacity of the earth and deviates from sustainable development.

Tips: -

Imp.

Following are the things that can be recycled:

1. plastic, 2. papers, 3. polythene, 4. certain categories of waste of industries, 5. glass.

Dual Pricing: It means charging the prices in two ways:

Farmers and industrial units were required to buy and sell fixed quantities of input and outputs on the basis of prices fixed by the government and the rest were purchased and sold at market price.

Renewable resources are those resources which can be used without the possibility of the resources becoming depleted or exhausted. Trees in the forests and the fishes in the ocean are renewable sources.

Non-renewable resources are those resources which get exhausted with extraction and use.

The carrying capacity implies that the resource extraction is not above the rate of the regeneration of the resources and the wastes generated are within the assimilating capacity of the environment.

The environment fails to perform its third and vital functions of life sustenance when the resources extraction is above the rate of regeneration of the resources and the wastes generated are not within the assimilating capacity of the environment.

Absorptive capacity means the ability of the environment to absorb degradation.

The rising population of the developing countries and the affluent consumption and production standards of the developed world have placed a huge stress on the environment in terms of its first two functions.

The black soil of the Deccan Plateau in particularly suitable for the cultivation of cotton.

The Indo–Gangetic plains.

Bauxite, Copper, Chromate, diamonds, gold, lead, lignite, maganese, zinc, uranium are main minerals available in the different parts of India.

The per capita forest land in India is 0.08 hectar.

0.47 hectares.

Soil is being eroded at a rate of 5.3 billion tonnes a year for the entire country.

Sustainable development aims at decreasing the absolute poverty of the poor by providing lasting and secure livelihood that minimises resource depletion, environmental degradation, cultural disruption and social instability.

(i) Birds, (ii) Animals.

(i) Air and (ii) Water.

Economic growth may be defined as a long-term increase in real per capita income leading to rise in the standard of living of people.

Economic development may be defined as a long-term increase in real per capita income and economic welfare.

Carrying capacity implies that the resource extraction is not above the rate of regeneration of the resource and the wastages generated are within the assimilating capacity of the environment.

Absorptive capacity of environment means the ability of the environment to absorb degradation.

(a) Two examples of mis-use of resources: (i) Use of wood as a household fuel, (ii) Use of rivers to absorb industrial effluents.

Two examples of over-use of resources: (i) Excessive exploitation of fossil fuels, (ii) Excessive tree felling.

The supply of environmental resources is less than its increased demand due to following reasons:

(i) Over-use of environmental resources.

(ii) Misuse of environmental resources.

Sustained development aims at promoting the kind of development that minimises environmental problems and meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs.

Ozone depletion refers to the phenomenon of reduction in the amount of ozone in the stratosphere.

Montreal Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer. It banned the use of compounds containing ozone depleting chemicals.

Supply of environmental resources and services are limited due to their overuse and misuse.

Air pollution, water contamination, soil erosion, deforestation and wild-life extinction are some of the most pressing environmental concerns in India.

Soil, water bodies and even ground water was polluted with pesticides. Milk and fishes were also found to be contaminated.

Causes of air pollution:

1. Emission of poisonous gases by the industries.

2. Vehicular emissions.

3. Thermal power plants.

Diseases: Air pollution causes following diseases:

1. Diarrhoea, 2. Hepatitis, 3. Cancer, 4. Emphysema, 5. Asthma.

About 8000 species of plants.

It is the compost made from cattle-dung, human waste and plant residue. It is used as fertilizers.

Neem based pesticides are environment friendly and free from side-effects.

Earthworms.

Chipko.

In Karnataka.

Appiko means ‘To hug’

Opportunity cost is the cost of alternative opportunity given up.

The study of environment calls for a study of the inter-relationship between biotic and abiotic components of environment.

Appiko volunteers want the contractors and forest officials to follow certain rules and regulations.

12000 trees.

Biodiversity loss refers to the extinction of plants, animals and micro-organisms due to deforestation.

When the rate of resource extraction exceeds that of their regeneration, the environment fails to prefer an important function, i.e. it fails to sustain life by providing genetic and bio diversity. This results in an environmental crisis. Presently the entire world is facing this situation. The rising population of the developing countries and the affluent consumption and production standards of the developed world have placed a huge stress on the environment. Many resources have become extinct and the wastes generated are beyond the absorptive capacity of the environment.

Renewable resources: trees, fish, water.

Non-renewable resources: petroleum, coal, iron-ore.

There are four important functions of environments:

(i) It supplies resources (both renewable and non-renewable).

(ii) It assimilates wastes.

(iii) It sustains life by providing genetic and bio diversity.

(iv) It provides aesthetic services like scenery etc.

Yes, environmental crisis is a recent phenomenon. In early days, when civilisation just began, before the pheonmenal increase in popultion and growth of industrialisation, the demand for environmental resources was within the carrying capacity of the environment and so the pollution was also within the absorptive capacity of the environment. Therefore, environmental problems did not arise. But with the advent of industrialisation and out break of population, environmental problems arisen and the resources for both production and consumption proved to be beyond the rate of regeneration of the resources and the absorptive capacity of the environment.

Tips: -

Imp.

Following are the factors responsible for land degradation are:

(i) Loss of vegetation occuring due to deforestation.

(ii) Unsustainable fuel wood and fodder extraction.

(iii) Shifting cultivation.

(iv) Encroachment into forest lands.

(v) Forest fires and over grazing.

(vi) Non-adoption of adequate soil conservation measures.

To solve the problem of environmental degradation, global warming and ozone depletion etc. the government has to make extra efforts and expenditures. These expenditures are known as opportunity cost of those useful projects which had to be left because of finite resources and diversion of these resources towards resolving the above mentioned problems. This opportunity cost is very high because the development process has ignored the environment and ecological balance. The rectify this more efforts are needed involving heavy expenditures.

Steps involved in attaining sustainable development in India are:

1. Decreasing the absolute poverty of the poor by providing employment opportunities.

2. Providing livelihood in such a manner that can minimise resource depletion, environmental degradation, cultural disruption and social instability.

Four strategies required for sustainable development are:

(i) Promotion of natural resources like planting of trees etc.

(ii) Conservation of natural resources.

(iii) Preserving regenerative capacity of ecological system.

(iv) Try to maintain the environment pollution free and free from other diseases so that safe environment can be handed over to the future generation.

Addition of 70 lakhs cars every year requires:

1. Coal, 2. Pucca roads, 3. Petrol, 4. Iron and steel, tyres and tubes etc.

Among all the above mentioned things coal, petrol, iron-ore etc. are non renewable things. Such resources get depleted because of overuse and either we have to import them by paying heavily or we have to learn to live a life of without vehicles which is impossible.

According to Herman Daly – a leading environmental economists the following needs should be done to acheive sustainable development:

1. Limiting the human population to a level within the carrying capacity of the environment.

2. Technological progress should be input efficient and not input consuming.

3. Renewable resources should be extracted on a sustainable basis.

4. For non-renewable resources, rate of depletion should not exceed the rate of creation of renewable substitution.

5. Inefficiencies arising from pollution should be corrected.

In order to avoid the deforestation reduction in green cover, etc. LPG and gobar gas plants are being provided by the governments.

1. L.P.G.: It is a clean fuel. It reduces household pollution to a large extent. Also energy wastage is minimised.

2. Provision of Gobar Gas Plant: The government in providing gobar gas plants through easy loan and subsidy. For Gobar gas plant to function, cattle dung is fed to the plant and gas is produced which is used as fuel while the slurry which is left over is a very good organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.

Wind–Power: Wind–power is generated by wind mills in those areas where speed of wind is usually high. Generation of electricity by wind mills does not have adverse impact on the environment. Wind turbines move with the wind and electricity is generated. The initial cost is high, but the benefits are such that the high cost gets easily absorbed.

Mini-hydel plant: Mini hydel plants generate electricity with the help of water of stream flowing in mountainous region. Large percentage of streams flowing in the mountaneous regions are perennial. So the energy of such streams can be used for the whole year to move small turbines. Mini hydel plants are more or less environment friendly. They do not change the land use pattern in areas where they are located. They generate enough power to meet local demands.

Better methods of pest control: Many steps have been taken to bring in better methods of pest control.

1. Pesticides based on plant products are being used. Neem trees are proving to be quite useful. Several types of pest controlling chemicals have been isolated from neem and these are being used.

2. Mixed cropping has been adopted.

3. Different crops are being grown in consecutive years.

4. Awareness is being awakened about various animals and birds which help controlling pests.

Due to neglecting the use of compost and completely switching over to chemical fertilizers, large tracts of productive land have been adversely affected. Water bodies including ground water system have suffered due to chemical contamination and the demand for irrigation has been going up. Moreover earthworms can convert organic matter into compost faster than the normal process. So the farmers in large number all over the country have again started using compost made from organic wastes of different types.

Following are the causes of water pollution:

1. Domestic sewarge which flows into nallahs.

2. Dangerous chemicals emitted by industries which fall into rivers.

3. Ash of thermal power plants.

Diseases caused by water pollution are:

1. Hepatitis, 2. Dengu, 3. Cholera, 4.

Diphtheria etc.

Following are main problem of non-farm sectors:

1. Livestock: Productivity of livestock is quite low as compared to other countries.

Solutions:

(i) Good breeds of animals to raise productivity should be promoted.

(ii) Veterinary care should be improved.

(iii) There should be provision of better credit facilities to small farmers and landless labourers should be given.

2. Fishries: This non-farm sector has two problems: (i) Over-fishing and (ii) Pollution.

Solutions:

(i) Pollution of water bodies should be controlled.

(ii) Welfare programmes for the fishing community should be re-oriented.

3. Horticulture: It suffers from insufficient electricity, lacking of storage facilities, lack of processing units.

Solution : More investment should be made in the infrastructure like electricity, cold storage system, marketing, small scale processing units etc.

Indiscriminate felling of trees led to following environmental problems:

1. Twelve years after setting up of a paper mill in Uttar Kanara area, bamboo has been wiped out from that area.

2. “Broad-leaves” trees which protected the soil from direct onslaught of rain have been removed.

3. The soil was washed away and bare laterite soil was left behind.

4. Now nothing grows but aweed.

5. Rivers and rivulets dry up quicker.

6. Diseases and insects earlier unknown are now attacking crops.

Effects of ozone depletion:

1. It causes skin cancer in human beings.

2. It lowers the growth of terrestrial plants.

3. It lowers the production of phytoplankton and other aquatic organisms.

India has abundant resources in terms of:

(i) Rich quality of soil.

(ii) Hundreds of rivers and tributaries.

(iii) Plenty of mineral deposits beneath the land surface.

(iv) Lush green forests.

(v) Vast stretch of the Indian Ocean.

(vi) Ranges of mountains.

(vii) The black soil of the Deccan plateau etc.

It means that India’s environment poses two threats. They are as follows:

1. Threat of poverty induced environmental degradation.

2. Threat of pollution from affluence and a rapidly growing industrial sector.

Some of the most pressing environmental concerns of India are as follow:

1. Air pollution

2. Water contamination

3. Soil erosion

4. Deforestation and wildlife extinction

Tips: -

Imp.

Four pressing environmental concerns of India is:

1. Land Degradation: Land in India suffers from varying degreess and types of degradation stemminy. Mainly from unsuitable use and inappropriate management practices.

2. Bio-diversity loss: In India, the per capita forest land is only 0.08 hectare against the requirement of 0.47 hectare to meet basic needs, resulting in an excess felling of about 15 million cubic meters forests over the permissible limits. Similarly with soil, soil is being eroded at a rate of 5.3 billion tonnes a year for the entire country as a result of which the country loses 0.8 million tonnes of nitrogen, 1.8 million tonnes of phosphorus and 26.3 million tonnes of potassium every year.

3. Management of fresh water: In our country Management of fresh water is altogehter faulty. Unplanned urbanization, loss of rain water (as it seeps into the earth) faulty system of waste disposal are responsible for polluted water.

4. Air Pollution: Air pollution is very dangerous for plants, animals and human being. It is a serious concern mainly in urban areas where the dust and smoke emitted by factories, vehicles etc. pollute the environment very badly.

In order to rectify these problems, the government has to undertake such projects which involve heavy investment. Hence, it is said that opportunity costs of correcting the imbalances created by environmental degradation is quite high.

Tips: -

Imp.

India has abundant natural resources in terms of rich quality of soil, hundreds of rivers and tributaries, lust green forests, plenty of mineral deposits beneath the land surface, vast stretch of the Indian Ocean, ranges of mountains etc. The black soil of the Deccan Plateau is particularly suitable for cultivation of cotton, leading to concentration of textile industries in this region. The Indo-Gangetic Plains– spread from the Arabian sea to the Bay of Bengal– are one of the most fertile intensively cultivated and densely populated regions in the world. India’s forests, though unevenly distributed provide green cover for a majority of its population and natural cover for its wildlife. Large deposits of iron-ore, coal and natural gas are found in the country. India alone accounts for nearly 20% of the world’s total iron-ore reserves, bauxite, copper, chromate, diamonds, gold, lead, lignite, manganese, zinc, uranium etc. are also available in different parts of the country. However, the developmental activities in India have resulted in pressure on its finite natural resources, besides creating impacts on human health and well being.

In earlier days when civilization just began or before the increase in population and before countries took to industrialisation, the demand for environment resources was much less than their supply. But with population explosion and with the advent of industrial revolution, the demand for resources for both production and consumption became more than the supply. It is known as supply-demand reversal of environment. This is one of the reasons of the degradation of the environment.

Environment performs four function, namely, supplies resources, assimilates wastes, sustains life by providing genetic and bio-diversity and provides aesthetic services. But, the rising population of the developing countries, the affluent consumption and production standards of the developed countries and industrial revolution have brought the situation of environmental crisis i.e. it all had put a great pressure on the first two functions of the environment.

Many resources have become extinct and the wastes generated are beyond the absorptive capacity of the environment. The environmental crisis has worsened by the drying up of rivers and other aquifeers making water an economic good. Besides, the intensive and extensive extraction of both renewable and non-renewable resources has exhausted some of these vital resources and thus, we are compelled to spend huge resources on technology and research to explore new resources. Along with this one more important cost is related namely, is the health costs of the degraded environmental quality–decline in the air and water quality (70% of water in India is polluted have resulted in increased incidence of respiratory and water borne diseases). Hence, the expenditure on health is rising. The situation become more worsen with the current issues of global warming and ozone depletion. They also put great strain on government’s finite financial resources.

Two serious problems caused by environmental degradation in India are:

1. Water Contamination, 2. Poverty.

1. Water Contamination: Development in India has taken a heavy price from the Indian Society. In a hurry to develop the industrial sector, the businessmen and the government has forgotton to take the preventive measures for the waste disposal. The government has made rules and regulations, but in the absence of their stricter implementation, our country has to face many environmental problems, water contamination is one of them. Water contamination has not only given birth to many water born diseases but also has affected aqua-animals adversely.

2. Poverty: The industrial revolution has made the rich more richer and poor more poorer. The reason behind this situation is poverty, unemployment and illetracy. We are one of the ten most industrialised nations of the world but this situation has brought with it unwanted and unanticipated consequences of unplanned, urbanisation, pollution, poverty, increasing level of under unemployment and disguised unemployment.

Yes, this statement is rightly shows the picture of Indian economy and the problems faced by it. The government has taken various measures to safeguard the environment but it has become necessary to adopt the path of sustainable development.

Tips: -

Imp.

Development that ignores its repercussions on the environment will has to face the brunt of nature and other factors like global warming, ozone depletion, pollution, water contamination, poverty etc. Hence, the development process should take care of its adversities i.e. it must of emphasise on sustainable development, development that allows not only the development of present generation in a safe and comfortable manner but also the growth of future generation in the best way. Thus, sustainable development emphasises intergenerational equity that shows the development of present generation without compromising the ability of the future generation to meet their requirements. Sustainable development aims at redistributing resources in such a manner that the benefits of growth can reach to the poor at the grassroot level and also these can be carried forward to next generation safely. Sustainable development aims at decreasing the absolute poverty of the poor by providing lasting and secure livelihoods that minimise resource depletion, environmental degradation, cultural disruption and social instability. It enables the poor to get equal chances of meeting the basic needs like employment, food, energy, water, housing, etc.

Main features of Sustainable Development are as under:

1. Sustained rise in real Per Capita income and Economic Welfare: There should be a sustained rise in real per capita income and economic welfare over time.

2. Rational use of Natural Resources: Sustainable development does not mean that natural resources should not be used at all. It simply means that natural resources be rationally used in a manner such that they are not excessively exploited.

3. No reduction in the ability of future generations to meet their own needs: Sustainable development aims at making of natural resources and environment for raising the existing standard of living in such a way as not to reduce ability of the future generations to meet their own needs. For example, if non-renewable sources of energy (like oil) are recklessly used to increase present production at the cost of our ability to produce in the future, it would not be in tune with the concept of sustainable development.

4. No increase in pollution: Sustainable development discards (or does not approve of) those activities which, in order to maintain exiting high standard of living, prove deterimental to natural resources and environment. According to this concept, one should desist from undertaking such activities as may increase pollution and decrease quality of life of future generation.

Tips: -

Imp.

The measurement of sustainable development is done in terms of two different aggregates:

1. Green Net National Income: Green Net National Income is the difference between Net National Income and Depreciation of Natural Capital. It involves the knowledge of following concepts:

(a) Net National Income: It is the market value of the final goods and services produced by the residents of the country during the period of one year.

(b) Depreciation of Natural Capital: Depreciation refers to loss of value of the capital because of its continuous use. Natural captial refers to the sum total of natural resources including environment. Accordingly depreciation of natural capital refers to the loss of value of natural resources of a country because of their continuous use, as well as environmental degradation.

Green National Income = Net National Income – Depletion of Natural Resources – Environmental Degradation.

Sustainable development is to be measured in terms of the rise in Green National Income.

2. Genuine Savings: Another measure of sustainable development is genuine savings. The genuine saving is the rate of savings adjusted not only for depreciation of man-made capital but also for loss of value of the natural capital.

Genuine Savings = Rate of Savings – Depreciation of man-made capital – Depreciation Natural Capital (Depletion of Natural Resources and Degradation of Environment).

Tips: -

Imp.

Tips: -

Imp.

1. Air Pollution: It occurs when greater reliance is placed on mechanisation and automation. Greater use of energy like of coal, kerosene oil and diesel causes greater emission of smoke (and pollutions) in the air. It causes a serious damages to public health. Expenditure on public health owing to environmental pollution is becoming an alarming component of social cost of development.

2. Water Pollution: Process of development has shown a phenomenal rise in industrial production. In the context of environment pollution, growth of textile industry merits a special mention. The process of bleaching and dyeing in the textile industry is passed on an intensive use of chemicals. Industrial waters are often channelised into rivers and canals of the adjoining areas. It causes water pollution. The consequences is obvious spread of water-borne diseases. Implying damage to human life as well as animal life, particularly the sign, the survives largely on water.

3. Noise Pollution: The process of mechanisation and automation (which is the hub of production activity these days) is well known for noise pollution. Machines must produce noise and greater the horse power, greater the noise factor. Unwarranted noise is a great irritant and it erodes the quality of life. In the unorganised sector of iron and steel production, one often encounters deafening sounds which indeed are injurious to public health.

The strategies for sustainable development are:

(i) Use of Non- Conventional Sources of Energy: India is hugely dependent on thermal and hydropower plants to meet its power needs. Both of these have adverse environmental impacts. Thermal powerplants emit large quantities of carbon dioxide which is a green -house gas. Hydroelectric projects inundate forests and interfere with the natural flow of water in catchment areas and the river basins. Wind power and solar rays are examples of conventional but cleaner and greener technologies which can be effectively used to replace thermal and hydro-power.

(ii) LPG, Gobar Gas in Rural Areas: Households in rural areas generally use wood, dung cake or other biomass as fuel. This practice has several adverse implications like deforestation reduction in green cover, wastage cattle dung and air pollution. To rectify the situation subsidised LPG is provided and gobargas plants are provided. LPG is a cleanfuel-it reduces household pollution to a large extent. Also, energy wastage is minimised. For the gobar gas plant to function collect dung is fed to the plant and gas is produced which is used as fuel while the slurry which is left over is a very good organic fertiliser and soil conditioner.

(iii) CNG in Urban Areas: In Delhi, the use of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as fuel in public transport system has significantly lowered air pollution and the air has become cleaner in the last few years.

(iv) Wind Power: In areas where speed of wind is usually high. Wind mills can provide electricity without any adverse impact on the environment. Wind turbines move with the wind and electricity is generated. No doubt, the initial cost is high. But the benefits are such that the high costs gets easily absorbed.

(v) Solar Power through Photovollaic Cells: India is naturally endowed with a large quantity of solar energy in the form of solar energy in the form of sunlight. We use it in different ways e.g. we use Sunlight to get the clothes grains dried to keep our body warm in winter with the help of photovollaic cells, solar energy can be converted into electricity. These cells use special kind of materials to capture solar energy and then convert the energy into electricity. This energy is extremely useful for remote areas and for places where supply of power through grid or power lines is either not possible or proves very costly.

(vi) Mini-hydel Plants: In mountainous regions, streams can be found almost every where. A large percentage of such streams are perennial. Mini-hydel plants use the energy of such streams to move small turbines. The turbines generate electricity which can be used locally. Such power plants are more or less environment friendly as they do not use pattern in areas where they are located; they generate engouh power to meet local demands. This shows that they can reduce the requirement of large scale transmission towers and cables and avoid transmission loss.

(vii) Traditional knowledge and Practices: Traditionally, Indian people have been close to their environment. They have been more a component of environment and not its controller. With the sudden on slaught of the western system of treatment we were ignoring our traditional systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, Tibetan and folk systems. These health care systems are in great demand again for treating chromic health problems. Now-a-days every cosmetic produce hair oil, toothpaste, body lotion, face cream and what not is herbal in composition. Not only are these products environment friendly, they are relatively free from side effects and do not involve large scale industrial and chemical processing.

(viii) Biocomposting: In our quest to increase agricultural production during the last five decades or so, we almost totally neglected the use of compost and completely switched over to chemical fertilisers. The result is that large tracts of productive land have been adversely affected, water bodies including ground water system have suffered due to chemical contamination and demand for irrigation has been going up year after year. In certain parts of the country, cattle are maintained only because they produce dung which is an important fertiliser and soil conditioner. Earthwarms can convert organic matter into compost faster than the normal composting process. This process is now being willdely used.

(ix) Biopest Contract: With the advent of green revolution, the entire country entered into a frenzy to use more and more chemical pesticides for higher yield. Soon, the adverse impacts began to show, food products were contaminated, soil, water bodies and even ground water were polluted with pesticides. Even milk, meat and fishes were found to be contaminated. To meet this challenge efforts are on to bring better methods of post control with the use of posticides like neem trees are proving to be quite useful. Mixed cropping and growing different crops in consective years on the same land have also helped farmers.

Tips: -

V. Imp.

Functions of Pollution Control Boards: 1. The boards investigate, collect and disseminate information relating to water, air and land pollution.

2. They lay down standards for sewage/trade effluent and emissions.

3. They provide technical assistance to governments in promoting cleanliness of streams and wells by prevention, control and abatement of water pollution and improve the quality of air and to prevent, control or abate air pollution in the country.

4. They also carry out and spouser investigation and research relating to problems of water and air pollution and for their prevention, control and abatement.

5. They also organise through mass media a comprehensive mass awareness programme for the same.

6. They prepare manuals, codes and guidelines relating to treatment and disposal of sewage and trade effluents.

7. They assess the air quality through regulation of industries.

8. They collect, collate and disseminate technical and statistical data relating to water pollution.

9. They monitor the quality of water in 125 rivers (including the tributaries, wells, lakes, ponds, tanks, drains and canals).

Following are main global environmental issues:

1. Global warming.

2. Ozone depletion.

3. Environmental crisis.

4. Rise of opportunity cost of negative environmental inputs.

5. Supply – demand reversal of environmental resources.

6. Massive over-use and mis-use of environmental resources.

Global warming is a gradual increase in the average temperature of earth’s lower atmosphere.

Some factors contributing to global warming are (i) Burning of coal and petroleum products, (ii) Deforestation, (iii) Methane gas released in animal waste, (iv) Increased cattle production etc.

Long-term results of global warming are: (i) Melting of polar ice, (ii) Rise in sea level, (iii) Coastal flooding, (iv) Disruption of drinking water supplies depending on snow-melts, (v) Extinction of species, (vi) More tropical storms, (vii) An increased incidence of tropical diseases.

Social forestry is the process of restoring or rehabilitating the forests. It amounts to reversing the process of deforestation.

Objectives of social forestry:

1. To restore or to rehabilitate the forestry.

2. To spread the vegetation cover on land so that the area under forests may increase.

3. To generate employment opportunities through afforestation.

4. To encourage the growth of fast growing trees so that the emerging requirements of timber and firewood may be met.

5. To encourage commercial production of raw material for the paper industry as well as the match industry.

State of environment in India:

Following facts show the state of environment in India:

1. Natural endowment is getting excessively exploited beyond the rate of its regeneration.

2. Production and consumption wastes are being generated beyond the absorption capacity of environment.

3. Air pollution, water pollution and noise pollution are peaking up to the alarming limits.

In short, we can say that India by all mean in the midst of environment crises.

Soil erosion is caused by strong winds or floods. It is further enhanced through deforestation.

Main difference between development and sustainable development is that development aims at raising the quality of life of only present generation whereas sustainable development aims at raising the quality of life of both present and future generations without threatning natural endowment and environment.

Sustainable development does not suggest a check on the existing pace of economic growth. It only suggests a judicious or optimum utilisation of resources in a manner such that the pace of growth is sustained with inter-generative equity.

A large number of Indians lives below poverty line. They cut trees for fuel and wood which they sell to earn their livelihood. In this way they caused a massive environmental degradation.

C.

1974

B.

125 rivers

B.

5%

D.

Air

D.

Forests

C.

Four