DR.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA

NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY
LUCKNOW

Rough Draft
Subject: - Economics
Project on: - Environmental Degradation in India
and other developing countries
SUBMITTED TO: Mrs. Madhuri Srivastava
Professor
Economics
R.M.L.N.L.U.

SUBMITTED BY:
Srijita Kundan
Roll No. 133
Semester 1st (Section-B)
B.A. LL.B (Hons.)

Introduction

Environmental degradation is the deterioration of the environment through

depletion of resources such as air, water, soil etc.
The United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction defines
environmental degradation as The reduction of the capacity of the environment
to meet social and ecological objectives, and needs
Environmental degradation is ranked third in the Ten Threats officially
cautioned by the High Level Threat Panel of the United Nations.
In developing countries, due to excessive concentration on economic
development, the environment is ignored and hence there is high economic
degradation. For example: Industrial pollution is a more complicated problem
in developing countries than in developed economies. Since developing
countries do not have adequate resources to deal with these problems, the
environment tends to get neglected resulting in various kinds of environmental
as well as health related problems.
In India, the population growth is considered to be the main reason for rapid
environmental degradation as due to the excessive population there is a lot of
pressure on the resources, according to the British thinker Malthus, a growing
population exerts pressure on agricultural land, causing environmental
degradation, and forcing the cultivation of land of poorer and poorer quality
also major sources of pollution in India is burning of wood used as fuel by the
poor and the lack of a proper system for chemical and human waste disposal.

Objectives

1.

Effects of development on the environment

The rapid growing population and concentration on economic development is

leading to a number of environmental issues in developing countries and
especially in India because of the uncontrolled growth of urbanization and
industrialization, expansion and massive intensification of agriculture, and the
destruction of forests.

In developing countries, deliberation on economic development causes

unwarranted pressure on resources and due to rapid industrialization there will
excessive pollution of land, air and water.

2.

Extent of environmental degradation with respect to developing

countries

The poorest populations in the poorest countries face a double environmental

burden: They are more vulnerable to wider environmental challenges such as
climate change but they also must cope with immediate environmental problems
like indoor air pollution and inadequate drinking water and sanitation.
Also a major factor in the economic degradation in developing countries is the
high levels of population. Population impacts on the environment primarily
through the use of natural resources and production of wastes and is associated
with environmental stress and increased pressure on land.
It can be seen that there is a lot of environment degradation in developing
countries and due high levels of population and poverty and lack of resources
these countries are not fully equipped to deal with the issue of environment.
3.

Measures taken

Environmental problems increasingly are viewed as transcending national

borders and some including global warming and climate change pose
significant risks to the very health of the planet. Law has become a critical
part of efforts to combat global environmental problems and to improve
living conditions in developing countries.
In India there have been a number of laws to help conserve the environment for
example the Environment Protection Act, 1986, The Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1972 and others.
Also in India, some awareness has been spread with movements like the Chipko
movement, silent valley movement, Save Narmada movement and the like.
4.

Other measures that can be adopted

To deal with environmental extremities joint efforts of the government, the

private sector and individuals is required. Educating households, cleaning
campaigns and researching more effective measures for decreasing the amount

of pollution are some of the measures that can be adopted. Some of these in a
small scale are already being adopted; these activities are to be made more
widespread.

Hypothesis
Due to excessive concentration on the economic development in the developing
countries, the environment until recently had been ignored and even now as the
awareness about the environmental degradation increases very little is being
done to conserve it. There are many factors for the degradation of the
environment especially relating to developing countries like industrial activities,
fast growing population, poverty and excessive pressure on the resources.
Hence environmental degradation is a major problem, especially in developing
countries since the environment conservation tends to take a side track due to
the focus on economic activities.

Conclusion
Conclusion will be included in the final draft.

Bibliography
1. http://www.ilo.org/safework_bookshelf/english?
content&nd=857170604
2. http://theindiaeconomyreview.org/Article.aspx?
aid=29&mid=3
3. http://edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/laws.htm
4. http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/EPLP-043.pdf
5. Environment, development and developing countries Dr.
Balkrishna Kurvey
6. Indoor air pollution in developing countries: a major
environmental and public health challenge(article) - Nigel
Bruce, Rogelio Perez-Padilla & Rachel Albalak

7. 2011 Human Development Report Links Environmental

Degradation And Inequality Eric Zuehlke