Social Issues and

Environment

Introduction
We live in a Natural as well as
social world
Development cannot be of only
the rich nor it means only high
living standards.
Also
not
just
ECONOMIC
development
It has to be a holistic approach.
Social
aspects,
Economic
development and environment
have a strong relation.

From Unsustainable to
Sustainable
G.H Bruntland, Director of World

:
Meeting the needs of present
without
compromising
the
ability of future generations to
meet their own needs
Health Organisation

Key aspects of Sustainable

development
Inter- generational equity

Stop overuse
Reduce Impacts
Maintain ecological balance
Hand over a safe, healthy and resourceful
environment to our future generations

Intra-generational equity
Minimize gap between and within nations
Support economic growth of poorer
countries
Provide technological help

Measures for Sustainable

development
Using appropriate technology:
concept of Design with nature
3-R approach: Minimization of
resource use, use again and
process to get new product from
same material.
Promoting environmental
awareness and education
Carrying capacity: Supporting and
Assimilative

Indian Scenario
Tremendous Population
Tremendous natural diversity
Hence makes planning sustainably
all the more important but complex.
National Council of Environmental
Planning and Coordination set up in
1972.
Ministry of Environment and Forests
set up in 1985.

Social Issues
Urban problems related to ENERGY
WATER CONSERVATION
Resettlement and Rehabilitation
issues
Environmental ethics
Climate Change
Global Warming
Acid Rain and Ozone layer Depletion
Nuclear Accidents and Holocaust
Wasteland Reclamation
Consumerism and waste products

1. Urban problems related to

energy

Cities are the main centers of

Economic growth, trade, education,
employment
Now 50% population lives in Urban
areas
Urban sprawl
Difficult to accommodate
Uncontrollable and unplanned growth
Densely populated, consume more
resources, NEED MORE ENERGY

Energy demanding
activities

Residential and Commercial

lighting
Private and Public transport
Modern life style: electronic
gadgets
Industries
Waste disposal
Prevention and Control of
pollution

Effects

Unequal distribution of energy

Power cuts and load shedding
Demand energy from other state
Overall society suffers
Economic development hampere

Water Conservation
Water is a vital resource.
Majority of water resources
are polluted heavily
Its amount is limited for use
So conservation is Extremely
important

Water conservationrefers to reducing th

usage of water and recycling of waste wat
for different purposes such as cleaning,
manufacturing, and agricultural irrigation.

WATER CONSERVATION
(a) Decreasing run-off losses

Contour cultivation: across the slopes

Water spreading: by channeling or lagoon-levelling

Chemical wetting agents (Surfactants): increase

the water intake rate

Surface crop residues: Tillage, mulch, animal

residues etc.

Chemical conditioners: improve soil permeability

and reduce run off (gypsum (CaSO4.2H2O), HPAN
(hydrolysed polyacrylonitrile)

Water-storage structures: farm ponds, dug-outs etc

(b) Reducing evaporation losses

Horizontal barriers of asphalt placed below the soil
surface increase water availability and increase crop
yield by 35-40%. This is more effective on sandy soil
Super slurper: A co-polymer of starch and acrylonitrile
absorb water upto 1400 times its weight and found to
be useful for sandy soils

(c) Reducing irrigation losses

Irrigation in early morning or late evening

Sprinkling irrigation and drip irrigation (conserve

water by 30-50%)

Growing hybrid crop varieties with less water

requirements

(d) Re-use of water

Using grey water from washings, bath-tubs etc. for
watering gardens, washing cars or paths help in
saving fresh water
(e) Preventing wastage of water

Closing taps when not in use

Repairing any leakage from pipes

Using small capacity flush in toilets

(f) Increasing block pricing
consumer has to pay a proportionately higher bill
with higher use of water. This helps in economic
use of water by the consumers

Actions
Some researchers have suggested that
water conservation efforts should be
primarily directed at farmers, in light of the
fact that crop irrigation accounts for 70%
of the world's fresh water use.
Drip irrigation instead of sprinkle irrigation.
Common
strategies
include:
publicoutreachcampaigns,tiered
water
rates (charging progressively higher prices
as water use increases), or restrictions on
outdoor water use such as lawn watering
and car washing.
100s of ways to conserve water

Rain Water Harvesting

Introduction
In urban areas, the construction of houses,
footpaths and roads has left little exposed
earth
for water to soak in.
In parts of the rural areas of India, flood
water quickly flows to the rivers, which then
dry up soon after the rains stop. If this water
can be held back, it can seep into the ground
and recharge the groundwater supply.
This has become a very popular method of
conserving water especially in the urban
areas.
Rainwater harvesting essentially means
collecting rainwater on the roofs of building
and storing it underground for later use. Not
only does this recharging arrest groundwater
depletion, it also raises the declining water
table and can help augment water supply.

Status
Town planners and civic authority
in many cities in India are
making
rainwater
harvesting
compulsory in all new structures.
No water or sewage connection
would be given if a new building
did not have provisions for
rainwater harvesting
A
number
of
government
buildings have been asked to go
in for water harvesting in Delhi
and other cities of India.

Process

Case study
The area surrounding the River Ruparel in Rajasthan,
is an example of proper water conservation. The site
does not receive even half the rainfall received by
Cherrapunji,
but
proper
management
and
conservation have meant that more water is
available than in Cherrapunji.
The water level in the river began declining due to
extensive deforestation and agricultural activities
along the banks and, by the 1980s, a drought-like
situation began to spread.
Under the guidance of some NGOs (non-government
organizations), the women living in the area were
encouraged to take the initiative in building johads
(round ponds) and dams to hold back rainwater.

 Gradually, water began coming

back as proper methods of
conserving and harvesting
rainwater were followed.
The revival of the river has
transformed the ecology of the
place and the lives of the people
living along its banks. Their
relationship with their
natural environment
has been strengthened.

Water Harvesting: A Great

Success At Kalakhoont,
(Jhabua, MP), 2001

For the first time in India drought proofing, rather

than drought management, was the focus of the
state Governments (Madhya Pradesh & Gujarat).
For two years these state governments took up
water conservation activities in the hope that
monsoon this year would not be wasted even if it
rained below the normal level.
Kalakhoont village of Jhabua district in Madhya
Pradesh (MP) spin out of the poverty cycle with
the beginning of rainy season this year. Four
days of the rain filled up to the brim the longforgotten tank. Now almost the entire village is
enriched by water overflowing from the tank.

Way to Success
Crippled by two consecutive droughts, when an
NGO, Action for Social Advancement (ASA),
offered to renovate the tank, it was hard for the
residents to decide to contribute 25 percent of the
tanks renovation cost of Rs. 3 lakh.
Three meters of silt, which had erroded from the
surrounding hills, was removed from the tank. This
was used as manure in farmlands and the tank
was soon renovated. The decision paid rich
dividends and to changed the lives of the villagers
forever.
According to Nana Basna, President of the Liftirrigation Society formed to regulate water use in
the village there is enough water for the next
three years. The stored water is enough to
irrigate more than 61 hectares (ha) of land. The
recharged wells will be an additional source. Now
water is overflowing from the dam and residents
are planning to revive a defunct lift irrigation point
as a result of which three villages will be irrigated.

WATER SHED
MANAGEMENT

Concept of Watershed
Watershed is a geo hydrological unit or
piece of land that drain at a common
point.
A watershed is defined as any spatial
area from which rain or irrigation water
is collected and drained through a
common point.
Thewatershed and drainage basin are
synonymous term indicating an area
surrounded by a ridge line that is
drained through a single outlet.

 A watershed is simply the land

that water flows across or
through on its way to a common
stream, river, or lake.
A watershed can be very large
(e.g. draining thousands of
square miles to a major river or
lake or the ocean), or very
small, such as a 20-acre
watershed that drains to a
pond.

Objectives of watershed
management

1. To control damaging runoff and degradation and

thereby conservation of soil and water.
2. To manage and utilize the runoff water for useful
purpose.
3. To protect, conserve and improve the land of
watershed for more efficient and sustained
production.
4. To protect and enhance the water resource
originating in the watershed.
5. To check soil erosion and to reduce the effect of
sediment yield on the watershed.
6. To rehabilitate the deteriorating lands.
7. To moderate the floods peaks at down stream
areas.
8. To increase infiltration of rainwater.
9. To improve and increase the production of timbers,
fodder and wild life resource.
10. To enhance the ground water recharge, wherever
applicable.

Watershed
management practices
Watershed management involves
many techniques
The techniques can be summarized
as : Grassland development, Gully
Plugs, Tree plantation and contour
trenching on hill tops and slopes,
Contour bunding, Water conservation
structures, Lift irrigation schemes,
Land leveling etc.
Public participation and awareness

INTEGRATED WATERSHED
DEVELOPMENT PROJECT
The Integrated Watershed Development Project
(Hills-II) started in April 1999.
It has a budget of US$24.4 million and is being
run by experts from different line departments.
It is World Bank-funded and operated in
Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab,
Himachal Pradesh and Uttaranchal.
One of its working areas lies in northeast
Haryana in the most degraded watersheds of
the Siwalik hills and their adjoining piedmont
plains. The project area has been identified as
one of Indias eight most degraded rainfed
agro-ecosystems.

The Sukhomajri - Water

Shed Management
Project : A Success Story
of Participatory Approach

Sukhomajri, a small hamlet of about

one hundred families with average
land holding of 0.57 ha, is located in
the foothills of Shivaliks in
Panchkula district of Haryana.
It is at a distance of about thirty
kilometers by road to the north-east
of Chandigarh.
Central Soil & Water Conservation
Research and Training Institute,
Chandigarh.

Until 1975, Sukhomajra had no source of

regular irrigation. The entire agricultural land
(52 hectares) was under rain-fed single
cropping.
Small land holdings (less than one hectare
per family) coupled with frequent crop
failures due to erratic distribution of rainfall,
made agriculture least dependable as a
means of adequate livelihood.
Consequently, the people of Sukhomajri were
forced to keep a large number of sheep,
goats and cows to eke out a living.
But, once the domestic animals, especially
the goats and cows, were allowed to graze
freely in the nearby hills, followed by
indiscriminate felling of trees for fuel and
other domestic consumption, the hill
slopes, once covered with lush green
vegetation, soon became bare and not

 In the year 1975, the continuing problem of

silting of the prestigious man-made Sukhna
Lake in Chandigarh drew the attention of the
Central Soil and Water Conservation Research
and Training Center, Chandigarh.
A reconnaissance survey conducted by the
Centre under the leadership of Shri P.R. Mishra,
the then Officer-in-Charge, revealed that the
major source of sediment was about twenty-six
per cent of the catchment area located in the
close proximity of Sukhomajri and a few nearby
villages.
Sedimentation was caused by the erosion of the
bare hill slopes caused by over-grazing
particularly by goats whose rearing had been
the traditional occupation of the Gujjars
inhabiting the village.

 To address the problem the Research Center

applied soil conservation techniques developed
by comprising of mechanical and vegetative
measures.
This reduced the runoff sediment from the highly
eroded Shivaliks at a spectacular rate from
eighty tonnes to less than one tonne per hectare,
within a short span of a decade.
The vegetative measures consisted of planting of
tree species like khair (Acacia catechu) and
shisham (Dalbergia sissoo), in pits and bhabbar
grass (Eulaliopsis binata) at mounds of trenches,
and also Agave americana and Ipomea cornea, in
critical areas to protect the soil against erosion.
However, all these measures for containing the
sediment in situ did not succeed in the absence
of the willing cooperation from the people of
Sukhomajri, who depended for their sustenance
on the resources available in the catchment area.

 Hence, to promote agriculture and water

availability in the area earthern dams were
constructed. This resulted in rain water
harvesting & storage which could be used by
the villages for agriculture through out the
year.
Villagers agreed to protect the hilly
watersheds from grazing and illicit cutting of
vegetation and in turn, were allowed to cut
grass to stall feed their cattle and collect dry
and dead wood or pruned branches for their
domestic fuel consumption.
As a result, the forest areas which had a
desolate look in the beginning of the project
were covered with grass and trees within a
period of 10 to 15 years. Grass production
increased more than double in the same
period (from 3.82 t/ha to 7.72 t/ha).

 At Sukhomajri, four earthen dams have

been built between 1976 and 1985.
These serve three main purposes;
to check instantly the gully formation in
agricultural fields and, thereby,
effectively prevent silting through the
erosion of soil;
to store surplus rainwater from the
catchment area to be used later for
irrigation after the withdrawal of
monsoon and
rehabilitation of the catchment.

LESSONS FROM SUKHOMAJRI

Peoples participation must be ensured right
from the beginning.
The needs and the problems of the people
must be identified at the outset.
Unless a project is aimed at meeting their
needs, solving their problems and mitigating
their hardship, it may not succeed.
Watershed Management Projects should have
short gestation period. The benefits should be
available in shortest possible period.
Constitution of a village society (HRMS) must
be a pre-requisite before taking up such
projects.
The emphasis should be on sustainability and
equity, i.e., all the common property resources
must be available to all sections of the society.

Resettlement and
Rehabilitation

Intro
Development projects essential
To have development natural
resources are utilized.
Most affected are locals or
native people
Poorest of poor and
underprivileged people
Various types of project lead to
displacement of locals

The major issues related to displacement and rehabilitation are

as follows
i.

Tribals are usually the most affected amongst the displaced who are
already poor. Displacement further increases their poverty due to loss of
land, home, jobs, food insecurity, increased social isolation.

(ii) Break up of families is an important social issue arising due to

displacement in which the women are the worst affected and they are
not even given cash/land compensation.
(iii) Kinship systems, marriages, social and cultural functions, their folk-songs,
dances and activities vanish with their displacement. Even when they
are resettled, it is individual-based resettlement, which totally ignores
communal settlement.
(vi) Loss of identity and loss of the intimate link between the people and the
environment is one of the biggest loss. The age-long indigenous
knowledge, which has been inherited and experienced by them about
the flora, fauna, their uses etc. gets lost.

Displacement due to dams

Need space for such huge project.
Locals, tribals and natives are affected.
Families have to leave the ancestral
place and need to settle elsewhere.
Hirakund dam: 20000 people in 250
villages
Bhakra Nangal : not even half of
displaced resettled.
Sardar Sarovar: 41,000 families will get
displaced due to reservoir.
Tehri dam: 10000 people of Tehri town

 A review by the World Bank

posits that an average of
13,000 people are displaced by
each new large dam
constructed currently (Cernea
1996b).
By this estimate, Indians
displaced by the countrys
3000+ large dams would
number over 39 million.

Displacement due to
mining

Several thousand hectares of land

are covered in Mining operations
Mining accidents also cause
displacement.
Jharia Coal Mines, Jharkhand: 0.3
million people asked to leave the
place
Reason: Underground fires
No alternative provided yet.
Cost of R& R: 18000 crores

Displacement due to
creation of Protected
area
Displacement also
takes place where

protected areas are established as

compensatory measures for the forest lands
and natural habitats that are lost.
A welcome step for natural resource
conservation
But tribals loose the right to their natural
homes
Entry is prohibited in core areas.
Valmiki Tiger reserve: 142 villages in Bihar
of Tharu Community
Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary: 53,472 tribal
families in Kerala.

Rehabilitation- issues and

policies
Right to housing a basic human right
Government acquires land for various
reasons
Already poor tribals most affected.
Loss of land, food, home, jobs, property
assets, social isolation
Cash compensation not enough, Tribals
are unaware so might be a case of
cheating.
Communal settlement does not happen.

Policy
Department of Land Resources, Ministry of
Rural Development has formulated a National
Policy on Resettlement and Rehabilitation for
Project Affected Families, 2003 with the
objectives to:
Minimize displacement and to identify nondisplacing or least-displacing alternatives;
Plan the resettlement and rehabilitation of
Project Affected Families, (PAFs) including
special needs of tribals and vulnerable
sections;
Provide better standard of living to PAFs; and
Facilitate harmonious relationship between the
Requiring Body and PAFs through mutual
cooperation.
National Policy on Rehabilitation and
Resettlement 2007

Cases
Sardar Sarovar Project
Pong Dam

Resettlement and Rehabilitation of the

Urban Poor:
the Mumbai Urban Transport Project
Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra and
the commercial capital of India, has a
population of 12 million people.
The suburban rail system is the lifeline
of the city and it is estimated that 7.4
million passenger trips are made daily
at an average distance of 25 kms. per
trip.
Over 88% of all commuters in the city
travel by suburban trains or buses.
About 4500 passengers travel in a 9-car
rake during peak hours as against a
rated carrying capacity of just 1700.

 There are three suburban rail lines in

Mumbai: Central, Western and Harbour
that link the central business districts of
Bombay Island with the so-called
suburban areas in the North of the city.
The Central line from CST to Thane has
about 8,000 families living alongside the
track; the Western line from Churchgate
to Dahisar has about 3000 slum families
and the Harbour line from CST to
Mankhurd around 13,000.
These families have been living along
the tracks for more than two decades. In
some cases, their huts are hardly a
metre away from the tracks and the
passing trains.

 Many new lines are to be laid and slum

dwellers along the railway tracks to be
resettled.
About 15000 families living along the
tracks will have to be resettled
This case study looks at the resettlement
and rehabilitation (R&R) of more than
10,000 families along the railway tracks.

According to the recommendations of

the Task force, which were accepted
by the GOM, each project affected
family was to get a 225 sq. ft.
tenement free of cost or, where
shifting had to be done urgently,
transit accommodation of 120 sq. ft.
with basic amenities.

 The safety zones (30 feet on either side of

the tracks) of the 3 rail corridors in Mumbai
have been cleared of all slums. More than
10000 families have been resettled, about
40% in permanent and the rest in transit
accommodation, without the use of any
municipal or police force.
Secure tenure and basic amenities of water,
sanitation and electricity are assured.
As a consequence, more trains are running
on the same tracks and at greater speeds.
Traveling time has been reduced and the rail
systems performance improved.
All of this was done in just over a year by
June 2001.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS
Issues and Possible Solutions
refers to the issues, principles and guidelines relating
to human interactions with their environment.
The environmental crisis is an outward manifestation of
the crisis of mind and spirit.
It depends on how we think and act
Human-centric thinking
Man is all powerful and the supreme creature on this earth
and man is master of nature and can harness at his will
Earth-centric thinking
Nature has provided us all the resources for a beautiful
life, she nourishes us like a mother.
We should respect her and nurture her to live on this earth
as a part of it, like any other creation.

Anthropocentric Worldview

Man is considered to be most capable for managing the

planet earth.

Man is the planets most important species and is the

in-charge of the rest of nature.

Earth has an unlimited supply of resources and it all

belongs to us.

Economic growth is very good and more the growth, the

better it is, because it raises our quality of life and the
potential for economic growth is unlimited.

A healthy

environment

depends

upon

healthy

economy.

The success of mankind depends upon how good

managers we are for deriving benefits for us from
nature.

Eco-centric Worldview

Nature exists not for human beings alone, but for all the
species.

The earth resources are limited and they do not belong

only to human beings.

Economic growth is good till it encourages earthsustaining

development

and

discourages

earth-

degrading development.

healthy

economy

depends

upon

healthy

environment.

The success of mankind depends upon how best we can

cooperate with the rest of the nature while trying to use
the resources of nature for our benefit

Environmental ethics provide the guidelines for putting

our beliefs into action .
Some Important Environmental Ethics are as follows

Love and honour the earth since it governs your survival

No supremacy above other living things and have no

right to drive them to extinction

Should be grateful to the plants and animals which

nourish us by giving food

Should not run after gains at the cost of nature, rather

should strive to protect

Should not steal the right of future generations by

polluting the nature

The concept of ahimsa (non-violence) in Buddhism and

Jainism ensure the protection and conservation of

all

forms of life

With fewer wants, putting limits to growth guide us to

have an eco-centric life style

Climate change
Climate is average weather of an
area
Control temperature, evaporation
rate, seasons, moisture content.
Conditions if prevail for 30 yearsits
said to be the climate of an area
Currently Climate is Changing

Facts
Unsustainable consumption patterns
of the rich industrialized nations are
responsible for the threat of climate
change.
Only 25% of the global population lives in
these countries, but they emit more than
70% of the total global CO 2 emissions and
consume 75 to 80% of many of the other
resources of the world.

Impacts are already being seen in

unprecedented heat waves, cyclones,
floods, salinisation of the coastline and
effects on agriculture, fisheries and health.

Climate change Evidence

Intergovernmental Panel On Climate
Change.
Published evidence of climate change
Observed that earths climate has
changed over years.
Average temperatures have fluctuated
by 0.5 to 1 0 C.
Anthropogenic activities are affecting
climate
Its not uniform in all places. Poles will
be more warmer

Why should India be

Concerned about Climate
Change?
India is home to a third of the worlds poor, and climate
change will hit this section of society the hardest.
Set to be the most populous nation in the world by
2045, the economic, social and ecological price of
climate change will be massive.
The three main categories of impacts are those on
agriculture, sea level rise leading to submergence of
coastal areas, as well as increased frequency of
extreme events. Each of these pose serious threats to
India.
Indias main energy resource is coal. With the threat of
climate change, India is called upon to change its
energy strategy based on coal, its most abundant
resource, and to use other energy sources (e.g. oil, gas,
renewable and nuclear energy) which may turn out to
be expensive.

Green House Effect

The greenhouse effect is a naturally occurring
process that aids in heating the Earth's surface
and atmosphere.
It results from the fact that certain atmospheric
gases, such as carbon dioxide, water vapor,
and methane, are able to change the energy
balance of the planet by absorbing longwave
radiation emitted from the Earth's surface.
Without the greenhouse effect life on this planet
would probably not exist as the average
temperature of the Earth would be a chilly -18
Celsius, rather than the present 15 Celsius.

 Anthropogenic activities increa

concentration of green house g
Enhanced green house effect
Carbon dioxide from emissions
Chloroflurocarbons
Methane
Nitrogen oxides

Impacts of enhanced
greenhouse effect

Global temperature increase

Raise in sea level
Effects on human health
Effects on agriculture
Change in Wind current patterns
Ocean currents will change
Hydrological cycle will intensify
Cases of flood, droughts, cyclones
on a rise.

 Global warming is affecting many parts of

the world. Global warming makes the sea
rise, and when the sea rises, the water
covers many low land islands. This is a big
problem for many of the plants, animals, and
people on islands.
The water covers the plants and causes
some of them to die. When they die, the
animals lose a source of food, along with
their habitat..
When the plants and animals die, people lose
two sources of food, plant food and animal
food. They may also lose their homes. As a
result, they would also have to leave the
area or die. This would be called a break in
the food chain, or a chain reaction, one thing
happening that leads to another and so on.

 The oceans are affected by global

warming in other ways, as well. Many
things that are happening to the ocean
are linked to global warming. One
thing that is happening is warm water,
caused from global warming, is
harming and killing algae in the ocean.
It is killing algae, but it is also
destroying many huge forests.
Global warming is also causing many
more fires that wipe out whole forests.
This happens because global warming
can make the earth very hot. In
forests, some plants and trees leaves
can be so dry that they catch on fire.

Solution

Renewable energy
Biofuels
Afforestation
Reduce the current rate of CFCs
use
Trap methane for fuel
Potential of algae in Carbon
dioxide utilization
Sustainable agriculture

Acid
Rain

ACID RAIN

Oxides of sulfur (SOx)and nitrogen (NOx) originating

from industrial operations and fossil fuel combustion are
the major sources of acid forming gases

Ultimately these gases convert to corresponding acids

and fall along with rain called as acid rain

Besides acid rain dry deposition also occurs

Acids change the pH of water and puts threat to living

organisms

Effects:
(i) Damage the heritage structures and monuments
(ii) Soil nutrients are washed away and soil structure is
damaged
(iii) Aquatic life is seriously affected due to acidic nature
of water
(iv) Affects the plant structure

Ozone layer depletion

Natural sunscreen: Ozone

layer

OZONE LAYER
The ozone layer is a layer is a layer in the
earths atmosphere which contains 90% of
atmospheric ozone (O3). The ozone layer is
found in the lower portion of the stratosphere
from about 20 to 30 km above earths surface.
Its thickness varies seasonly and geographically.

FORMATION OF OZONE
LAYER
The ozone layer or the ozone forms by conversion
of atmospheric oxygen(O2) into ozone (O3), this
process is called as Chapman cycle .
The
oxygen get photolyzed by U.V.rays to form
oxygen radical.
U.V. Light

2
O

The oxygen radical then react with

molecular oxygen and forms ozone
molecule (O3).

O2

O3

At the same time ozone gets reduce to oxygen

by reacting with oxygen radical.

2
O3

So, ozone is constantly get created and destroyed by

Chapman cycle, which is a natural process.

OZONE DEPLETION
Decrease in concentration of ozone and
thinning of ozone layer is called Ozone depletion.
From industries and our day to day life many
gases like Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) , Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) , halons, halogens,
etc. get evolved in atmosphere which are mainly
responsible for ozone depletion, as it contains or
produce Chlorine (Cl) atom.
lets take look at the process of ozone depletion---

PROCESS OF OZONE

DEPLETION

Due to solar radiation i.e. U.V. Rays CFCs , HCFCs

breaks and form Cl atom which react with ozone molecule and
forms Chlorine monoxide (ClO). Chlorine monoxide then
reacts with oxygen radical to form Chlorine atom and molecular
oxygen.
U.V. Light

O3
O

O2

O2

NET REACTION :
U.V. Light

O3

As Cl atom acts as a catalyst , one single Cl

atom can destroy much amount of ozone molecules.

OZONE HOLE
As a result of ozone depletion, over
Antarctica the ozone hole is formed. This ozone
hole leads to melting of ice of Antarctica, increase
in sea level and other harmful effects on its
environment.

OZONE DEPLETING SUBSTANCES

Ozone depleting substances are
mainly CFCs, HCFCs, Halons, etc.
which are found in Refrigerators,
Cleaning agents, sprays, Pesticides, Air
conditioners, car emissions, etc.

EFFECT OF OZONE DEPLETION

Due to ozone depletion harmful U. V. Rays such
as UV-B Radiation reaches to earth which leads to
harmful effects on animals, plants, aquatic life as well
as on humans also.
Effect on Aquatic System: Affects phytoplankton,
fish, larval crabs. Decrease in amount of phytoplankton
increase the CO2 in atmosphere which contribute the
global warming.
Effect on Materials: Degradation of paints and
plastics.
Effect on Climate: Global Warming (Increasing
the Average temperature of the Earths surface).

Effect on Human Health:

Damage genetic materials in the cells.
Leads to more people suffering from Cataracts.
Causes cancer, allergies and some other
infectious disease.
10% depletion in ozone layer results in
30% increase in skin cancer infection.

PREVENTIONS

Limit private vehicle driving to decrease vehicle

emissions.
By using Eco-friendly household or other cleaning
agents.
Avoid excess use of pesticides. Replacing CFCs by
other material which are less damaging.
Manufacturing and using of ozone depleting
chemicals must be stopped, etc.

NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS AND HOLOCAUST

Chernobyl nuclear accident, 1986

Explosion happened in the nuclear power plant at Ukraine (former
USSR)
Immediately 31 people died and in a span of 10 years, nearly 6.5 lacs of
people were shifted
Radioactive fallouts spread to USA and Europe
Animals and plants were contaminated with radioactive materials

Nuclear holocaust in Japan 1945,

two nuclear bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki cities of
Japan
100,000 people were died and the city was destroyed
This explosion emitted neutrons and gamma radiations
Radioactive strontium (Sr90) liberated in the explosion resembles
calcium and has the property of replacing calcium of the bones
So large scale bon edeformities occurred in the inhabitants of these
cities

WASTELAND RECLAMATION
Wasteland: Economically unproductive lands suffering from
environmental deterioration , e.g.- salt affected lands, sandy areas,
undulating uplands, barren hill-ridge etc.
Wastelands are formed by natural processes, which include undulating
uplands, snow-covered lands, coastal saline areas, sandy areas etc.
Anthropogenic activities leading to waste land formation are
deforestation, overgrazing, mining and erroneous agricultural practices

objectives:
To improve the physical structure and quality of the marginal soils
To improve the availability of good quality water for irrigating these
lands
To prevent soil erosion, flooding and landslides
To conserve the biological resources of the land for sustainable use.

CONSUMERISM AND WASTE PRODUCTS

Consumerism: consumption of resources by people

consumerism has shown an exponential rise due to the

increase in the population size and
increase in our demands of modern life-style

Two types of conditions of population and consumerism exist.

People over-population: more people than available supplies

of food, water and other important resources. population
pressure causes degradation of the limited resources, and
there is absolute poverty, under-nourishment and premature
deaths.
This occurs in less developed countries (LDCs).

Consumption over-population: population size is smaller

while resources are in abundance and due to luxurious lifestyle per capita consumption of resources is very high.
This occurs in the more developed countries (MDCs)

More the consumption of resources more is the waste

generation and greater is the degradation of the environment.

concept can be explained by using the model of Paul Ehrlich and John Hodlren (1972):

How to calculate the impact..?

Using IPAT equation
I=P*A*T
P=Population
A=Affluence
T=Technology

ENVIRONMENTAL
LEGISLATION

India first country to have made provisions for

environment protection in its constitution
After Stockholm Conference(U.N. Conference
on Human Environment) 1972, Many laws and
rules have been made
Article 48- A : The state shall endeavour to
protect and improve the environment and to
safeguard forests and wildlife of the country.
Article 51 A (g): - It shall be the duty of every
citizen of India to protect and improve the natural
environment including forests, lakes, rivers and
wildlife and to have compasion for living creatures

ACTS
Wildlife (Protection ) Act, 1972
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Act, 1974
Forest (Conservation )Act, 1980
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,
1981
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
The Biomedical waste (Management and
Handling) Rules, 1998
The Municipal Solid Waste (Management
and Handling) Rules, 2000
The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control)
(Amendment)Rules,2002

The Biological Diversity Act,2002

WILDLIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972

Main objective is the protection and conservation of all wildlife
animals
Transfer of wildlife from State to concurrent list in 1976 made
Central Govt. more powerful to enact the legislation
The Indian Board of Wildlife (IBWL) took active participation to create
wildlife national parks and sanctuaries
The major activities and provisions in the act are:
i.It defines the wild-life related terminology and appoints wildlife
advisory Board, Wildlife warden, their powers, duties etc.
ii.Under the Act, for first time a comprehensive list of endangered
wild life species was made along with highlighting prohibition of
hunting of the endangered species
iii.The Act provides for setting up of National Parks, Wildlife
Sanctuaries etc.
iv.The Act provides for the constitution of Central Zoo Authority.
v.There is provision for trade and commerce in some wildlife species
with license for sale, possession, transfer etc.
vi.The Act imposes a ban on the trade or commerce in scheduled
animals.

i.

It provides for legal powers to officers and punishment to

offenders.
ii. It provides for captive breeding programme for endangered
species
Under this act, several conservation projects for individual
endangered species were made which are:

lion (1972)
Tiger (1973)
Crocodile (1974)
Brown antlered Deer (1981) etc.

Drawbacks:

The Act is adopted by all states in India except J & K, which

has it own Act.
Mild penalty to offenders
Illegal wild life trade in J & K
Personal ownership certificate for animal articles like tiger and
leopard skins
No coverage of foreign endangered wildlife
Pitiable condition of wildlife in mobile zoos
Little emphasis on protection of plant genetic resources

FOREST (CONSERVATION) ACT, 1980

It deals with the conservation of forests and related aspects
Except J & K, the Act is adopted all over India
The Act covers all types of forests including reserved forests,
protected forests or any forested land irrespective of its ownership
The salient features of the Act are:
(i)The State Govt. has been empowered to use the forests only
for forestry purposes.
(ii)For any other use of the forest by state govt. prior approval of
central Government is essential who can pass orders for
declaring some part of reserve forest for non-forest purposes (e.g
mining) or for clearing some naturally growing trees and replacing
them by economically important trees (reforestation).
(ii) There is provision for conservation of all types of forests for
which advisory committee recommends funding for it to the
Central Government
(iii) All illegal non-forest activity within a forest area can be
immediately stopped

1992 Amendment in the Forest Act

Provisions for allowing some non-forest activities in forests,

without cutting trees or limited cutting with prior approval of
Central Govt. like setting of transmission lines,
seismic surveys, exploration, drilling and hydroelectric
projects

Wildlife sanctuaries, National Parks etc. are totally prohibited

for any exploration or survey under this Act without prior
approval of Central Govt. even if no tree-felling is involved

Cultivation of cash crops like tea, coffee, spices, rubber and

plants are included under non-forestry activity but not
allowed in reserve forests

Mining is a non-forestry activity and prior approval of Central

Govt. is mandatory

Removal of stones, bajri, boulder etc from river-beds located

within the forest area fall under non-forest activity

1992 Amendment in the

Forest Act
Even cultivation of fruit-bearing trees, oilyielding plants or plants of medicinal
value in forest area need to be first
approved by the Central Govt. This is
because newly introduced species in the
forest area may cause an imbalance in
the ecology of the forest. If the species to
be planted is a native species, then no
prior clearance is required.
Any proposal sent to central govt. for
non-forest activity must have a costbenefit analysis and Environmental
Impact statement (EIS) of the proposed
activity with reference to its ecological
and socio-economic impacts.

WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF

POLLUTION) ACT, 1974
The main objective is to prevent and control pollution with
maintaining and restoring the wholesomeness of water
Salient features are:
i.maintenance and restoration of quality of all types of surface and
ground water
ii.establishment of Central and State Boards for pollution control
iii.Confers powers and functions to the boards to control pollution
iv.The Act has provisions for funds, budgets, accounts and audit of
the Central and State Pollution Control Boards
v.The Act makes provisions for various penalties for the defaulters

The main regulatory bodies are the Pollution Control Boards with
following duties and powers
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):

It advises the central govt. in matters related to prevention and control of

water pollution.

Coordinates the activities of State Pollution Control Boards and provides

them technical assistance and guidance

Organizes training programs for prevention and control of pollution

Organizes comprehensive programs on pollution related issues through

mass media

Collects, compiles and publishes technical and statistical data related to

pollution

Prepares manuals for treatment and disposal of sewage and trade

effluents

Lays down standards for water quality parameters

Plans nation-wide programs for prevention, control or abatement of

pollution

Establishes and recognizes laboratories for analysis of water, sewage or

trade effluent sample

State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)

The SPCB advises the state govt. with respect to the location of any
industry that might pollute a stream or a well

Lays the standards for effluents and is empowered to take samples from
any stream, well or trade effluent or sewage passing through an industry

The SPCB is empowered to take legal samples of trade effluent in

accordance with the procedure laid down in the Act

The sample taken in the presence of the occupier or his agent is divided
into two parts, sealed, signed by both parties and sent for analysis to
some recognized lab. If the samples do not conform to the prescribed
water quality standards(crossing maximum permissible limits), then
consent is refused to the unit

Every industry has to obtain consent from the Board (granted for a fixed
duration) by applying on a prescribed Proforma providing all technical
details, along with a prescribed fee following which analysis of the
effluent is carried out

The Board suggests efficient methods for utilization, treatment and

disposal of trade effluents.

THE AIR (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF

POLLUTION) ACT, 1981
Salient features are:
The Act provides for prevention, control and abatement of air
pollution
In this act, air pollution has been defined as the presence of any
solid, liquid or gaseous substance (including noise) in the
atmosphere that may harmful to human beings or any other living
creatures or plants or property or environment
Noise pollution has been inserted as pollution in the Act in 1987
Parallel to the functions related to Water (Prevention and Control
of Pollution) Act, the boards performs similar functions related to
improvement of air quality
The boards have to check on discharge of emission of any air
pollutants by the industry as per the norms or standards laid down by
the Board under section 17

Contd.
Like the Water Act, the Air Act has
provisions for defining the constitution,
powers and function of Pollution Control
Boards, funds, accounts, audit, penalties
and procedures
As per Section 19, in consultation with the
SPCB, the state government may declare
an area within the state as air pollution
control area and can prohibit the use of any
fuel other than approved one. No individual
can operate or establish any industrial unit
in the air pollution control area without
prior consent of State Board

THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986

(i)

The Act came into force on Nov. 19, 1986, the birth anniversary of Late
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who was a pioneer of environmental
protection issues in our country

(ii) The Act has given powers to the Central Government to take measures
to protect and improve environment while the state governments
coordinate the actions
Functions of Central Govt. under this Act include setting up of:
i.

The standards of quality of air, water or soil for various areas and
purposes.

ii.

The maximum permissible limits of concentration of

environmental pollutants (including noise) for different areas.

iii.

The procedures and safeguards for the handling of hazardous

substances.

iv.

The prohibition and restrictions on the handling of hazardous

substances in different areas.

v.

The prohibition and restriction on the location of industries and to carry

on process and operations in different areas.

various

vi. The procedures and safeguards for the prevention of accidents which
may cause environmental pollution and providing for remedial measures
for such accidents

State Pollution Control Boards have to follow the guidelines provided

under Schedule VI, some of which are as follows:
(i)They have to advise the Industries for treating the waste water and
gases with the best available technology to achieve the prescribed
standards
(ii) The industries have to be encouraged for recycling and reusing the
wastes
(iii) They have to encourage the industries for recovery of biogas, energy
and reusable materials
(iv) While permitting the discharge of effluents and emissions into the
environment, the State Boards have to take into account the assimilative
capacity of the receiving water body
(v) The Central and State Boards have to emphasize on the
implementation of clean technologies by the industries in order to
increase fuel efficiency and reduce the generation of environmental
pollutants

Under the Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986 an amendment

was made in 1994 for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of
Various Development Projects.
There are 29 types of projects listed under Schedule I of the rule
which require clearance from the Central Government before
establishing
Under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 the Central
Government also made the Hazardous Wastes (Management and
Handling) Rules, 1989. Under these rules, it is the responsibility of
the occupier to take all practical steps to ensure that such wastes
are properly handled and disposed off without any adverse effects
There are 18 Hazardous Waste categories recognized under this
rule and there are guidelines
for their proper handling, storage, treatment, transport and
disposal which should be strictly followed by the owner
The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has also made provision
for environmental Audit as a means of checking whether or not a
company is complying with the environmental laws and regulations

Public awareness
After the scientific and industrial revolution
in the recent past, there has been immense
impact of man on his environment and
balance of the ecosystem as a whole/the
environment.
Industrialization , urbanisation, deforestation
, use of insecticides, pesticides, improper use
of fertilizers and chemicals in environment
are some contributing factors which
challenged the life of man, animals specially
birds and other organisms.
Human activities are causing many kinds of
environmental pollutions for which public
awareness is necessary.
The Active co-operation of every one, at
every level of social organizations is needed
for issues concerning environment.

 Over exploitation of natural resources is a

basic concern for everybody. Therefore, we
should accept the family planning schemes
this will not only reduce the population but
also solve the problems of food and
rehabilitation.
There must be planning about the effects
and control measures of environmental
pollution. Govt. should initiate and help by
awareness campaigns to save environment.
There should be the integral part of our
educational programmes. Like, We should
discourage to use fuel vehicles, until it is not
necessary , over use of water, for cleaning
and other purposes should be decreased .
Rain water harvesting is another example for
using the rain water instead flowing out.

Any government at its own level

cannot achieve the goals of
sustainable development until the
public has a participatory role in
it.

 It is only possible only when public aware

about the ecological and environmental
issues. For example ban the littering of
polythene cannot be successful until the
public understands the environmental
implications of the same.
Public should understand about the fact
that if we degrading our environment, we
are harming ourselves.
This is the duty of educated people to
educate the others about the adverse
effect on environment.
Govt. alone cannot do anything until
unless every citizen is aware of the
environmental pollution & their effects.
Everyone need to make aware and
motivate each and every individual for
environmental consciousness.