ENVIRONMENT
AND
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENT
DEFINITION: Environment is defined as all those conditions and their
effects which influence human life. It is the sum total of surroundings
and the totality of resources that affect our existence and the quality of
our life.
MEANING: According to the Environment Protection Act 1986
“Environment includes water, air and land and the interrelationship
which exists among and between water, air, land and human beings and
other creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property.”
The Significance of the Environment
ENVIRONMENT OFFERS ENVIRONMENT ENVIROENMENT ENVIRONMENT ENHANCES
RESOURCES FOR PRODUCTION SUSTAINS LIFE ASSIMILATES WASTE QUALITY OF LIFE
The Environmental Crisis
.
The State of the
Environment in India
1. India's forest support, a plethora of floral and faunal
biodiversity. The country has rich deposits of bauxite,
copper, chromate, diamonds, gold etcetera and accounts
for nearly 8% of the world's total iron ore reserves.
2. India is the habitat of nearly 18% of the world's population.
Even when it is occupying just 2.5% of the world's
geographical area.
3. Due to the pressure of population , nearly 21.9% of the
country's population is surviving below the poverty line.
4. Environmental issues:
● Production and consumption wastes are being generated
beyond the absorption capacity of the environment.
●. Air pollution, water pollution and Sound Pollution are
peaking up to the alarming limits.
THE DICHOTOMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL
DEGRADATION IN INDIA:
Poverty induced environmental degradation and affluence
induced environmental degradation.
1. Poverty is the principle cause of environmental degradation
in rural areas. It is owing to poverty that tree felling
becomes almost an economic compulsion for the millions
of poor in rural areas. But it leads to deforestation, which is
one of the principle elements of environmental
degradation.
2. Expanding production activity is the principle cause of
environmental degradation in the urban [Link]
smoke is polluting the air and industrial waste to polluting
the [Link] of vehicular traffic is generating noise
pollution besides contributing to air pollution and global
warming
PRINCIPLE CONCERNS OF ENVIRONMENTAL
Key Environmental Concerns in India
DEGRADATIO IN INDIA
[Link] OF LAND Deforestation
● Degradation of land means loss of fertility orTheloss
loss of
of forests due to unsustainable logging, agricultural expansion, and urbanization
productivity of land which occurs due to inappropriate land use
has severely impacted India's biodiversity and natural habitats.
or land management practices.
● Due to the intensively competitive use of land for the
Air Pollution
purpose of forestry agriculture, human settlement and
industries, the degradation of land becomes the obvious
Harmful emissions from industries, vehicles, and the burning of fossil fuels have led to
severe air pollution, posing a significant threat to human health and the environment.
consequence.
● We can identify a few principle reasons for land Degradation.
i) Excessive grazing lead to loss of vegetation. Water Pollution
ii) Erosion of soil caused by tree felling The discharge of industrial effluents, agricultural runoff, and untreated sewage has
iii) Shifting cultivation, leading to deforestation.
contaminated India's water bodies, compromising the availability of clean and safe water
resources.
[Link] POLLUTION
Air pollution occurs in the form of poisonous gases in the air,
owing to activities of production and consumption.
What causes pollution of air?
i) Vehicular emissions: This is the chief cause of air pollution in
India. Motor vehicles in India have increased from about 3
lakh in 1951 to 30 crore in 2019.
ii) Industrialisation: India is one of the 10 most industrialised
nations in the world. Smoke emitted by the industries has
particularly led to the increase in the levels of air pollution,
along with other problems such as unplanned Urbanisation.
[Link] POLLUTION AND MANAGEMENT
OF FRESHWATER
Pollution of water relates to contamination of water.
Following are the factors Contributing to water
pollution in India:
i) Industrial waste streaming into rivers.
ii) Domestic sewage that flows into Rivers and
streams.
iii) Agriculture run off
iv) Thermal power houses discharging ash mixed
with water.
[Link] OF BIODIVERSITY
Changing land use pattern, pressure of
population ,degradation of land ,and
deforestation are the major factors,
threatening biodiversity of India.
[Link] WASTE MANAGEMENT
i) The unplanned development of township
and urbanization has led to the massive
problem of waste management.
ii) It is estimated that volume of waste is
projected to increase from 64 to 72 million
tonnes at present to 125 million tonnes by
2031 out of the total waste generated only
43 million tonnes collected 11.9 million
tonnes is treated. And 31 million tonnes is
dumped in landfill sites.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
WHAT IS SUSTAINBLE DEVELOPMENT?
Sustainable development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
According to the United Nations, “Sustainable development
is how we must live today if we want a better tomorrow, by
meeting present needs without compromising the chances
of future generations to meet their needs. The survival of
our societies and our shared planet depends on a more
sustainable world.”
STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
The concept of sustainable development
does not suggest steel limiting the process
of growth and development, or it does not
mean a check on the existing pace of
economic growth. Sustainable development
only suggests a judicious or optimum
utilization of resources in a manner such
that the pace of economic growth is
sustained without challenging the ability of
the future generations to grow and prosper.
Strategies for achieving sustainable
development are:
[Link] ON NON CONVENTIONAL
SOURCES OF ENERGY
[Link], GOBAR GAS IN RURAL AREAS
[Link] IN URBAN AREAS
[Link] POWER
5. SOLAR POWER THROUGH
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
6. MINI HYDEL PLANTS
7. TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE AND
PRACTICES
8. BIOCOMPOSTING
9. BIOPEST CONTROL
