| MODULE VI |
| ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT |
Sustainable development is a multidisciplinary concept. This encompasses economic, social, psychological, health and related disciplines. Environment plays an important role in this regard. It has impact on all correlates of development. Development can be considered in a narrow sense as an instrument of raising the per capita income, or it may mean provision of a better quality of life for each and every person of the society. According to United Nations (1975) the ultimate purpose of Development is to provide increasing opportunities to all people for a better life. It is essential to bring about a more equitable distribution of income and wealth both for promoting social justice and efficiency of production, to raise substantially the level of employment, to achieve a greater degree of income security to expand and improve facilities for education, health, nutrition, housing, and social welfare and to safeguard the environment. Thus, qualitative and structural change in the society must go hand in hand with economic growth and existing disparities- regional, sectoral, and social should be substantially reduced. These objectives are both determining factors and of the end results of development. "They should therefore be viewed as integrated parts of the same dynamic process…." In this module we are discussing issues related to Environment and Development. Above all development means people. The preparation and activation of people is the cause of economic and social development for others, National development objectives relate it to rate of growth but also to income distribution and other social goals. Development has also been referred to as an integral, value-loaded cultural process encompassing the natural environment, social relations, education, production, consumption and well being. The "Study Guide on Development" of Food and Agricultural Organization states that; - The ultimate purpose of development is to provide everyone with ever increasing opportunities for a better life. It therefore requires an equitable distribution of income and other social resources, in order to promote justice and efficient production, to raise the level of employment substantially, to expand and improve facilities for education, health, nutrition, housing, social and cultural well being. Development is an organic immanent, directional, cumulative and irreversible process. It has the following components: 1. Development as Economic growth 2. Development as redistribution with growth.Economic development can be defined in terms of redistribution with growth or a trinity of Economic growth, equity and self reliance. 3. Development as improvement in life chances. 4. Development as liberation from dependency and exploitation. Thus, Development is usually treated as a generic term connoting directed growth, evolution, stage of inducement or progress. Development means different things to different people. It means dams, and factories, roads and canals, bush cleaning, electrification, soil improvement, universities, secondary schools, primary schools, sanitation, research etc. Sustainable development of socio economic and ecological systems emphasizes on making trade and environment mutually supportive, provide adequate financial resources to develop environment friendly technologies, focussing on unsustainable patterns of production and consumption, developing national policies and strategies to encourage changes in unsustainable consumption patterns, developing and dissemination knowledge concerning the links between environment , demographic trends and other factors. Integrated national policies for environment and development, and implementing integrated environment and development programs at the local level, protecting and promoting human health control, meeting the urban health challenges, reducing health risks from environmental pollution and hazards, promoting sustainable human settlement development. This module is organized in the following sections:
The issues which need to be addressed in this regard include perspectives on the Population and Environmental Connections. Implementing Integrated Environment and Development Programmes, Regional and Global Impacts on the Biosphere, "Global Warming and Climate Change, addressing the uncertainties about environment, improving the Scientific Basis for Decision-making and promoting Sustainable Development are important factors. Further, more Food, Less Damage, Saving Species, Values and the Future, Conserving Bio-Diversity, Education Programs need more attention. In thinking about man and earth, we must consider first the beginning and the resources of the earth, air, energy and water on which men depend for their livelihood, and second how actions are changing the life support system for all living creatures. Some of the features related to combating poverty include enabling the poor to achieve Sustainable Livelihoods, assessment of impacts. Potential climate change impacts of current concern, confidence in these Regional Estimates. Remaining Questions to be addressed are energy conservation and efficiency. Non -Fossil Fuels, ineffective and costly policies. Climate Warming, Ozone Layer Depletion, Actions by Governments and Industry, Energy Efficiency and Fuel Substitution and the evolution of Global Climate Change are some of the issues which also need discussion in relation to development. Quality of life issues presented in module three emphasized on the impact of environment on life and poverty related issues.
Deals with the following issues: Illegal Settlements, Developing and Disseminating Knowledge Concerning the Links Between in Demographic Trends.
Are yet another aspect of development related to poverty and other conditions of life? Global Action for Women towards Sustainable and Equitable Development, Strengthening the Role of Children and Youth in Sustainable Development, Migration and the Environment are also important in this regard.
At what point man might react against the stress of crowding is not very well understood. It has been demonstrated that much depends upon culture. Some cultures not only tolerate but seek closeness. In others individuals do not willingly accept any invasion of their personal "space bubble" or the immediate space around them. Some personal space is a necessity of life. However, severe the impact of man's numbers on men and the planet,
a second great impact comes from technology. Barry Commoner attributes
much of the pollution and deterioration to the technologies developed
by affluent societies, rather than to population increase in itself.
The production of synthetic fibres, increased in 1927 in the post World War II period, while the use of fibres increased only 6%. It was the same with synthetic detergents that partly replaced soap, the synthetic rubber, the plastics and the pesticides that largely replaced the natural ecological processes for controlling pests and unwanted weeds. The shift from natural to synthetic products in a little more than two decades had a devastating effect on the environment and on limited resources. Thus a school of thought maintains that 'social choices with regard to productive technology are inescapable in resolving the environmental crisis'. Of course, there is disagreement with the thesis that the new technologies rather than population are the 'prime' cause of the deterioration of the environment. The first system study, on a global scale of the earth's predicament traced it to the complex interaction and unlimited growth of population, industry, and pollution, and to the unlimited growth of demand and food and more resources. The resultant disruption and depletion were found to threaten the survival of the earth as a home for man, and a crash meaning degradation, starvation, exhaustion, and collapse, was predicted in not much more than a hundred years.
Pollution is an undesirable state of natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities. As the act of contaminating or polluting could be either intentional or accidental, pollution can change the natural ecosystems and are also fatal for aquatic and human life thus causing threat to human health as well as degrading areas of natural beauty. There are various sources of pollution. Some of the sources of pollution can be summarized as:
Industries, thermal power plants and motor vehicles are among the major contributors to air pollution by burning of coal and oil. Use of coal and fuel wood for cooking in households also contributes towards air pollution. In some of our metropolitan cities like Delhi and Bombay, as much as 50 - 60 per cent of air pollution is due to increasing number of motor vehicles. Sulphur dioxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen and carbon resulting from burning of fuel are among the constituents of air pollution. According to the air quality survey, the air pollution levels in our cities are by and large within the prescribed limits. While the levels of sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen are well within the limits, the particulate matter is on the higher side. This is due to the natural dusty conditions and industrial activities including thermal power plants. Content in our coal and oil (less than 0.5 per cent sulphur). But, the ash content in Indian coal is high (30 to 45 per cent). Coal burning in power plants causes considerable amount of fly ash emissions (example: Indraprastha and Badarpur plants at Delhi).
It is being growingly emphasized that vehicular pollution is one of
the main sources of air pollution in cities. The government is making
many efforts to check this pollution. Designs of vehicles, compulsory
checking of vehicles are being emphasized. Industrial pollution is yet another source of pollution. That is the reason why pollution control certification is needed for all new industries. However, the responsibility lies with the industries and policy makers. According to available figures, prosecutions have been launched against 1200 units for violation of water and air pollution control requirements. There are many problems in effective implementation of Pollution Control Programme; some of these are inadequate resources with the Pollution Control Boards in terms of trained manpower, funds and infra-structural facilities. The decision makers need to take necessary action in this regard. Weakness in the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution Act, 1974 and Air Prevention & Control of Pollution Act, 1981) in terms of penalties and delay in legal procedures for violation of the Acts needs to be looked into. The acts are to be amended to give some powers to the pollution Control Boards. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which has recently been enacted as umbrella legislation is to ensure stringent measures for pollution control from various sources. Because of rising population density around the industrially developed areas, some unhygienic habits of the residents of these areas, and improper planning by Municipalities and urban authorities, air, water and noise pollution is increasing day by day. Survey has shown that air pollution is a major cause of tuberculosis and various respiratory ailments. In Kanpur, various types of respiratory ailments are apparently much more than other areas. "Acid rain" is an international issue today. Vast stretches
of forest and lakes in Europe and North America have been or are being
destroyed by this killer rain. In Sweden alone, 15,000 lakes have been
acidified as have thousands in Norway, U.S. and Canada. Acidity kills,
fish, bacteria and algae, and thus the aquatic ecosystem collapse into
sterility leaving a crystal-clear but ultimately dead lake. According to expert's acid rains is a boundless threat to the environment. Acidification of the soil changes its biology and chemistry which might have long standing effect in the micro environment of soil and water. Untreated/partially treated domestic sewage contributes more than 75 per cent of the total quantity (by volume) of pollution in our rivers. Fortunately, due to self-purification capacity of the rivers, a good amount of pollution load from domestic sewage is rendered harmless. But, this is not the case with industrial effluents which often contain toxic and persistent chemicals. Stretches of our rivers particularly those located downstream of cities and industrial centres are polluted to varying degrees. Many of our cities are not having sewage treatment facilities and even the existing facilities are not properly maintained. The municipal and local authorities do not have the necessary resources, infrastructure and often organizational capability. As far as control of industrial effluents are concerned, out of 4054 polluting industries (major and medium) only 2076 units have installed effluent treatment plants. While some control (more than 50 per cent) has been achieved in case of major and medium industries, the small scale industries continue to operate without any control. Tanneries, electroplating, pesticide formulation and such other small scale chemical industries of polluting and hazardous nature are located in various parts of the country (often in non-conforming areas and without license). These are of- three kinds. Most common is pollution with non-toxic organic wastes, human sewage being the most usual pollutant, with waste mills also contributing, as well as intensive agricultural systems. Such pollution greatly increases the biochemical oxygen demand of the polluted water systems leading to depletion of oxygen levels in the water and, resultant death of a large proportion of the organisms especially fish. Water pollution: Water pollution is due to many reasons including industrial activities. Water pollution problem consists of thermal pollution where hot water, for example, from an electricity generating facility, is discharged into the river. As the oxygen content of water decreases with increasing temperature, the most common effect of thermal pollution is oxygen depletion. Water pollution may also arise from a very wide range of toxic pollutants, most likely to result from industrial activity. In general terms, organic pollution is more often a factor of urbanization whereas thermal and toxic substance pollution results from industrial activity. Many of our rivers are severely polluted by industrial wastes and municipal drains. People from far and near use this water for various purposes. By using this water, polluted with excreta, detergent powders, acids and chemical wastes, people living downstream invariably suffer from a variety of health disorders. Water Quality Monitoring: The rivers: A two-tier water quality monitoring programme for the major and medium rivers has been taken up under (i) United Nations Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) and (ii) Monitoring Indian National Aquatic Resources (MINARS) programme. A network of 164 monitoring stations has already been established. The network is proposed to be expanded progressively to 329 stations. To provide water quality management, use based zoning and classification of various stretches of the 14 major rivers have been made. To assist in evolving action plan for prevention and control of pollution
, the Central Board identified the polluting sources within the river
basin and evaluated the pollution potential in the Ganga basin based
on which the Ganga Action Plan has been launched. Similar investigations
have been/ proposed to be taken up in many other rivers. With the increasing traffic densities, some areas of our cities are experiencing high levels of noise. Indiscriminate use of loudspeakers is yet another menace. Solutions to such problems are not beyond our control and public awareness is necessary for this purpose. Under the Motor Vehicles Act and through the Municipal Acts, it is possible to restrain the use of electric horns in motor vehicles and the use of loudspeakers for social, religious and other purposes. However, for some reason or the other, such restrictions are not imposed. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 will enable actions to be taken for prevention-, control and abatement of noise pollution through the existing authorities and if so necessary through a separate agency. Marine Pollution derives mainly from two sources, from river run-off and from direct dumping in the sea. In the former case, the major problem areas are semi-enclosed seas adjacent to heavily populated or intensively industrialized countries, the North Sea being the prime example together with the Mediterranean. Marine dumping may be deliberate or accidental, but either way rep-resents a pollution problem which is continuing to increase in severity. Land pollution: Pollution of the land may result from the fall-out of atmospheric pollution and may even occur many kilometres away from the pollution source. Dumping of solid or liquid toxic waste is commonly considered the prime cause. In the terms of area affected, land is far more commonly rendered derelict as a result of physical resource extraction or the abandonment of industrial facilities through resource depletion or general economic recession. Sometimes land is so damaged by human activity that is incapable of use without treatment. In some other countries, about 300,000 acres of land falls within this category, most of it potentially useful agricultural land is reported. This represents about 1.0% of the acreage of good agricultural land but the socio-economic effects of this type of land on the local population probably far outweigh the economic effects of the land lost to food production. Thus an area with a high proportion of derelict land is likely to experience a high outward migration, especially of young people, and difficulties in attracting new economic activities into the area. Derelict land may take the form of tips arising either from pre- or post-extraction soil, the latter often being toxic to living organisms, or pits, these mostly originating from open-cast workings but also from subsidence of subsurface workings. This type land may frequently result from abandoned industrial activities, taking the form of ruins. Leaving aside the more traditional aspects of environmental impacts it is appropriate to mention direct human impacts. Important among these is noise pollution, originating from motor vehicles, aircraft and machinery, and most commonly a health hazard with industrial complexes. A more general but important increase in the number of accidents to humans, both at work and during travel, this being primarily a function of increasing use of rapidly moving facilities, whether they be lathes, drills or motor vehicles. Toxic and Hazardous waste: Nuclear and other hazardous wastes: Toxic/hazardous substances: The Bhopal tragedy and a series of gas leakage that followed have shown
the lethal impacts of toxic and hazardous substances if the basic safety
measures are not followed.' Storage, manufacture, transportation and
disposal of toxic and hazardous substances like phosgene and such other
chemicals require special precautionary measures which are not unfortunately
being followed in many cases.
To enforce stringent safety measures in the factory, the Factories Act is being amended. Efforts are also being made to strengthen the factories inspectorate by inducting/training of personnel for dealing with the hazardous industries. The Motor Vehicles Act is under review for incorporating provisions to enforce special measures during transportation of hazardous substances. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 has also the provisions for enforcing preventive, regulatory and abatement measures concerning hazardous substances.
Use of pesticides like DDT for agriculture and public health program has been a debated issue because of high concentration of DDT detected in, food stuff and human tissues. Like many other countries, a policy decision has been taken in India too, to ban the use of DDT in agriculture. However, for public health program, there, is yet no suitable substitute available, although efforts are being made for integrated pest control and search of alternative chemicals
Municipal wastes are source of major environmental threat. This results in Chronic Toxicity. This calls for minimizing wastes, Promoting Environmentally Sound Waste Disposal and Treatment, Data and Information, International and Regional Cooperation and Coordination, , Financial and Cost Evaluation, Human Resource Development, Capacity-Building, Maximizing Environmentally Sound Waste Reuse and Recycling,
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