HAND OUT: Environmental Science

By Suparswa Chakraborty

UNIT 1: MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

A) Definition, scope and importance
B) Need for public awareness.
A)1.1 DEFINITION, SCOPE AND IMPORTANCE
1.1.1 Definition
Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects an organism. It is
essentially a multidisciplinary approach that brings about an appreciation of
our natural world and human impacts on its integrity. It is an applied science
as it seeks practical answers to making human civilization sustainable on
the earths finite resources.
Environment belongs to all the living beings and thus is, important for all.
Each and every body of whatever occupation he or she may have is affected
by environmental issues like global warming, depletion of ozone layer,
dwindling forest, energy resources, loss of global biodiversity etc.
Environment study deals with the analysis of the processes in water, air,
land, soil and organisms which leads to pollute or degrade environment. It
helps us for establishing standard, for safe, clean and healthy natural
ecosystem. It also deals with important issues like safe and clean drinking
water, hygienic living conditions and clean and fresh air, fertility of land,
healthy food and development.
Because, the environment is complex and actually made up of many
different environments, including natural, constructed and cultural
environments, environmental studies is the inter disciplinary examination of
how biology, geology, politics policy studies, law, geology, religion
engineering, chemistry and economics combine to inform the consideration
of humanitys effects on the natural world.
This subject educates the (students) to appreciate the complexity of
environmental issues and citizens and experts in many fields. By studying
environmental science, (students) may develop a breadth of the
interdisciplinary and methodological knowledge in the environmental fields
that enables them to facilitate the definition and solution of environmental
problems.

Its components include biology, geology, chemistry, physics, engineering,

sociology, health, anthropology, economics, statistics, computers and
philosophy.

1. Physics:
To understand the flux of material and energy interaction.
To construct mathematical models of environment.
2. Chemistry:
To understand the molecular interactions in the system.
3. Biology:
To describe the effects within the plant and animal kingdom and their
diversity.
4. Atmospheric Science:
To examine the phenomenology of the Earth's gaseous outer layer with
emphasis upon interrelation to other systems.
It comprises meteorological studies, greenhouse gas phenomena,
airborne contaminants, sound propagation phenomena related to noise
pollution, and even light pollution.
5. Ecology:
To analyse the dynamics among an interrelated set of populations, or a
population and some aspects of its environment.
These studies could endangered species, predator interactions, effects
upon populations by environmental contaminants, or impact analysis
of proposed land development upon species viability.
6. Environmental Chemistry:
To study the chemical alterations in the environment.
Principal areas of study include soil contamination and water pollution.
The topics of analysis involve chemical degradation in the
environment, multi-phase transport of chemicals and chemical effects
upon biota.
7. Geo-science:
It includes environmental geology, environmental soil science, volcanic
phenomena and evolution of the earth's crust.
In some classification systems, it can also embrace hydrology including
oceanography.
8. Mathematics and Computer Science:
It will help in environmental modeling and analysis of
environment related data.

9. Economics:
It deals with economical aspects of various components of
environment.
10. Law:
It helps in framing of environment related laws, Acts, rules and their
monitoring.
11. Social Science:
It helps in dealing with population and health related issues.
12. Commerce
Cost pertaining to the resources.
Table 1.1. Interdisciplinary Nature of Environmental Science:
Example: Air Pollution:
Environmental
issue/topics
Major subject/ Topic knowledge required
Nature and reaction of
air pollutants
Chemistry and Chemical engineering
Effects of air pollutants
on human beings,
Zoology and botany and various branches of life
animal and plants
science. Physics and Chemistry
Effect of air pollutants
on materials
Meteorology, Thermodynamics, Geography
Effect of climate on air
pollution
Mathematical modeling, etc.
Air pollution control
Physics, chemistry and various branches of
devices
Engineering
History of air pollution
and air pollution
episodes
History
Economic impacts of air
pollution
Economics, Demography
Sociological impacts of
air pollution
Sociology
Alternative fuels
Various branches of physical sciences
Conservation of
resources and pollution
control
Various branches of physical and political sciences
Almost all fields under the sun has got something to
Ozone hole and global contribute to the understanding and prevention of
warming
these phenomenon.

Most of the major challenges in the environmental sciences (and

management) require multidisciplinary solutions. The environment may
be conceptualized in biological, chemical, physical, or social scientific terms,
and important research endeavors arise from all these fields.
1.1.2 Scope
As we look around at the area in which we live, we see that our
surroundings were originally a natural landscape such as a forest, a river, a
mountain, a desert, or a combination of these elements. Most of us live in
landscapes that have been heavily modified by human beings, in villages,
towns or cities. But even those of us who live in cities get our food supply
from surrounding villages and these in turn are dependent on natural
landscapes such as forests, grasslands, rivers, seashores, for resources such
as water for agriculture, fuel wood, fodder, and fish. Thus our daily lives are
linked with our surroundings and inevitably affects them. We use water to
drink and for other day-to-day activities. We breathe air, we use resources
from which food is made and we depend on the community of living plants
and animals which form a web of life, of which we are also a part.
Everything around us forms our environment and our lives depend on
keeping its vital systems as intact as possible.
Our dependence on nature is so great that we cannot continue to live
without protecting the earths environmental resources. Thus most
traditions refer to our environment as Mother Nature and most traditional
societies have learned that respecting nature is vital for their livelihoods.
This has led to many cultural practices that helped traditional societies
protect and preserve their natural resources. Respect for nature and all
living creatures is not new to India.
All our traditions are based on these values. Emperor Ashokas edict
proclaimed that all forms of life are important for our well being in Fourth
Century BC.
Over the past 200 years however, modern societies began to believe that
easy answers to the question of producing more resources could be
provided by means of technological innovations. For example, though
growing more food by using fertilizers and pesticides, developing better
strains of domestic animals and crops, irrigating farmland through mega
dams and developing industry, led to rapid economic growth, the ill effects
of this type of development, led to environmental degradation.
The industrial development and intensive agriculture that provides the
goods for our increasingly consumer oriented society uses up large amounts

of natural resources such as water, minerals, petroleum products, wood, etc.

Nonrenewable resources, such as minerals and oil are those which will be
exhausted in the future if we continue to extract these without a thought for
subsequent generations. Renew- able resources, such as timber and water,
are those which can be used but can be regenerated by natural processes
such as re-growth or rainfall. But these too will be depleted if we continue to
use them faster than nature can replace them. For example, if the removal
of timber and firewood from a forest is faster than the re-growth and
regeneration of trees, it cannot replenish the supply. And loss of forest cover
not only depletes the forest of its resources, such as timber and other nonwood products, but affects our water resources because an intact natural
forest acts like a sponge which holds water and releases it slowly.
Deforestation leads to floods in the monsoon and dry rivers once the rains
are over.
Such multiple effects on the environment resulting from routine human
activities must be appreciated by each one of us, if it is to provide us with
the resources we need in the long-term.
Our natural resources can be compared with money in a bank. If we use it
rapidly, the capital will be reduced to zero. On the other hand, if we use only
the interest, it can sustain us over the longer term. This is called sustainable
utilisation or development.
1.1.3 Importance
Environment is not a single subject. It is an integration of several subjects
that include both Science and Social Studies. To understand all the different
aspects of our environment we need to understand biology, chemistry,
physics, geography, resource management, economics and population
issues. Thus the scope of environmental studies is extremely wide and
covers some aspects of nearly every major discipline.
We live in a world in which natural resources are limited. Water, air, soil,
minerals, oil, the products we get from forests, grasslands, oceans and from
agriculture and livestock, are all a part of our life support systems. Without
them, life itself would be impossible. As we keep increasing in numbers and
the quantity of resources each of us uses also increases, the earths
resource base must inevitably shrink. The earth cannot be expected to
sustain this expanding level of utilization of resources. Added to this is
misuse of resources. We waste or pollute large amounts of natures clean
water; we create more and more material like plastic that we discard after a
single use; and we waste colossal amounts of food, which is discarded as
garbage. Manufacturing processes create solid waste by products that are

discarded, as well as chemicals that flow out as liquid waste and pollute
water, and gases that pollute the air. Increasing amounts of waste cannot be
managed by natural processes. These accumulate in our environment,
leading to a variety of diseases and other adverse environmental impacts
now seriously affecting all our lives. Air pollution leads to respiratory
diseases, water pollution to gastro-intestinal diseases, and many pollutants
are known to cause cancer.
Improving this situation will only happen if each of us begins to take actions
in our daily lives that will help preserve our environmental resources. We
cannot expect Governments alone to manage the safeguarding of the
environment, nor can we expect other people to prevent environmental
damage. We need to do it ourselves. It is a responsibility that each of us
must take on as ones own.
Productive value of nature: As scientists make new advances in fields such
as biotechnology we begin to understand that the worlds species contain
an incredible and uncountable number of complex chemicals. These are the
raw materials that are used for developing new medicines and industrial
products and are a storehouse from which to develop thousands of new
products in the future. The flowering plants and insects that form the most
species rich groups of living organisms are thus vital for the future
development of man. If we degrade the habitat these species will become
extinct. If one sees being sold or used, a product that comes from an
illegally killed wild species, if we do not inform the authorities, we become
party to its extinction. Once they are lost, man cannot bring them back.
When we permit the destruction of a forest, wetland or other natural area
and do not protest about it, future generations are being denied the use of
these valuable resources and will blame us for these rash and negligent
actions towards the environment.
Thus the urgent need to protect all living species is a concept that we need
to understand and act upon. While individually, we perhaps cannot directly
prevent the extinction of a species, creating a strong public opinion to
protect the National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in which wild species live
is an importance aspect of sustainable living. There is a close link between
agriculture and the forest, which illustrates its productive value. For crops to
be successful, the flowers of fruit trees and vegetables must be pollinated
by insects, bats and birds. Their life cycles however frequently require intact
forests.
Aesthetic/Recreational value of nature: The aesthetic and recreational
values that nature possesses enlivens our existence on earth. This is

created by developing National Parks and Wildlife Sanctuaries in relatively

undisturbed areas. A true wilderness experience has not only recreational
value but is an incredible learning experience. It brings about an
understanding of the oneness of nature and the fact that we are entirely
dependent upon the intricate functioning of ecosystems.
The beauty of nature encompasses every aspect of the living and non-living
part of our earth. One can appreciate the magnificence of a mountain, the
power of the sea, the beauty of a forest, and the vast expanse of the desert.
It is these natural vistas and their incredible diversity of plant and animal
life that has led to the development of several philosophies of life. It has
also inspired artists to develop visual arts and writers and poets to create
their works that vitalize our lives.
A wilderness experience has exceptional recreational value. This has been
described as nature tourism, or wildlife tourism, and is also one aspect of
adventure tourism. These recreational facilities not only provide a
pleasurable experience but are intended to create a deep respect and love
for nature. They are also key tools in educating people about the fragility of
the environment and the need for sustainable lifestyles.
In an urban setting, green spaces and gardens are vital to the
pschycological and physical health of city dwellers. It provides not only an
aesthetic and visual appeal but the ability to ensure that each individual is
able to access a certain amount of peace and tranquility. Thus urban
environmental planners must ensure that these facilities are created in
growing urban complexes. Another important conservation education facility
in urban settings includes the need to set up well designed and properly
managed zoological parks and aquariums. These have got great value in
sensitizing school students to wildlife. Many young people who frequented
zoos as young children grow up to love wildlife and become
conservationists.
In the absence of access to a Protected Area, a botanical garden or a zoo,
one concept that can be developed is to create small nature awareness
areas with interpretation facilities at district and taluka levels. These areas
can be developed to mimic natural ecosystems even though they could be
relatively small in size. Such nature trails are invaluable assets for creating
conservation education and awareness. They can be developed in a small
woodlot, a patch of grassland, a pond ecosystem, or be situated along an
undisturbed river or coastal area. This would bring home to the visitor the
importance of protecting our dwindling wilderness areas.

The option values of nature: While we utilise several goods and services of
nature and enjoy its benefits, we must recognize that every activity that we
do in our daily lives has an adverse impact on natures integrity.
Thus if we use up all our resources, kill off and let species of plants and
animals become extinct on earth, pollute our air and water, degrade land,
and create enormous quantities of waste, we as a generation will leave
nothing for future generations. Our present generation has developed its
economies and lifestyles on unsustainable patterns of life. However, nature
provides us with various options on how we utilize its goods and services.
This is its option value. We can use up goods and services greedily and
destroy its integrity and long term values, or we can use its resources
sustainably and reduce our impacts on the environment. The option value
allows us to use its resources sustainably and preserve its goods and
services for the future.
B)1.2 NEED FOR PUBLIC AWARENESS
As the earths natural resources are dwindling and our environment is being
increasingly degraded by human activities, it is evident that something
needs to be done. We often feel that managing all this is something that the
Government should do. But if we go on endangering our environment, there
is no way in which the Government can perform all these clean-up functions.
It is the prevention of environment degradation in which we must all take
part that must become a part of all our lives. Just as for any disease,
prevention is better than cure. To prevent ill-effects on our environment by
our actions, is economically more viable than cleaning up the environment
once it is damaged. Individually we can play a major role in environment
management. We can reduce wasting natural resources and we can act as
watchdogs that inform the Government about sources that lead to pollution
and degradation of our environment.
This can only be made possible through mass public awareness. Mass media
such as newspapers, radio, television, strongly influence public opinion.
However, someone has to bring this about. If each of us feels strongly about
the environment, the press and media will add to our efforts. Politicians in a
democracy always respond positively to a strong publicly supported
movement. Thus if you join an NGO that supports conservation, politicians
will make green policies. We are living on spaceship earth with a limited
supply of resources. Each of us is responsible for spreading this message to
as many people as possible.
Suggested further activities for concerned students:

 Join a group to study nature, such as WWF-I or BNHS, or another

environmental group.
Begin reading newspaper articles and periodicals such as Down to
Earth, WWF-I newsletter, BNHS Hornbill, Sanctuary magazine, etc.
that will tell you more about our environment. There are also several
environmental websites.
Lobby for conserving resources by taking up the cause of
environmental issues during discussions with friends and relatives.
Practice and promote issues such as saving paper, saving water,
reducing use of plastics, practicing the 3Rs principle of reduce, reuse,
recycle, and proper waste disposal.
Join local movements that support activities such as saving trees in
your area, go on nature treks, recycle waste, buy environmentally
friendly products.
Practice and promote good civic sense such as no spitting or tobacco
chewing, no throwing garbage on the road, no smoking in public
places, no urinating or defecating in public places.
Take part in events organised on World Environment Day, Wildlife
Week, etc.
Visit a National Park or Sanctuary, or spend time in whatever nature
you have near your home.
1.2.1 Institutions in Environment
There have been several Government and Nongovernment organizations
that have led to environmental protection in our country. They have led to a
growing interest in environmental protection and conservation of nature and
natural resources. The traditional conservation practices that were part of
ancient Indias culture have however gradually disappeared. Public
awareness is thus a critical need to further environmental protection.
Among the large number of institutions that deal with environmental
protection and conservation, a few well-known organizations include
government organisations such as the BSI and ZSI, and NGOs such as BNHS,
WWF-I, etc.
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS),Mumbai: the BNHS began as
a small society of six members in 1883. It grew from a group of shikaris and
people from all walks of life into a major research organisation that
substantially influenced conservation policy in the country. The influence on
wildlife policy building, research, popular publications and peoples action
have been unique features of the multifaceted society. Undoubtedly its
major contribution has been in the field of wildlife research. It is Indias
oldest conservation research based NGO and one that has acted at the

forefront of the battle for species and ecosystems. The BNHS publishes a
popular magazine called Hornbill and also an internationally well-known
Journal on Natural History. Its other publications include the Salim Ali
Handbook on birds, JC Daniels book of Indian Reptiles, SH Praters book of
Indian Mammals and PV Boles book of Indian Trees. One of its greatest
scientists was Dr. Salim Ali whose ornithological work on the birds of the
Indian subcontinent is world famous. The BNHS has over the years helped
Government to frame wildlife related laws and has taken up battles such as
the Save the Silent Valley campaign.
World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF-I), New Delhi: The WWF-I was
initiated in 1969 in Mumbai after which the headquarters were shifted to
Delhi with several branch offices all over India. The early years focused
attention on wildlife education and awareness. It runs several programs
including the Nature Clubs of India program for school children and works as
a think tank and lobby force for environment and development issues.
Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi: Activities of
this Center include organising campaigns, holding workshops and
conferences, and producing environment related publications. It published a
major document on the State of Indias Environment, the first of its kind to
be produced as a Citizens Report on the Environment. The CSE also
publishes a popular magazine, Down to Earth, which is a Science and
Environment fortnightly. It is involved in the publication of material in the
form of books, posters, video films and also conducts workshops and
seminars on biodiversity related issues.
CPR Environmental Education Centre, Madras: The CPR EEC was set
up in 1988. It conducts a variety of programs to spread environmental
awareness and creates an interest in conservation among the general
public. It focussed attention on NGOs, teachers, women, youth and children
to generally promote conservation of nature and natural resources. Its
programs include components on wildlife and biodiversity issues. CPR EEC
also produces a large number of publications.
Centre for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad: The Centre for
Environment Education, Ahmedabad was initiated in 1989. It has a wide
range of programs on the environment and produces a variety of
educational material. CEEs Training in Environment Education {TEE}
program has trained many environment educators.
Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi (UKSN), Almora: The Organisation is a Nodal
Agency which supports NGOs in need of funds for their environment related

activities. Its major program is organizing and training school teachers to

use its locale specific Environment Education Workbook Program. The main
targets are linked with sustainable resource use at the village level through
training school children. Its environment education program covers about
500 schools.
Kalpavriksh, Pune: This NGO, initially Delhi based, is now working from
Pune and is active in several other parts of India. Kalpavriksh works on a
variety of fronts: education and awareness; investigation and research;
direct action and lobbying; and litigation with regard to environment and
development issues. Its activities include talks and audio-visuals in schools
and colleges, nature walks and outstation camps, organising student
participation in ongoing campaigns including street demonstrations, pushing
for consumer awareness regarding organic food, press statements, handling
green alerts, and meetings with the citys administrators. It is involved with
the preparation of site-specific, environmental manuals for schoolteachers.
Kalpavriksh was responsible for developing Indias National Biodiversity
Strategy and Action Plan in 2003.
Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON),
Coimbatore: This institution was Dr. Salim Alis dream that became a
reality only after his demise. He wished to support a group of committed
conservation scientists on a permanent basis. Initially conceived as being a
wing of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) it later evolved as an
independent organisation based at Coimbatore in 1990. It has instituted a
variety of field programs that have added to the countrys information on
our threatened biodiversity.
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun: This Institution was
established in 1982, as a major training establishment for Forest Officials
and Research in Wildlife Management. Its most significant publication has
been Planning A Wildlife Protected Area Network for India (Rodgers and
Panwar, 1988). The organisation has over the years added an enormous
amount of information on Indias biological wealth. It has trained a large
number of Forest Department Officials and Staff as Wildlife Managers. Its
M.Sc. Program has trained excellent wildlife scientists. It also has an
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) cell. It trains personnel in ecodevelopment, wildlife biology, habitat management and Nature
interpretation.
Botanical Survey of India (BSI): The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) was
established in 1890 at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Calcutta. However it
closed down for several years after 1939 and was reopened in 1954. In 1952

plans were made to reorganise the BSI and formulate its objectives. By 1955
the BSI had its headquarters in Calcutta with Circle Offices at Coimbatore,
Shillong, Pune and Dehra Dun. Between 1962 and 1979, offices were
established in Allahabad, Jodhpur, Port Blair, Itanagar and Gangtok. The BSI
currently has nine regional centres. It carries out surveys of plant resources
in different regions.
Zoological Survey of India (ZSI): The ZSI was established in1916. Its
mandate was to do a systematic survey of fauna in India. It has over the
years collected type specimens on the bases of which our animal life has
been studied over the years. Its origins were collections based at the Indian
Museum at Calcutta, which was established in 1875. Older collections of the
Asiatic Society of Bengal, which were made between 1814 and 1875, as well
as those of the Indian Museum made between 1875 and 1916 were then
transferred to the ZSI. Today it has over a million specimens! This makes it
one of the largest collections in Asia. It has done an enormous amount of
work on taxonomy and ecology. It currently operates from 16 regional
centers.
1.2.2 People in Environment
There are several internationally known environmental thinkers. Among
those who have made landmarks, the names that are usually mentioned are
Charles Darwin, Ralph Emerson, Henry Thoreau, John Muir, Aldo Leopald,
Rachel Carson and EO Wilson. Each of these thinkers looked at the
environment from a completely different perspective.
Charles Darwin wrote the Origin of Species, which brought to light the
close relationship between habitats and species. It brought about a new
thinking of mans relationship with other species that was based on
evolution. Alfred Wallace came to the same conclusions during his work.
Ralph Emerson spoke of the dangers of commerce to our environment way
back in the 1840s. Henry Thoreau in the 1860s wrote that the wilderness
should be preserved after he lived in the wild for a year. He felt that most
people did not care for nature and would sell it off for a small sum of money.
John Muir is remembered as having saved the great ancient sequoia trees
in Californias forests. In the 1890s he formed the Sierra club, which is a
major conservation NGO in the USA. Aldo Leopald was a forest official in
the US in the 1920s. He designed the early policies on wilderness
conservation and wildlife management. In the 1960s Rachel Carson
published several articles that caused immediate worldwide concern on the
effects of pesticides on nature and mankind. She wrote a well known book
called Silent Spring which eventually led to a change in Government policy

and public awareness. EO Wilson is an entomologist who envisioned that

biological diversity was a key to human survival on earth. He wrote
Diversity of Life in 1993, which was awarded a prize for the best book
published on environmental issues. His writings brought home to the world
the risks to mankind due to manmade disturbances in natural ecosystems
that are leading to the rapid extinction of species at the global level.
There have been a number of individuals who have been instrumental in
shaping the environmental history in our country. Some of the wellknown
names in the last century include environmentalists, scientists,
administrators, legal experts, educationists and journalists. Salim Alis name
is synonymous with ornithology in India and with the Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS). He also wrote several great books including the
famous Book of Indian Birds. His autobiography, Fall of a Sparrow should
be read by every nature enthusiast. He was our countrys leading
conservation scientist and influenced environmental policies in our country
for over 50 years. Indira Gandhi as PM has played a highly significant role in
the preservation of Indias wildlife. It was during her period as PM, that the
network of PAs grew from 65 to 298! The Wildlife Protection Act was
formulated during the period when she was PM and the Indian Board for
Wildlife was extremely active as she personally chaired all its meetings.
India gained a name for itself by being a major player in CITES and other
International Environmental Treaties and Accords during her tenure. BNHS
frequently used her good will to get conservation action initiated by the
Government.
S P Godrej was one of Indias greatest supporters of wildlife conservation
and nature awareness programs. Between 1975 and 1999, SP Godrej
received 10 awards for his conservation. He was awarded the Padma
Bhushan in 1999. His friendship with people in power combined with his
deep commitment for conservation led to his playing a major advocacy role
for wildlife in India.
M S Swaminathan was one of Indias foremost agricultural scientists and
has also been concerned with various aspects of biodiversity conservation
both of cultivars and wild biodiversity. He has founded the MS Swaminathan
Research Foundation in Chennai, which does work on the conservation of
biological diversity.
Madhav Gadgil is a well known ecologist in India. His interests range from
broad ecological issues such as developing Community Biodiversity
Registers and conserving sacred groves to studies on the behaviour of

mammals, birds and insects. He has written several articles, published

papers in journals and is the author of 6 books.
M C Mehta is undoubtedly Indias most famous environmental lawyer.
Since 1984, he has filed several Public Interest Litigations for supporting the
cause of environmental conservation. His most famous and long drawn
battles supported by the Supreme Court include protecting the Taj Mahal,
cleaning up the Ganges River, banning intensive shrimp farming on the
coast, initiating Government to implement environmental education in
schools and colleges, and a variety of other conservation issues.
Anil Agarwal was a journalist who wrote the first report on the State of
Indias Environment in 1982. He founded the Center for Science and
Environment which is an active NGO that supports various environmental
issues.
Medha Patkar is known as one of Indias champions who has supported
the cause of downtrodden tribal people whose environment is being
affected by the dams on the Narmada river.
Sunderlal Bahugnas Chipko Movement has become an internationally
well known example of a highly successful conservation action program
through the efforts of local people for guarding their forest resources. His
fight to prevent the construction of the Tehri Dam in a fragile earthquake
prone setting is a battle that he continues to wage. The Garhwal Hills will
always remember his dedication to the cause for which he has walked over
20 thousand kilometers.