Environmental Science Module 4

Environmental Science

Module 4: SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Sustainable development, Urban problems related to energy, Environmental ethics –Issues,
Solutions; Global warming, Acid rain, Ozone layer depletion, Nuclear accidents and case
studies, Wasteland reclamation, Consumerism and waste products, Concept of green
technologies, Environment justice: National Green Tribunal and its importance; Environment
protection act, Air act, Water act, Wildlife protection act, Forest conservation act, Issues
involved in enforcement of environmental legislation, Public environmental awareness.

4.0. Introduction
Our technological development has strong impacts on the natural as well as the social
components. Development has to be visualized in a holistic manner, where it brings benefits
to all, not only for the present generation, but also for the future generations. There is a need
to inter-link the social aspects with development and environment.

4.1. Sustainable Development

Sustainable development is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Until now development has been human-oriented, that too mainly, for a few rich nations.
They have touched the greatest heights of scientific and technological development, but at
what cost? The air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat have all been badly
polluted. Our natural resources are just dwindling due to over exploitation.

A clear discussion on sustainable development emerged on an international level in 1992,

in the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), popularly known as The
Earth Summit, held at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Agenda-21 proposes a global programme of
action on sustainable development in social, economic and political context for the 21st
Century.

4.1.1. Key Aspects of Sustainable Development

(a) Inter-generational equity:
This emphasizes that we should minimize any adverse impacts on resources and
environment for future generations.

(b) Intra-generational equity:

This emphasizes that the development processes should seek to minimize the
wealth gaps within and between nations. The technological development should
support the economic growth of the poor countries and help in narrowing the wealth
gap and lead to sustainability.

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 1

Environmental Science Module 4

4.1.2. Measures for Sustainable Development

(a) Using appropriate technology:
It is one which is locally adaptable, eco-friendly, resource-efficient and culturally
suitable. It mostly involves local resources and local labour. Nature is often taken as a
model, using the natural conditions of that region as its components. This concept is
known as “design with nature”.

(b) Reduce, Reuse, Recycle approach:

The 3-R approach advocates minimization of resource use, using them again and
again instead of passing it on to the waste stream and recycling the materials. It
reduces pressure on our resources as well as reduces waste generation and pollution.

(c) Promoting environmental education and awareness:

Making environmental education the centre of all learning process will greatly
help in changing the thinking and attitude of people towards our earth and the
environment. Introducing the subject right from the school stage will inculcate a
feeling of belongingness to earth in the small children.

(d) Resource utilization as per carrying capacity:

Any system can sustain a limited number of organisms on a long-term basis which
is known as its carrying capacity. Sustainability of a system depends largely upon the
carrying capacity of the system. If the carrying capacity of a system is crossed,
environmental degradation starts and continues till it reaches a point of no return.

4.2. Urban Problems Related to Energy

Until recently, a big majority of human population lived in rural areas and their economic
activities centered around agriculture, cattle rearing, fishing, hunting or some cottage
industry. With the dawn of Industrial era, the cities showed a rapid development.

Now, about 50 percent of the world population lives in urban areas and there is an
increasing movement of rural folk to cities in search of employment. There is spreading of
the cities into the sub-urban or rural areas too. This phenomenon is known as ‘urban sprawl’.

The energy requirements of urban population are much higher than that of rural ones.
This is because urban people have a higher standard of life and their life style demands more
energy inputs in every sphere of life.

The energy demanding activities include:

 Residential and commercial lighting.
 Transportation means including automobiles and public transport
 Modern life-style using a large number of electrical gadgets in everyday life
 Industrial plants using a big proportion of energy

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 2

Environmental Science Module 4

 A large amount of waste generation which has to be disposed off properly using
energy based techniques
 Control and prevention of air and water pollution which need energy dependent
technologies.

4.3. Resettlement and Rehabilitation Issues

In India, most of the displacements have resulted due to land acquisition by the government
for various reasons. For this purpose, the government has the Land Acquisition Act, 1894
which empowers it to serve notice to the people to vacate their lands if there is a need as per
government planning. Provision of cash compensation in lieu of the land vacated exists in
section 16 of the Act.

The major issues related to displacement and rehabilitation are as follows:

 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.
 The tribals are not familiar with the market policies and trends.
 The land acquisition laws ignore the communal ownership of property, which is an
inbuilt system amongst the tribals. Thus the tribals lose their communitarian basis of
economic and cultural existence.
 Kingship systems, marriages, social and cultural functions, their folk-songs, dances
and activities vanish with their displacement.
 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.

4.4. Environmental Ethics

Environmental ethics refers to the issues, principles and guidelines relating to human
interactions with their environment.

(a) Human-centric thinking: Man is all powerful and the supreme creature on this earth
and man is the master of nature and can harness it at his will.

(b) Earth-centric thinking: Nature has provided us with all the resources for leading a
beautiful life and she nourishes us like a mother, we should respect her and nurture
her”.

4.4.1. Anthropocentric Worldview

It puts human beings in the center giving them the highest status. The guiding principles of
this view are:
 Man is the planet's 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.

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 3

Environmental Science Module 4

 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 a healthy economy.
 The success of mankind depends upon how good managers we are for deriving
benefits for us from nature.

4.4.2. Eco-centric Worldview

This is based on earth-wisdom. The basic beliefs are as follows:
 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 earth-sustaining development and
discourages earth-degrading development.
 A healthy economy depends upon a 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.

Some important Environmental Ethics are as follows:

 You should love and honour the earth since it has blessed you with life and governs
your survival.
 You should keep each day sacred to earth and celebrate the turning of its seasons.
 You should not hold yourself above other living things and have no right to drive
them to extinction.
 You should be grateful to the plants and animals which nourish you by giving you
food.
 You should limit your offsprings because too many people will overburden the earth.
 You should not waste your resources on destructive weapons.
 You should not run after gains at the cost of nature, rather should strive to restore its
damaged majesty.
 You should not steal from future generations their right to live in a clean and safe
planet by impoverishing or polluting it.
 You should consume the material goods in moderate amounts so that all may share
the earth’s precious treasure of resources.

4.5. Climate Change

Climate is the average weather of an area. It is the general weather conditions, seasonal
variations and extremes of weather in a region. Such conditions which average over a long
period- at least 30 years is called climate.

Anthropogenic (man-made) activities are upsetting the delicate balance that has
established between various components of the environment. Green house gases are
increasing in the atmosphere resulting in increase in the average global temperature. This
may upset the hydrological cycle, result in floods and droughts in different regions of the

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 4

Environmental Science Module 4

world, cause sea level rise, changes in agriculture productivity, famines and death of humans
as well as live stock.

4.5.1. Global Warming

Troposphere, the lowermost layer of the atmosphere, traps heat by a natural process due to
the presence of certain gases. This effect is called Green House Effect. The amount of heat
trapped in the atmosphere depends mostly on the concentrations of “heat trapping” or “green
house” gases and the length of time they stay in the atmosphere. The major green house gases
are carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and water
vapours. Heat trapped by green house gases in the atmosphere keeps the planet warm enough
to allow us and other species to exist.

Impacts of Enhanced Greenhouse Effect:

 It is estimated that the earth’s mean temperature will rise between 1.5 to 5.5°C by
2050 if input of greenhouse gases continues to rise at the present rate.
 With the increase in global temperature sea water will expand.
 Heating will melt the polar ice sheets and glaciers resulting in further rise in sea level.
 The global warming will lead to changes in the rainfall pattern in many areas.
 Higher temperature and humidity will increase respiratory and skin diseases.
 Soil moisture will decrease and evapo-transpiration will increase, which may
drastically affect wheat and maize production.
 Increase in temperature and humidity will increase pest growth like the growth of
vectors for various diseases.

Measures to Check Global Warming:

 Cut down the current rate of use of CFCs and fossil fuel.
 Use energy more efficiently. Shift to renewable energy resources.
 Increase Nuclear Power Plants for electricity production.
 Shift from coal to natural gas.
 Trap and use methane as a fuel.
 Stabilize population growth.
 Efficiently remove CO2 from smoke stacks.
 Plant more trees.

4.5.2. Acid Rain

Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with
acidic components, such as sulphuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the
atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that is
acidic.

Acid rain results when sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into
the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents. The SO2 and NOX react with water,
oxygen and other chemicals to form sulphuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 5

Environmental Science Module 4

other materials before falling to the ground. Normal rain has a pH of about 5.6. Acid rain
usually has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.

Sources of SO2 and NOX:

 Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity. Two thirds of SO2 and one fourth of
NOX in the atmosphere come from electric power generators.
 Vehicles and heavy equipment.
 Manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries.
 Winds can blow SO2 and NOX over long distances and across borders making acid
rain a problem for everyone and not just those who live close to these sources.

Effects of Acid Rain:

 It causes deterioration of buildings especially made of marble.
 It damages stone statues.
 It damages metals and car finishes.
 Aquatic life especially fish are badly affected by lake acidification.
 It results in reproductive failure, and killing of fish.
 It makes trees more susceptible to stresses like cold temperature, drought, etc.

Control of Acid Rain:

 Emission of SO2 and NO2 from industries and power plants should be reduced by
using pollution control equipments.
 Liming of lakes and soils should be done to correct the adverse effects of acid rain.
 Flue Gas Desulphurisation (FGD).
 Use other sources of electricity (i.e. hydro-electricity, wind energy, geothermal
energy, and solar energy)

4.5.3. Ozone Layer Depletion

Ozone layer is a thin blanket-like layer that spreads over the atmosphere of the earth. Ozone
concentration in about 24 km of the stratosphere i.e. from 16 km to 40 Km away from earth is
about 10 ppm (as compared to 0.05 ppm concentration of harmful tropospheric ozone). This
equilibrium is disturbed by reactive atoms of chlorine, bromine etc. which destroy ozone
molecules and result is thinning of ozone layer generally called ‘ozone hole’.

The UV light can be classified into three categories:

 UV-A - 320 – 400 nm
 UV-B - 290 – 320 nm
 UV-C - 190 – 290 nm

UV-A and UV-B reaches the surface of earth, where as UV-C is absorbed before it
reaches the atmosphere. The amount of atmospheric ozone is measured by ‘Dobson
Spectrometer’ and is expressed in Dobson units (DU).

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 6

Environmental Science Module 4

Thinning of Ozone Layer:

The Antarctic ozone hole was discovered by Dr Joe C. Farman and his colleagues in 1980s
during the British Antarctic Survey. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are mainly responsible for
ozone depletion in the stratosphere.

CFCs are used as coolants in refrigerators and air conditioners, as propellants,

cleaning solvents, sterilant and in styrofoam etc. CFCs released in the troposphere reach the
stratosphere and remain there for 65-110 years destroying O3 molecules.

Effects of Ozone Depletion:

Ozone depletion in the stratosphere will result in more UV radiation reaching the earth.
 It causes skin cancer.
 Easy absorption of UV rays by the lens and cornea of eye will result in increase in
incidents of cataract.
 Melanin producing cells of the epidermis will be destroyed by UV-rays resulting in
immuno-suppression.
 Yield of vital crops like corn, rice, soybean, cotton, bean, pea, sorghum and wheat
will decrease.
 Degradation of paints, plastics and other polymer material will result in economic loss
due to effects of UV radiation resulting from ozone depletion.

4.6. Water Conservation Practices

(a) Decreasing run-off losses:
Huge water-loss occurs due to runoff on most of the soils, which can be reduced
by allowing most of the water to infiltrate into the soil. This can be achieved by using
contour cultivation, terrace farming, water spreading, chemical treatment or improved
water-storage system.

(b) Reducing evaporation losses:

This is more relevant in humid regions. Horizontal barriers of asphalt placed
below the soil surface increase water availability and increase crop yield by 35-40%.
A co-polymer of starch and acrylonitrile called ‘super slurper’ has been reported to
absorb water upto 1400 times its weight. The chemical has been found to be useful for
sandy soils.

(c) Storing water in soil:

Storage of water takes place in the soil root zone in humid regions when the soil is
wetted to field capacity.

(d) Reducing irrigation losses:

 Use of lined or covered canals to reduce seepage.
 Irrigation in early morning or late evening to reduce evaporation losses.
 Sprinkling irrigation and drip irrigation to conserve water by 30-50%.

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 7

Environmental Science Module 4

 Growing hybrid crop varieties with less water requirements and tolerance to
saline water help conserve water.

(e) Re-use of water:

 Treated wastewater can be used for ferti-irrigation.
 Using grey water from washings, bath-tubs etc. for watering gardens, washing
cars or paths help in saving fresh water.
 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:

The consumer has to pay a proportionately higher bill with higher use of water.
This helps in economic use of water by the consumers.

4.7. Rain Water Harvesting

Rainwater harvesting is a technique of increasing the recharge of groundwater by capturing
and storing rainwater. This is done by constructing special water-harvesting structures like
dug wells, percolation pits, lagoons, check dams etc.

Rainwater harvesting has the following objectives:

 to reduce run off loss
 to avoid flooding of roads
 to meet the increasing demands of water
 to raise the water table by recharging ground water
 to reduce groundwater contamination
 to supplement groundwater supplies during lean season

4.7.1. Traditional Rain Water Harvesting

 In India, it is an old practice in high rainfall areas to collect rainwater from roof-tops
into storage tanks.
 In foot hills, water flowing from springs are collected by embankment type water
storage.
 In Himalayan foot-hills people use the hollow bamboos as pipelines to transport the
water of natural springs.

4.8. Watershed Management

The watershed is defined as the land area from which water drains under gravity to a common
drainage channel. The watershed comprises complex interactions of soil, landform,
vegetation, land use activities and water. The watershed can range from a few square
kilometers to few thousand square kilometers in size.

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 8

Environmental Science Module 4

The management of watersheds is extremely important as it is directly involved in

sustained food production, water supply for irrigation, power generation, transportation as
well as for influencing sedimentation and erosion, vegetation growth, floods and droughts.
The first such Integrated Watershed Management was adopted in 1949 by the Damodar
Valley Corporation.

Overgrazing, deforestation, mining, construction activities, industrialization, shifting

cultivation, natural and artificial fires, soil erosion and ignorance of local people have been
responsible for degradation of various watersheds.

Definition:
Rational utilization of land and water resources for optimum production causing
minimum damage to the natural resources is known as watershed management.

The objectives of watershed management are as follows:

 To rehabilitate the watershed through proper land use adopting conservation strategies
for minimizing soil erosion and moisture retention so as to ensure good productivity
of the land for the farmers.
 To manage the watershed for beneficial developmental activities like domestic water
supply, irrigation, hydropower generation etc.
 To minimize the risks of floods, droughts and landslides.

4.8.1. Watershed Management Practices

 Water harvesting
 Afforestation and Agroforestry
 Mechanical measures for reducing soil erosion and runoff losses
 Scientific mining and quarrying
 Public participation

4.9. Wasteland Reclamation

Wasteland reclamation is defined as ‘degraded land which can be brought under vegetative
cover with reasonable effort and which is currently under utilization and land which is
deteriorating for lack of appropriate water and soil management or on account of natural
causes’.

Objectives of Wasteland Reclamation:

 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.

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 9

Environmental Science Module 4

Some important reclamation practices are:

(a) Land development and leaching:
For reclamation of the salt affected soil, it is necessary to remove the salts from
the root-zone which is usually achieved by leaching i.e. by applying excess amount of
water to push down the salts. After leveling and ploughing, the field is bunded in
small plots and leaching is done. In continuous leaching, 0.5 to 1.0 cm water is
required to remove 90% of soluble salts from each cm of the soil depending upon
texture.

(b) Drainage:
This is required for water-logged soil reclamation where excess water is
removed by artificial drainage.
Surface drainage:
This is used in areas where water stands on the fields after heavy rains by providing
ditches to runoff the excess water. Usually 30-45 cm deep ditches lying parallel to each
other at 20-60 m distance.

Sub-surface drainage:
Horizontal sub-surface drainage is provided in the form of perforated corrugated PVC
pipes or open-jointed pipes with an envelope of gravel 2-3 m below the land surface.

(c) Irrigation Practices:

 Surface irrigation with precise land leveling, smoothening and efficient hydraulic
design help to reduce water logging and salinity.
 High frequency irrigation with controlled amount of water helps to maintain
better water availability in the upper root zone.
 Thin and frequent irrigations have been found to be more useful for better crop
yield when the irrigation water is saline as compared to few heavy irrigations.

(d) Selection of tolerant crops and crop rotations:

 Tolerance of crops to salts is found to range from sensitive, semi-tolerant, tolerant
to highly tolerant.
 Barley, sugar beet and date-palm are highly tolerant crops which do not suffer
from any reduction in crop yield even at a high salinity.
 Wheat, sorghum, pearl millet, soyabean, mustard and coconut are salt-tolerant
crops.
 Rice, millets, maize, pulses, sunflower, sugarcane and many vegetables like
bottle gourd, brinjal etc. are semi-tolerant.

(e) Gypsum amendment:

Amendment of sodic soils with gypsum is recommended for reducing soil
sodicity as calcium of gypsum replaces sodium from the exchangeable sites.

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 10

Environmental Science Module 4

(f) Green-manures, fertilizers and biofertilizers:

Application of farm yard manure or nitrogen fertilizer have been found to improve
saline soils. Green manuring have also been reported to improve salt-affected soils.
Blue green algae have been found to be quite promising as biofertilizers for
improving salt-affected soils.

(g) Afforestation Programmes:

The National Wasteland Development Board, in the Ministry of Environment
and Forests has set a target of bringing 5 million hectares of wasteland annually under
firewood and fodder plantation.

(h) Social Forestry Programmes:

These programmes mostly involve strip plantation on road, rail and canal-
sides, rehabilitation of degraded forest lands, farm-forestry, waste-land forest
development etc.

4.10. Consumerism
Consumerism refers to the consumption of resources by the people. Early human societies
used to consume much less resources, with the dawn of industrial era, consumerism has
shown an exponential rise. It has been related both to the increase in the population size as
well as increase in our demands due to change in life-style.

Two types of conditions of population and consumerism exist.

 People over-population
 Consumption over-population

(a) People over-population:

 It occurs when there are more people than available supplies of food, water and
other important resources in the area.
 Excessive 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).
 Per capita consumption is less but overall consumption is high.

(b) Consumption over-population:

 This occurs in the more developed countries (MDCs).
 Here population size is smaller while resources are in abundance and due to
luxurious life-style per capita consumption of resources is very high.
 More the consumption of resources more is the waste generation and greater is
the degradation of the environment.

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 11

Environmental Science Module 4

4.11. Environmental Legislation

The need for protection and conservation of environment and sustainable use of natural
resources is reflected in the constitutional framework of India and also in the international
commitments of India.

The Constitution under Part IVA (Art 51A-Fundamental Duties) casts a duty on every
citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers
and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures. Further, the Constitution of India
under Part IV (Art 48A-Directive Principles of State Policies) stipulates that the State shall
endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife
of the country.

On 5th June, 1972, environment was first discussed as an item of international agenda in
the U.N. Conference on Human Environment in Stockholm and thereafter 5th June is
celebrated all over the world as World Environment Day. After the Stockholm Conference,
the National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning was set up in 1972 within the
Department of Science and Technology to establish a regulatory body to look after the
environment-related issues. This Council later evolved into a full-fledged Ministry of
Environment and Forests (MoEF).

India is the first country in the world to have made provisions for the protection and
conservation of environment in its constitution.

Some of the important legislations for environment protection are as follows:

 The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
 Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
 The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980
 Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
 The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
 Hazardous Wastes Management Regulations
 The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

4.11.1. Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972

 It provides for the appointment of wildlife advisory Board, Wildlife warden, their
powers, duties etc.
 Under this Act, comprehensive listing of endangered wild life species was done for
the first time and prohibition of hunting of the endangered species was mentioned.
 The Act provides for setting up of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries etc.
 The Act provides for the constitution of Central Zoo Authority.
 The Act imposes a ban on the trade or commerce in scheduled animals.
 It provides for legal powers to officers and punishment to offenders.
 It provides for captive breeding programme for endangered species.

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 12

Environmental Science Module 4

4.11.2. Water (Prevention and Control Of Pollution) Act, 1974

 It provides for maintenance and restoration of quality of all types of surface and
ground water.
 It provides for the establishment of Central and State Boards for pollution control.
 It confers them with powers and functions to advise, coordinate and provide technical
assistance for prevention and control of water pollution.
 The Act has provisions for funds, budgets, accounts and audit of the Central and State
Pollution Control Boards.
 The Act makes provisions for various penalties for the defaulters and procedure for
the same.

The main regulatory bodies are the Pollution Control Boards.

 Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
 State Pollution Control Board (SPCB)

Duties and Powers:

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.
 Collects, compiles and publishes technical and statistical data related to pollution and
prepares manuals for treatment and disposal of sewage and trade effluents.
 Lays down standards for water quality parameters.
 Establishes and recognizes laboratories for analysis of water, sewage or trade effluent
sample.

SPCB:
 The Board advises the state govt. with respect to the location of any industry that
might pollute a stream or a well.
 It lays down standards for effluents and is empowered to take samples from any
stream, well or trade effluent or sewage passing through an industry.
 Every industry has to obtain consent from the Board (granted for a fixed duration)
 The Board suggests efficient methods for utilization, treatment and disposal of trade
effluents.

4.11.3. Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980

 The State Govt. has been empowered under this Act to use the forests only for
forestry purposes.
 If at all it wants to use it in any other way, it has to take prior approval of central
Government, after which it can pass orders for declaring some part of reserve forest

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 13

Environmental Science Module 4

for non-forest purposes (e.g mining) or for clearing some naturally growing trees and
replacing them by economically important trees (reforestation).
 Any illegal non-forest activity within a forest area can be immediately stopped under
this Act.

4.11.4. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

 The Act provides for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
 To counter the problems associated with air pollution, ambient air quality standards
were established under the Air Act.
 The Air Act seeks to combat air pollution by prohibiting the use of polluting fuels and
substances, as well as by regulating appliances that give rise to air pollution.
 The Air Act empowers the State Government, after consultation with the SPCBs, to
declare any area or areas within the state as air pollution control area.
 Under the Act, establishing or operating any industrial plant in the pollution control
area requires consent from SPCBs.
 Section 20 of the Act has provision for ensuring emission standards from
automobiles. Based upon it, the state govt. is empowered to issue instructions to the
authority in-charge of registration of motor vehicles (under Motor Vehicles Act,
1939) that is bound to comply with such instructions.

4.11.5. The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

 The Act came into force on Nov. 19, 1986, the birth anniversary of our Late Prime
Minister Indira Gandhi, who was a pioneer of environmental protection issues in our
country.
 The Environment Protection Act, 1986 (the "Environment Act") provides for the
protection and improvement of environment.
 The Environment Protection Act establishes the framework for studying, planning and
implementing long-term requirements of environmental safety and laying down a
system of speedy and adequate response to situations threatening the environment.
 Under the Environment Act, the Central Government is empowered to take measures
necessary to protect and improve the quality of environment by
o setting standards for emissions and discharges of pollution in the atmosphere
by any person carrying on an industry or activity.
o regulating the location of industries
o management of hazardous wastes, and protection of public health and welfare.
 In case of any non-compliance or contravention of the Environment Act, or of the
rules or directions under the said Act, the violator will be punishable with
imprisonment up to five years or with fine up to Rs 1,00,000, or with both.

4.11.6. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010

The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 (No. 19 of 2010) (NGT Act) has been enacted with
the objectives to provide for establishment of a National Green Tribunal (NGT) for the
effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environment protection and

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 14

Environmental Science Module 4

conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right
relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and
property and for matters connected therewith.

4.12. Public Environmental Awareness

Development has paved the path for rise in the levels or standards of living but it has
simultaneously led to serious environmental disasters. Some awareness has taken place
related to environmental degradation, pollution etc. but incomplete knowledge and
information and ignorance about many aspects has often led to misconceptions. Issues related
to environment have often been branded as anti-development.

Some of the main reasons responsible for widespread environmental ignorance can be
summed up as follows:
 Our planners, decision-makers, politicians and administrators have not been trained so
as to consider the environmental aspects associated with their plans.
 In a zeal to go ahead with some ambitious development projects, quite often there is
purposeful concealment of information about environmental aspects.
 There is greater consideration of economic gains and issues related to eliminating
poverty by providing employment that overshadows the basic environmental issues.

4.12.1. Methods to Propagate Environmental Awareness

(a) Among students through education:
Environmental education must be imparted to the students right from the childhood
stage.

(b) Among the Masses through mass-media:

Media can play an important role to educate the masses on environmental issues
through articles, environmental rallies, plantation campaigns, street plays, real eco-disaster
stories and success stories of conservation efforts.

(c) Among the planners, decision-makers and leaders:

 This elite section of the society plays the most important role in shaping the future of
the society.
 It is very important to give them the necessary orientation and training through
specially organized workshops and training programmes.
 Publication of environment - related resource material in the form of pamphlets or
booklets published by Ministry of Environment & Forests can also help in keeping
this section abreast of the latest developments in the field.

4.13. Role of Non-Government Organisations (NGO’s)

Voluntary organizations can help by advising the government about some local
environmental issues and at the same time interacting at the grass-root levels. They can act as

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 15

Environmental Science Module 4

an effective and viable link between the two. They can be very effective in organizing public
movements for the protection of environment through creation of awareness.

The “Chipko Movement” for conservation of trees by Dasholi Gram Swarajya

Mandal in Gopeshwar or the “Narmada Bachao Andolan” organized by Kalpavriksh, are
some of the instances where NGO’s have played a landmark role in the society for
conservation of environment.

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), the World Wide Fund for Nature -
India (WWF, India), Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad, Centre for Science and Environment
(CSE) and many others are playing a significant role in creating environmental awareness
through research as well as extension work.

4.14. Green Technology

 It is a technology which is environmental friendly, developed and used in such a way
so that it doesn’t disturb our environment and conserves natural resources.
 It is also known as Environmental Technology or Clean Technology.
 “Green Technology” is a system that uses innovative methods to create a
environmental friendly products.
 It uses renewable natural resources that never depletes, so future generation can also
benefit from it.
 It can effectively change waste pattern and production in a way that it won’t harm the
planet.

Mr. M. S. Yuvaraj, Assistant Professor, Dept. of CE 16