ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND CONSERVATION IN INDIA

Environmental protection and conservation in India started mainly in 1970. India was quick to respond to international efforts for environmental protection. The 42^nd amendment of the Indian Constitution included environmental protection as constitutional obligation. Article 48A lays down that, ‘the state shall endeavor to protect, improve the environment and safeguard forest and wildlife in the country. Article 51 A relates to the fundamental duty that, ‘It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forest, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures’.

Under the chairmanship of the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, a high-power committee was set up in 1980 to recommend sound legislative measures to improve the quality of the environment and ensure its protection. The committee recommended the establishment of a separate ‘Department of Environment’ with the following functions:

To act as a nodal agency for environment protection and economic development.

To conduct environmental appraisals of development projects.

Administer the responsibility of pollution monitoring and regulation.

Conservation of critical ecosystems designated as biosphere

Conservation of Marine Ecosystems.

Protection of grazing lands

Toxic substance control Act.

India has also embarked on several legislative measures to protect environment and maintain ecological balance. Some of the important laws are:

Wildlife Protection Act – 1972

Water (Prevention and Control of pollution) – 1974

Air (Prevention and Control of pollution) – 1981

The Forest Act of 1980 (Conservation)

Wildlife (Protection) Amendment Act 1982

Environmental Protection Act of 1986 (This Act focused on regulation and discharge of pollutants, handling of hazardous substances, deterrent punishment to those endangering the human environment, safety and health).

Introduction of the Environmental Audit 1992

Establishment of State Pollution Control Boards.

 

India does not have a strict resource conservation policy

Common methods of Conservation:

Policy of conservation should include:

Substitution – Since non-renewable resources are irretrievable it is necessary to substitute their use by renewable resources. E.g., when we have very large number of cattle populations the use of natural manure should replace the use of chemical fertilizers.

Recycling – Instead of complete disposal or destruction, crop and other used material can be reused by recycling. By adopting this method, it is possible to increase the longevity of many natural resources to many years.

Research – Constant research to reduce the consumption of the resources or for the better utilization of limited resources is another method of conservation. Industrialized nations of the west are spending huge sums of money on research to find alternative renewable or inexhaustible source of energy.

Minimization of waste – The world is becoming poorer and poorer day by day because of increase in demands and decrease in the quality of resources available. Thus, it is important to minimize waste. E.g., instead of felling trees for wood pulp to make paper, used newspapers and paper must be recycled.

Mass education – There is need to educate the masses, make them aware of the situation and their responsibility and role towards the cause of conservation and the contribution they can make in their own way which will help for better enactment and enforcement of laws.

Enforcement of laws – is a necessity to stop random disposal of industrial wastes and promote regulated use of nonrenewable resources. Unrestricted mining, lumbering, exploitation of sand from creeks for construction etc., for immediate maximization of profit lead to fast depletion of mineral, forest and sand.

Resource estimation – It is necessary to have a correct estimation of country’s natural resources – both renewable and nonrenewable as it will help plan and follow the right policy of conservation.

Assessment of future needs – To formulate the current policy of conservation it is also necessary to make correct assessment of future needs. Though the task is very complicated as it included the projection of population growth, industrial development, market, etc., it provides a guideline for formulating conservation policy. A sound conservation policy is possible if means of production are controlled by the government where social profit maximization is more important than individual profit maximization.

 

Priority actions towards conservation

Stabilize Population and resource consumption – With the help of discussions, education and publicity, governments should spread awareness that the carrying capacity of the earth is not unlimited. Population stabilization is important and men and women must accept their shared responsibilities for the same. Excessive and wasteful use of natural resources takes us close to the limits of the carrying capacity of the earth. People from developed countries should eliminate wasteful consumption without reducing the quality of their life.

Interlink population and resource consumption issues to National planning – The government policy must be to limit population and consumption and should play a key role in national planning. National plans should be to set goals for stabilizing population at a suitable level, to set goals for the consumption of energy and other resources to a sustainable level and to encourage the private sector and NGO’s to carry out programs which support family planning and reduce consumption of resources.

Adopt resource efficient technology – We should use resources more efficiently so that we can same money, stimulate technological innovation and reduce consumption and population by giving economic incentives and regulations to encourage industries to adopt and invest in resource efficient technology. Give awards for environmentally sound processes and products. Lower income countries should make use of improved technology and get technical assistance.

Tax energy and other resources – The government should remove all subsidies on the energy resources and should introduce taxes on the same.

Become a green consumer – Domestic consumption of resources should be made more efficient by recycling them. Consumers should use their buying power to strengthen the market for commodities which do the least harm to the environment. They can do so by asking for environmentally friendly commodities and services and informing others about issues by writing to local and national media.