Recent Developments in Environmental Protection in India: Pollution Control

Author(s): Har Govind

Source: Ambio , 1989, Vol. 18, No. 8 (1989), pp. 429-433
Published by: Springer on behalf of Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences

Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/4313633

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 Article Har Govind

Recent Developments in
Environmental Protection in India:
Pollution Control

tractor's axe is rooted in India's religious

In India, pollution and environmental degradation have reached alarming and vedic traditions. It was first started by
dimensions due to poverty, deforestation, industrial development without Vishnoi (4) women in Jodhpur to save
adequate environmental safeguards, and sheer greed. Fortunately, public green acacia trees. It was revived in the
Garhwal Himalayas by Sunderlal Bahugu-
concern, rooted in the country's past, has revived. Major pollutants and
na and as Appiko (equivalent to chipko) in
critically affected areas have been identified. Pollution control of water,
Karnataka. This movement is similar to
air, and land has been established by both official and private organiza- the Green Movement in Europe. The In-
tions and the work on environmental protection is steadily growing. The dian Chipko movement has received rec-
Ganga purification plan is a representative case study. Poverty alleviation ognition in the United States (5). The
is a long-term process. It is India's major problem and is being tackled Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad, by spear-
with help from private enterprise and by international assistance. Simul- heading a powerful conservation move-
taneously, environmental protection through pollution control, is also ment, forced government authorities to
receiving administrative and legislative support and fiscal assistance abandon the Silent Valley Project. Both
Bahuguna and the Kerala Parishad have
through direct and indirect tax incentives. The country's courts are
won public recognition and environmental
rendering valuable help to environmentalists by pronouncing far reaching
protection awards (6). There are more
decisions in public interest litigation. To boost the existing environment-
than 250 nongovernmental organizations
protection movement, greater emphasis is urgently needed for environ- (7) which are active in environmental pro-
mental education, peoples' participation, population control, and cost- tection programs in India. The work of
effective pollution control measures. such organizations and institutions is help-
ing to restore ecological balance.

INTRODUCTION LAND
diesel fuel, lead smelting, and in pesti-
Environmental pollution is a global prob- cides. A group of internationally prominent sci-
lem. In India, it has assumed threatening * Mercury from mining, paint manufac- entists (8) have identified specific factors
proportions mainly due to poverty, con- ture, and other industries, contaminates relating to land degradation and reclama-
seafood.
tinuing forest devastation, the negative im- tion and have listed them as: (a) depletion
pact of economic development, and sheer * Nitrogen oxide from aircraft, excessive of forests; (b) loss of productive land due
greed. Since independence in 1947, the In- soil fertilization forest fires, and waste to desertification, salinity, overgrazing and
dian ecosystem has received some major disposal. other factors; and (c) population pressure
setbacks as a result of haphazard industrial * Oil spills near beaches and marine-life and rapid urbanization. India has already
and urban development. Of the country's areas. lost a large portion of its forest cover. Of
304 million hectares 50% are subject to * Organic and toxic pollutants emitted or the less than 30 million hectares of good
ecological degradation. About 80 % of the discharged by chemical industries. natural forests still remaining, at least 1.5
population lives under substandard condi- * Radionuclides produced by nuclear million hectares are lost every year. The
tions. The 14 major rivers, including the fuel-processing plants, nuclear-weapons forest areas in different states of India are
Ganga, which provide nearly 85 % of the testing and nuclear-powered vessels. given in Table 1.
country's drinking water are all polluted. * Residuals discharged into watercourses. Table 1 shows that only about 25% of
City dwellers breathe clean air for about 2 * Sulfur dioxide originating from coal India's total land mass is under any sort of
hours in the morning. Human diseases burning and motor vehicles. forest cover. Loss of forest cover and in-
caused by contaminated or substandard adequate agricultural practices such as
food have doubled during the last 30 years. These factors have caused and are still jhum (shifting) cultivation on hill slopes
Over 80 % of all hospital patients are the causing great damage to the Indian envi- (10), have increased soil erosion and led to
victims of environmental pollution (1). ronment. recurring droughts and floods.

MAJOR POLLUTANTS PUBLIC AWARENESS WILDLIFE

A dozen of the major pollutants and main Although the present environmental situa- The depletion of forest cover has adversely
causative factors polluting or degrading In- tion is alarming, there is little cause for affected the habitats of wildlife; both the
dia's land, water, and air have been iden- pessimism. The environmental protection primary feeders or prey species and the
tified and are listed below (2). movement in India is strong and is steadily secondary feeders or predators. Some
growing. The country has an age-old con- species have already become extinct and
* Carbon dioxide emitted by fuels con- cern for environmental protection. A ved- others are on the endangered-species list.
sumed in industry and domestic use. ic hymn states: "Whatever we take from The existence of diversity is an indication
* Carbon monoxide due to incomplete the Earth, may that have quick growth of the ecological vitality of the environ-
consumption of fuels in industry and again. 0 purifier, may we not injure thy ment. It must also be remembered that
motor vehicles. vitals or thy heart" (3). even with the restoration of vegetation
* Indiscriminate deforestation. The Chipko (hugging or clinging) move- cover wildlife will probably not regain its
* Lead used as an additive in petrol and ment to save the forest trees from the con-former abundance. The restoration of

AMBIO VOL. 18 NO. 8, 1989 429

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 quality of the topsoil and degraded the soil Vigorous administrative and legal action is
Table 1. Forest area in different states in India regimen. Consequently, whole forests and being taken to provide treatment facilities
(1984). fauna have been destroyed and wastelands for the domestic and industrial wastewater
have been created. Mining and quarrying discharged into the river. The likely im-
State Area at Banganapalle (Andhra Pradesh) has sig- pact of the Ganga Action Plan on the qual-
(mill. ha) nificantly reduced vegetation cover and in- ity of the river water may be seen from a
Madhya Pradesh 16.24
creased siltation in tanks in four neighbor- graphic comparison (Fig. 1) (15).
Orissa 6.79 ing villages; Auk, Cherlappalle, Jwalapu-
Maharashtra 6.67 ram and Pallulkuru (13).
Andhra Pradesh 6.44 OCEANS
Arunachal Pradesh 5.15
Uttar Pradesh 5.07 The major pollutants of the coastal areas
Karnataka 3.76 RECLAMATION OF DEGRADED LAND of India are crude oil and its derivatives,
Rajasthan 3.46 A first step in altering this trend requires radioactive substances, thermal wastes,
Assam 3.08
Bikar 2.92
an immediate stop for illegal and unau- and suspended solids. The effect of these
Tamil Nadu 2.25 thorized fellings. The second step calls for pollutants is highly negative and some are
Himachal Pradesh 2.18 a countrywide campaign to minimize both extremely toxic to fish and other marine
Jammu & Kashmir 2.10
runoff and soil losses by means of contour life. Infraction of any of the provisions of
Gujarat 1.96
West Bengal 1.18 trenching, contour bunding, terracing, and the law (16) is punishable with imprison-
Kerala 1.13 construction of numerous small storage ment.
Mizoram 0.71 trenches for the retention of soil moisture India has created a paramilitary organi-
Meghalaya 0.64
Manipur 0.60
in order to support natural regeneration. zation of Coast Guards to protect the
Tripura 0.60 Policy reform is also needed to alleviate country's economic interests in the territo-
Nagaland 0.29 the problem, making provision for land rial waters and exclusive economic zone
Sikkim 0.28 reform, subsidies, forest resettlement, and (EEZ) and to monitor pollution of the
Punjab 0.20
Haryana 0.15 population planning. The third step must seas. General steps to conserve the marine
be directed to achieving quicker afforesta- environment are largely associated with
Total All India 74.80
tion. Social forestry to restore the vegeta- controlling the degradation of land and
tion cover is often too costly. An effective pollution of rivers. India has recently been
alternative is to protect the denuded land granted the right (17) to mine metal-rich
areas from the negative influence of graz- nodules in a 53 000 km2 seabed area south
species is not an automatic natural pro- ing and browsing animals. Experience has of Kanyakumari. When the mining opera-
cess. shown that in fenced-off areas, many gras- tion gathers momentum, it may disturb the
Most international wildlife authorities ses, shrubs, and trees regenerate naturally. centuries old ecology of the seabed. This
are of the opinion that the continued exist- For the mining areas the most urgent new ecodisturbance will have to be care-
ence of wildlife in all its forms is essential. need is regulation of mining activities. It is fully monitored with a view to regulating
Diversity constitutes a possible indicator also necessary to terminate mining opera- seabed mining if unexpected ecodisasters
of the vitality of the environment and en- tions in the vicinity of water resources. are to be averted.
sures the ultimate benefit of humankind. Afforestation, to check soil erosion and
There is already some awareness of the siltation, should be carried out on a regu-
need for wildlife conservation and it is lar basis. AIR
growing. India has already established India enacted (18) an Air (Prevention and
wildlife conservation parks and biosphere Control of Pollution) Act in 1981. This Act
reserves. WATER was further strengthened in 1987 by some
The Buddhist and Jain traditions and As much as 90 % of the pollution of river radical amendments. For the first time
the Hindu religion teach tolerance for water is caused by domestic effluents. The noise will also be included under the vari-
other forms of life. The concept of Ahimsa remaining 10% is due to industrial dis- ous provisions of the Act and standards
widely propagated by Mahatma Gandhi, charge. The presence of hazardous sub- will be set for the control of the noise
broadly means nonviolence. Hinduism, stances and disease-bearing bacteria in pollution. All those who violate these stan-
Buddhism, and Jainism have always re- domestic wastewater underlines the urgent dards will be liable to prosecution under
garded Ahimsa as the highest dharma (re- need for treatment before discharge into the new law. Under the new amendment,
ligion, duty) and have extended the con- rivers. The 1974 Water (Prevention and the penalty for air pollution has increased
cept to the subhuman world (11). Jamboji, Control of Pollution) Act prohibits or re- to imprisonment up to 7 years. A fine of
the patron saint of the Vishnois of the stricts the release of industrial effluents in Rs.5000 (USD 1 = 16,5 rupees) per day
deserts of Rajasthan, taught protection of streams, wells, and on land. Infringement will be applied in cases of violation of the
green trees and wild animals (12). The of the Act is punishable with imprison- new laws by factories and industries.
Vishnois have saved the green trees and ment of not less than 6 months, and may
the black buck and have thwarted the be extended up to 6 years including a fine.
attempts of wealthy Arabs to hunt the POVERTY
great Indian bustard in the Rajasthan des- In India, poverty is a great pollutor (19).
ert. The modern Chipko movement has GANGA ACTION PLAN Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, while ad-
largely drawn inspiration from Vishnoi Of India's major rivers, the case of the dressing representatives of 12 South Asian
women of the 15th century. Ganga deserves brief comment. Most In- countries at the time of presentation of
dians take the purity of the Ganga for Brundtland Commission's Report on En-
granted. Unfortunately, it is a highly pol- vironment and Development, observed
MINING luted river. Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi that mass poverty was forcing the poor to
The unregulated mining or quarrying of has initiated an ambitious Ganga Action degrade the environment on which they
coal, limestone, and other minerals have Plan (GAP) (14) in an attempt to restore depended for sheer survival. He further
degraded large areas of the Indian land- the Ganga to its pristine state. The Ganga said that only if we are able to improve the
scape. The large-scale landslides near Deh- is a symbol of the culture of India, the quality of life of the poor, will we be able
radun due to indiscriminate quarrying of source of its legend and poetry, and sus- to protect and regenerate the environ-
limestone are a standing example of this tainer of its teeming millions. The thrust ofment. According to Prime Minister
type of land degradation. Some studies the rupees 250 crore (USD approx 160 Ghandhi, a higher rate of growth in the
based on remote-sensing techniques have million) GAP is rapid reduction of the developing nations was the only answer to
disclosed substantial changes in the ecolo- pollution load and establishment of finan- the protection and conservation of the en-
gy of the area surrounding coalmines. At cially self-sustaining treatment schemes vironment (20).
the century-old coalmine at Makum (up- along the river's 2525-km course. Apart The Norwegian Prime Minister Mrs Gro
per Assam), the strip and shaft-mining from domestic sewage, major pollution is Harlem Brundtland who presented the
tailings have permanently damaged the also caused by the tanneries at Kanpur. Report made the following observations:

430 AMBIO VOL. 18 NO. 8. 1989

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 Figure 1. The probable Impact of the Ganga Action Plan on biological oxygen
demand (BOD). Average for April 1981-1986 and prediction for 1991.

1. Rishikesh
7. Kanpur Down Stream
10. Allahabad Down Stream
13. Varanasi Down Stream
/ \ / \ ~~~~~~~~15. Buxar
,</ 9 \ ~~~~~~~~~~23. Rajmahal

Average
for 1981-86
15

- 10

Prediction

O p ~J for 1991
m0 5--

0 0 I I # $ --I I I I I I 1 I I I I I X / 1 I I
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

Monitoring Stations 1 to 23-Rishikesh to Rajmahal

"The present system of development ficial or political party has urged a general ment installed or to be installed is ade-
cannot continue. It does not solve the crackdown on foreign capital. Recently, quate and appropriate to the needs.
problem of mass poverty. The apparent the Supreme Court of India awarded dam- Even before the units start production,
irreversible trends of environmental deg- ages of USD 470 million to the Bhopal permission has to be sought from the
radation surpass all our present concep- victims (24). The major part of this pollution-control authorities for discharge
tions. The environment respects no amount, namely, USD 425 million is to be of effluents and other emissions. Failing
boundaries. Human progress now de- paid by the Union Carbide Corporation, this, the industries involved may be prose-
mands that we realize we are all simply USA, the majority shareholder in Union cuted (25).
neighbors on a small and fragile planet. It Carbide, India Ltd. The approach of the
is in our mutual self interest and it is a Supreme Court and the Government has
moral obligation that we manage our been humanistic and concentrated on pro- LEGISLATION
planet responsibly as a unified ecosystem viding quick relief to the victims. They In India, there are about three dozen Un-
(21)." have not adopted a nationalistic approach ion and State enactments concerning the
of revenge and punishment against the environment. The Water (Prevention and
guilty officials of the company. Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; and the
DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
It is essential to achieve harmony between Act, 1981; have been briefly discussed ear-
development and environment. The In- RECENT CONTROL MEASURES lier. The provisions of two most recent
dian Prime Minister candidly emphasized While public awareness and private initia- enactments are relevant and may be noted
this necessity at a seminar at Bombay and tives towards environmental protection in brief.
stated categorically that development and environmental improvement are
cannot be purchased at the cost of the steadily increasing the Indian Government Forest Act
environment (22). has also taken some significant steps to- A major amendment to the Forest Conser-
Bhopal in India (December 3, 1984) and wards strengthening environmental-pro- vation Act, introduces a penalty clause
Chernobyl in the Soviet Union (April 26, tection legislation and the administrative against forest offenders. A significant de-
1986) have shown that the world is a small infrastructure. The most important recent velopment in this area is that punishment
place as far as industrial safety is con- administrative step is that pollution-con- also applies to forest officers that violate
cerned. At Bhopal, a cloud of methyl- trol norms clearance has been made com- forest-protection rules. The Act also pro-
isocyanate, a toxic chemical used in pesti- pulsory. Licences, are issued only when vides that States cannot divert forest lands
cides escaped from a storage tank of the the State Director of Industries has con- to agriculture without previous approval of
Union Carbide Plant. At least 2300 people firmed that the project site has been ap- the Central Government. Early in January
died and more than 200000 were affected proved, from the environmental point of 1989, a New Forest Policy was announced
to some extent. Of these, an estimated view, by a competent State authority. The to replace the 1952 forest policy. The new
10000 have suffered some form of perma- entrepreneur must also give a commitment approach provides for maintenance of the
nent disability. This was the worst industri- to both the State and Central Government ecological balance.
al disaster in history (23). that he or she would install the appropriate
Fortunately, reaction to industrial disas- equipment and implement the prescribed The Environment Protection Act
ters like Bhopal has been very balanced in measures for prevention and control of This is a new legislation. It provides com-
India. Though there have been occasional pollution, the concerned State Pollution prehensive environmental protection legis-
street demonstrations, no government of- Control Board must certify that the equip- lation in the form of a single coordinating

AMBIO VOL. 18 NO. 8, 1989 431

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agency. It empowers the Central Govern- industries unless they have made adequate not permissible to make a change. These
ment to coordinate the activities of the provision for treatment of their industrial schemes are:
State Government officers, to plan and ex- effluents. The Supreme Court declared
ecute a nationwide program for the pre- that the financial capacity of the Kanpur a. Investment allowance scheme (32):
vention and control of environmental tanneries is irrelevant in directing them to Under this option an industrial unit is
pollution and to set emission standards. establish primary-treatment plants to pre- allowed to deduct 20% of the cost of
Furthermore, it enables the Government vent any further pollution of the Ganga. new machinery and plant installation
to constitute authorities to exercise and The Court held that tanneries which have for the business that promotes pollu-
perform the powers and functions con- no financial means of establishing primary- tion control. This deduction is in addi-
tained in the Act. Environment has been treatment plants cannot be allowed to op- tion to the depreciation allowance. This
given a very wide and comprehensive de- erate. The effect on the public of the con- scheme is preferable for new enter-
finition under the Act. As defined in the tinued pollution of the Ganga by tannery prises with a longer gestation period.
Act the concept "environment" includes effluents was so immense that it will out- An enterprise is able to recover 120 %
water, air, land, and the interrelationships weigh any inconvenience caused to man- (100% for depreciation and 20% for
which exist between water, air, land and agement and labor on account of the clo- investment allowance) of the cost of
human beings, other living creatures, sure of the tanneries. The tannery ef- new plant and machinery including
plants, microorganisms and property. fluents are 10 times more toxic than pollution-control equipment and sys-
Contravention by industrial enterprises domestic sewage effluent. The judges held tems.
whether public or private may entail im- that when the statutory authorities do not b. Investment deposit scheme (33): Under
prisonment for a term which may extend discharge their duties then the Court has this alternative scheme an industrial en-
to five years or a fine as large as Rs. the power to issue appropriate directions. terprise is allowed to deduct up to 20 %
100 000, or both. If contravention con- Mere legislation can never be a solution of the profit invested in new pollution-
tinues, there is an additional fine of up to unless it is enforced strictly. By its firm and control equipment and systems. By ap-
Rs. 5000 for every further day of contra- bold pronouncements, the Supreme Court propriate tax planning, a taxpayer can
vention or failure to comply with the Act, has enforced the Pollutor Pays Principle save 200 % of the cost of pollution-con-
after conviction for the first such failure or (PPP) which is widely accepted in OECD trol devices (100 % through deprecia-
contravention. Only when contravention countries (28). tion and another 100 % through the de-
continues beyond a period of one year, is posit scheme). Profits of up to 20 % are
the offender punishable with imprison- required to be deposited with the In-
ment for a term of up to 7 years. Now, forDIRECT TAX INCENTIVES. dustrial Development Bank of India to
the first time the Indian courts can take Industrial units are reluctant to install be used to purchase new plant equip-
cognizance of offences under the Act on pollution-control equipment and devices ment and machinery including pollu-
complaint made by a third person who has because of the initial high cost of installa- tion-control devices. The benefits of
given notice of not less than 60 days. This tion. To encourage pollution-control mea- this deposit scheme are available only
provision will facilitate public interest in sures, Government has provided several to those enterprises which start making
litigation by environmentalists. tax and fiscal incentives. These incentives a profit within a short initial gestation
generate internal resources and provide period.
the much needed funds for fighting en-
COURT ASSISTANCE vironmental pollution. The government Shifting of Industrial Undertakings
Just as champagne matures in bottles, has recognized this aspect and has built a To promote decongestion of urban areas,
legislation matures by means of case law. number of incentives into India's tax sys- all capital gains arising from the shifting of
The Indian Courts have played a impor- tem. Some of the more important incen- business assets from an urban area to a
tant role in the evolution of case law on tives are summarized below: nonurban area are totally exempt from in-
environmental protection. come tax, if such gains are utilized within a
The Supreme Court of India has passed Higher Depreciation period of one year before or 3 years after
many decisions in favor of environmental The new income-tax rules have overhauled the date of transfer for certain specified
protection. Some of which come under the the depreciation schedule. The rate of de- purposes including purchase of a new
general law. For example, in the case of preciation deductible in computing busi- machinery or plant equipment for setting
Ratlam Municipal Corporation (26), the ness profits has been raised from 10 % to up the new business (34).
Supreme Court required the Corporation 50 % on pollution-control equipment (29).
under sec. 133 of the Criminal Procedure This fivefold increase in the depreciation
Code to abate the nuisance of open drains, rate is of major financial significance. For RELIEF IN INDIRECT TAXES
heaps of dirt, and human excreta. The tax purposes, depreciation is calculated on In addition to income tax, which is a direct
Court did not allow the civic body to take diminishing costs, i.e. on a written-down personal tax, owners of industrial enter-
shelter under plea of financial inability. Itvalue basis. The enhanced rate of 50 % prises also pay indirect taxes in the form of
ruled that decency and dignity are non- allows recovery of more than 90 % of thecustoms and excise duties which are partly
negotiable facets of human rights and are a investment cost in just 4 years, as againstabsorbed by the business and are partly
first charge on local self-governing bodies. 24 years at the old rate of 10 %. This accel-recovered from consumers. To promote
The state of pollution in the Ganga was erated benefit makes the installation of installation of pollution-control devices in
exposed in a public interest litigation pollution-control equipment financially industry the following concessions are
judgement delivered by the Supreme feasible. available for certain items of pollution-
Court of India. In a case filed by an en- A new income-tax rule (30) brought into control equipment (35).
vironmentalist, Mr. H.C. Mehta (27), the force from 2 April 1987 elaborately lists 4
Supreme Court has struck a powerful blow items for air-pollution control, 17 items fora. Concessions on customs and excise
against the pollutors, and kindled hope water-pollution control, and 5 items for duties on pollution-control items like
among environmentalists. The Court solid-waste control. A full list of these 26 exhaust-gas analyzers and smoke me-
which is hearing the case in instalments, items of equipment or systems can be seen ters.
has already ordered the closing of 30 in the Income-tax Manual Part I (31). b. With the object of preserving the coun-
tanneries in Kanapur for discharging un- This list is under constant review and try's forest wealth, Government has
treated effluents into the river. It has given
new equipment and/or systems are period- rationalized the duty structure on wood
the Kanapur Municipal Corporation six ically added at the suggestion of trade and products. A lower excise duty of 20%
months to draw up and enforce plans for industry. has been fixed on wood products based
the installation of effluent-treatment on wastewood such as particle board,
plants. The Supreme Court has also di- Investment Assistance
insulation hardboards, and fireboards.
rected the High Courts not to grant stayTwo in investment assistance schemes are av- A higher rate of 30 % will be levied on
criminal proceedings against industries in- ailable. An industrial enterprise can all plywoods made from prime timber.
volved in pollution cases. It has further choose any one of them. The choice once c. To protect the environment and help
stated that licences must not be granted to made is final and must be adhered to. It is divert demand from wood to metals,

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 excise duty on doors, windows and fight waste (39). It digests hydrocarbons governmental schemes. Together with
their frames, and threshholds for doors and converts them into protein-rich food population control, restrictions on the
made of aluminum has been reduced which can be eaten by marine animals. An number of cattle in India need to be intro-
from 20 % to 15 % ad valorem, and ex- entomologist in the Kerala University in duced. Religious sentiment may not per-
cise duty on these items when made India, Dr. P. Joy has noted that the bug mit slaughtering of the holy cow, but the
from steel is reduced from 15 % to 5 %. has voracious appetite for the pernicious number can be definitely reduced. Cattle
d. To promote environmental control a African payal (Salvania molesta) (39). The must be stallfed instead of allowing them
concessional import duty of 40 % has microorganism has already cleared large to graze freely.
been extended to 25 specified items of weed-choked waterways in Kuttanad, the The corporate sector in the country
equipment such as monitoring instru- ricebowl of Kerala. The US Supreme must also adopt environmental protection
ments for toxic and hazardous chemi- Court has recently handed out a five-to as a corporate responsibility. To function
cals or gases and special incinerating four-decision, "that forms of life like the effectively a corporation must be account-
systems (36). bug" created in the laboratory can be able to the general public (40). A welcome
patented like any other product. This deci- beginning has been made in this direction
sion will enable several genetic engineer- by many individual companies. For exam-
FREEDOM FROM EXPANSION ing companies in India to exploit new ple, the Tata group of companies are lead-
CONSTRAINTS genetic techniques. ing the way in creating harmony between
Proposals from large industrial businesses economic growth and environmental hy-
with assets of Rs. 1000 million or more giene by checking industrial pollution at
require prior approval of the Central Gov- ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION the operational level, and by providing for
ernment for substantial expansion of their Government is putting considerable em- afforestation, community development,
existing undertakings or for establishment phasis on environmental education. The and family-welfare projects (41).
of new undertakings (37). This saddles national media particularly private news-
them with unnecessary formalities of legal papers are regularly featuring articles and
compliance and of meeting objections programs on environmental protection for EPILOGUE
from business rivals. Under newly acquired schools, farms, factories, and the general It is no longer necessary to point out that
notifying powers (38), Government has giv- public. Radio and television are also treat- environmental protection measures yield
en full freedom to large industrial enter- ing environmental protection as a priority significant economic and social benefits.
prises to expand their capacity or to establ- area side by side with economic develop- The OECD countries have concluded (42)
ish new units for manufacture of pollution- ment. There is an increasing trend in pri- that in the long run environmental protec-
control equipment without seeking gov- vately sponsored environment programs tion and economic development are not
ernmental approval. This will facilitate the on the national television circuit. only compatible, but interdependent and
production of low-cost pollution-control mutually reinforcing. In a developing
equipment by the private sector taking ad- country like India, there is some reluc-
vantage of economies of scale. PEOPLES PARTICIPATION tance at the level of industry to invest in
Environmental protection in India is close- large fixed-cost pollution-control assets.
ly linked to the survival of those who are This highlights the importance of cost ben-
NEW TECHNIQUES causing the maximum damage. To halt this efit and cost-effective analyses in environ-
New techniques to fight environmental trend, further deterioration of the rights of
mental decision making. It is desirable to
pollution are emerging in the field of genet-
humans must be reversed. The poor peo- estimate pollution damage costs systemati-
ic engineering. Dr. Anand M. Chakravar- ple around social forestry areas and cally and realistically and compare them
ty, an Indian-born American scientist has bioreserves should be given some property with pollution-control costs so that scarce
created a remarkable microorganism to rights as an incentive to participation in resources can be utilized profitably.

References and Notes

1. Indian Science Congress, 1981. Report of 68th Ses- 16. The Territorial Waters Continental Shelf. Exclu- 36. Finance Minister's Budget Speech '1989. 170 In-
sion. Varanasi, India. sive Economic Zone and Other Maritime Zones come-tax Reports p.1 (statute).
2. Venu, S. Environment and Economic Growth. Act, 1976. 37. Secs 21 and 22 of the Monopolies and Restrictive
Commerce Pamphlet-64. 17. By the Preparatory Commission for International Trade Practices Act 1969 (MRTPA).
3. The Atharva Veda, 12-1-35. Seabed Authority, an affiliate of the United Na- 38. Department of Company Affairs, Government of
4. The Vishnois are followers of the 15th Century tions Organization. India, New Delhi. 1986. Notification No. 65 (E)
Hindu Saint Jamboji. 18. U.N. Conference on Human Environment. 1972. (dated 21 February, 1986).
5. The American "Arbor Day" 1988, a day dedicated This enactment is a follow-up action on the Con- 39. Hindustan Times. June 1988.
to the tree planting movement, was declared as ference's decisions. 40. George Goyder, author of Responsible Company.
"Chipko day" by New York States park Com- 19. U.N. Conference on Human Environment. 1972. cited in C.C. Desai memorial Lecture, 18 Febru-
missioner Henry Stern: (Hindustan Times 1 May, The Conference described poverty as the greatest ary, 1978, Bombay.
1986, Delhi). pollutant. p. 43, Paris, France. 41. J.R.D. Tata. 1982. An Approach to Ecology and
6. Sunderlal Bahuguna received the National Padma 20. Hindustan Times, 7 July, 1987, Delhi. Economic Growth. Industry and Environment.
Shri (auspicious lotus) Award from the President 21. Hindustan Times, 7 July, 1987, Delhi. Published by U.N. Environment Programme: Spe-
of India in 1985. The Kerala parishad has been 22. Ecological and Conservation Research. 1987. cial issue No. 3, 1982, Paris, France.
awarded the Indira Gandhi Environment Award in Speech at Seminar 13 April, 1987, Bombay. 42. OECD. 1979. Press Communique No. A (79) 73
1989. 23. Readers Digest. 1988. The Lessons of Bhopal. p. (dated 8 May, 1979).
7. Directory of the World Wildlife Fund. 1984. It has 119.
listed 267 private organizations. 24. Supreme Court of India, 14 February 1989. Union
8. Swedish Academy of Sciences, 1982. Report of v. Union Carbide Corporation USA. Hindustan
Meeting. Times, 15 February, 1989, Delhi.
9. Lal Bahadur National Academy of Administration 25. Financial Express, 10 February. 1989, Delhi.
Mussoorie. 1984. The Administrator, 306. 26. All India Reporter. 1980. In re Rattam Municipal
10. Cultivation on hill slopes in Western Uttar Pradesh Corporation P. 1622.
near the road to Gangotri (source of river Ganga). 27. Supreme Court decision dated 22 September,
11. Sarma D.S. 1961. Hinduism Through the Ages. 1987. H.C. Mehta v. Union of India and others.
Har Govind holds a M.Sc. in physics,
Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan, Bombay 2nd edn. p. 28. OECD: Organization for Economic Cooperation
193-194. and Development. and a BLL degree. Mr Har Govind is
12. Saint Jamboji (1450A). The protection of green 29. Section (sec) 32 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 currently practicing as consultant
trees and wild animals are two of the twenty-nine (ITA). and advocate in New Delhi. He is on
teachings of the saint. 30. Recast Rule 5 of the Income-tax Rules 1962.
13. National Remote-Sensing Agency. 1987. Report 31. A priced publication. Central Board of Direct Tax- panels of consultants of the UN and
presented on 24 December 1987, Hyderabad, es, New Delhi. the World Bank. His address: B-156,
India. 32. Sec 32A of ITA. Sector 14, NOIDA (Near Delhi), Distt.
14. Gandhi Rajiv. 1985. First major speech. 5 Janu- 33. Sec 32 AB of ITA.
ary, 1985. 34. Sec. 54G of ITA.
Ghaziabad (u.P.), Pin-201 301, India.
15. Department of Environment and Forests. Govern- 35. Budget Speech of Finance Minister. 1988. 170 In-
ment of India. 1988. Annual Report 1987-88. p. come-tax Reports p. 19 (statute).
43.

AMBIO VOL. 18 NO. 8. 1989 433

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