LECTURE NOTE ON

ENVS 6.1 : ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT (2+1)

FOR

SIXTH SEMESTER OF B.Sc. AGRI.(HONS.)

PREPARED BY

DR.J.K.PATEL

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY AND SOIL SCIENCE

C.P.COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE

S.D. AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY

SARADAR KRUSHINAGAR -385506

DIST: BANASKANTHA

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 ENVS6.1: ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT(2+1)

Contents

Unit 1: The multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies

 Definition , scope and importance

 Need for public awareness

Unit 2: Natural Resources

 Renewable and non-renewable resources

 Natural resources and associated problems
i. Forest resources: Use and over –exploitation, deforestation,
Case studies. Timber extraction, mining, dams and their effects on
and tribal people.
ii. Water resources: Use and over-utilization of surface and ground water,
Floods, drought, conflicts, over water, dams benefits and problems.
iii. Mineral resources: Use and exploitation, environmental effects of
Extracting and using mineral resources, case studies
iv. Food resources: world food problem, changes caused by agriculture
and over grazing ,effect of modern agriculture, fertilizer-pesticide
Problems, water logging, salinity, case studies.
v. Energy resources: Growing energy needs, renewable and non
Renewable sources, use of alternative energy sources, case studies
vi. Land resources : Land as a resources, land degradation, man induced
land slides, soil erosion and desertification
 Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources
 Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles

Unit 3: Ecosystems

 Concept of ecosystem
 Structure and function of ecosystem
 Producers ,consumers and decomposers
 Energy flow in ecosystem
 Ecological succession
 Food chains, food webs and ecological pyramids
 Introduction, types, characteristics features, structure and function of the following
ecosystem
i. Forest ecosystem
ii. Grassland ecosystem
iii. Desert ecosystem
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 iv. Aquatic ecosystem

Unit 4: Biodiversity and its conservation

 Introduction: Definition: genetic, species and ecosystem diversity

 Biogeographically classification of India
 Value of biodiversity: consumptive use, productive use, social , ethical and option values
 Biodiversity at global, national and local levels
 India as a mega-diversity nation
 Hotspot of biodiversity
 Threat to biodiversity : habitant loss, poaching of wildlife, man-wildlife conflicts
 Endangered and endemic species of India
 Conservation of biodiversity : In-situ and Ex-situ conservation of biodiversity

Unit 5: Environmental Pollution

 Definition
 Causes, effect and control measure of:
i. Air pollution
ii. Water pollution
iii. Soil pollution
iv. Marine pollution
v. Noise pollution
vi. Thermal pollution
vii. Nuclear hazards
 Solid waste management: causes, effects and control measure of urban and industrial wastes
 Role of an individual in prevention of pollution
 Pollution case studies
 Disaster management: floods ,earthquakes, cyclones and landslides

Units: 6 Social issues and the Environment

 From unsustainable to sustainable development
 Urban problem related to energy
 Water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management
 Resettlement and rehabilitation of people, its problem and concerns. Case studies
 Environmental ethic :Issues and possible solutions
 Climate change. Global worming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accident and
holocaust. Case studies.
 Wasteland reclamation
 Consumerism and waste products
 Environmental protection acts
 Air(Prevention and control of pollution )Act
 Water (Prevention and control of pollution )Act
 Wild life protection Act
 Forest Conservation Act
 Issues involved in enforcement of environment legislation
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  Public awareness

Units: 7: Human Population and environment

 Population growth ,variation among nations

 Population explosion _Family welfare program
 Environment and human health
 Human Rights
 Value Education
 HIV/AIDS
 Women and child welfare
 Role of information Technology in Environment and human health.
 Case Studies
 Intellectual property Right (IPRs) and community Biodiversity Registers(CBRs)
Units:8: Disaster management
 Floods
 Earthquakes
 Cyclones
 Landslides
s

Ref:

1. Environmental Management.
P.Sasi Bhushana Rao
2. Environmental Education
G.S. Bhall. Hema Khanna
3. Environmental studies
Dr. (Mrs.) Rajesh Dhankhar
4. Environmental Pollution
Purohit/ Agarwal
5. Environmental Science A New Approach
- Purohit, Sharmmi & Aagrawal
6. Textbook of Environmental Studies – Earch Bharucha
7. Text book on Environmental Studies – S.Kanagasabai

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 1. INTRODUCTION: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

The more exploit nature the more our options are reduced, until we have only one to fight for
survival
-Morris .K.Udall

Earth is truly a marvelous planet and consists of living and nonliving compounds. It is the only planet in
our solar system that has the components necessary to support life as we recognize it. The planet is only
a tiny part of the universe, but it is the home of human beings and many other organisms. Animals and
plants live almost every on the surface of the earth. Perhaps the most amazing feature of our planet is the
rich diversity of the life that exists here. Millions of beautiful and intriguing species population the earth
and help sustain a habitable environment. This vast multitude of life creates complex, interrelated
communities where towing trees and huge animals live together with, and depend upon tiny life-form
such as viruses, bacteria and fungi.
This civilization like the previous civilizations is on the brink of extinction. This is primarily because of
the ecological degradation at the cost of economic development. Arnolad Toynbee who studied the rise
and fall of the symptoms of the twenty-one civilizations disappeared from the globe less because of
foreign invasions/holders and more by reason of the neglect and over exploitation of ecological
resources.
Our forest cover is shrinking fast; rivers and sea have been polluted to the level where a person gets
poisoned. Air has become unfit for human consumption and noise pollution has reached to an
unbearable level. The education at present has become more of an isolated knowledge in the field of
technology, sociology, economy, pure science and so-on: instead of having a meaningful inter-
disciplinary approach. Environment Education becoming a part of other disciplines could prove very
fruitful. The purpose of this course is to shape attend in favour of multi-disciplinary approach to
different disciplines of education of which environmental education should be a compulsory part.
For instance on its inclusion in the field of civil engineering the engineer carving a road or a tunnel or
making a dam in the hills should not only have the knowledge of his discipline but should also
understand its social and environmental cost in the right perspective.
Development must be environmentally harmonious, economically justified and targeted towards equity
coupled with social justice.
One must understand the implication of fast economic development and the consequences of rapid
depletion of natural resources causing an ecological imbalance which may prove fatal for the
civilization.
Environmental studies deals with every issue that affects a living organism.
THE ENVIRONMENT:
The environment term is derived from the French word environner means to encircle or surround
Environment:
The sum total of all physical, chemical and social factors which compose the surrounding of
man is referred to as environment.

OR

ENVIRONMENT: Environment is the sum total of all conditions that affect life and its development.

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Environmental science is systematic study of our environment and proper place in it. A relatively new
field, environmental science is highly interdisciplinary, integrating natural science, social science, and
humanities in a broad, holistic study of the world around us.
Its components include biology, geology, chemistry, physics, engineering, sociology, health anthology,
economics, statistics, computers and philosophy. In contrast to more theoretical disciplines,
environmental science is mission oriented.

Environmental education is a very vast field dealing with various aspects like ,human settlements,
land ,mountains ,air ,forests ,Island , coastal and other ecosystem soil, water ,genetic resources, marine
resources, wild life etc. We celebrate World Environmental Day every year on 5 the June.
Ecology:
The term ecology is derived from two Greek words, Oikos and Logos. Oikos means home or habitation
or a place o live in Logos means study, .Hence, literally speaking, ecology is to study of organism in
their own habitat.
Ecology is the study of the relationship of plants and animals to their physical and biological
environment. The physical environment includes light and heat or solar radiation, moisture, wind,
oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrient in soil, water, and atmosphere. The biological environment in includes
of the same kind as well as other plants and animals.

Environment consists of the following three important components:

1. Abiotic or non living component: The physical environment consist of (1) force of nature like wind
and (2)Gravity conditions like temperature and light (3) time and (4)non-living materials alike soil and
water.
2. Biotic component: The biotic environment is made of all living beings including their reaction,
interactions and interrelated actions.
3. Energy component:

Earth Resources and Man: The resources on which mankind ids dependant are provided by
various sphere:

i. Lithosphere (Solid earth):

 Soil, the basis for agriculture to provide us with food
 Stone, sand and gravel used for contraction
 Micronutrients in soil essential for plant growth
 Microscopic flora, small soil fauna and fungi in soil, important living organism of the
lithosphere which breaks down plant litter as well as animal wastes to provide nutrients for
plants.
 A large number of minerals on which our industries are based.
 Oil, Coal and gas, extracted from underground sources. They provide power for vehicles,
agricultural machinery, industry and our home.
ii. Hydrosphere (Water component):
 Clean water for drinking
 Water for washing and cooking
 Water used in agriculture and industry
 Food resources from the sea, including fish, crustaceans, seaweed, etc.

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  Water flowing down from mountain ranges, harnessed to generate electricity in hydroelectric
projects.
iii. Atmosphere (gaseous envelop):
 Oxygen for human respiration
 Oxygen for wild fauna in natural ecosystems and domestic animals used by man as food.
iv. Biosphere:
 Food from crops and\ domestic animals, providing human metabolic requirements.
 Food from all of life, which live as interdependence species in a community and forms
food chains in nature on which man his dependent.
 Energy needs: Biomass fuel wood collected from forests and plantation along with other
forms of organic matter used as sources of energy.
 Timber and other construction materials.

Sustainable development meets the needs of present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs. Therefore prudent and sustainable practices of environmental
resource management are essential..

Scope of Environmental Science:

Main scope of Environment Scientists is to understand the nature and its components then after
understanding of the disturbing factors and than to eliminate those factors, which are pressuring
sustainability and natural living. Environmental science provides job opportunities as environmental
engineer, consultant, teacher, activist, scientist, natural resources conservator, Analysis, eco-tourist
guide, historian, pollution control officer, protector, forest officer, zoo in charge, lawyer, etc. Though
government and private organizations are creating new job for environ mentalist, sufficient efforts have
not been made.
Environmental (Ecological) factor:
Any constituent or condition of the environment, which affects directly or indirectly the form of
functioning of the organism in any specific way is called environmental or ecological factor.
The various environmental factors function in conjunction. Rather most of the factors are interrelated
and change in one influences the other. For example, increase in light intensity increases temperature,
which is turn decreases relative humidity and enhances water evaporation form the soil.
Environmental factors are divided into the following five groups.
1. Climatic factor: Physical forces and material factors related to aerial environment. Light, atmospheric
temperature, wind, precipitation and atmospheric humidity.
2. Topographic factors: Physical factors related to surface behavior of the earth. e.g. Steepness of slope,
altitude, direction of mountain chain etc.
3. Biotic factor: They include reactions and interrelated actions of other living beings plants, animal and
man.
4. Fire: though a physical factor, it is generally caused by human activity.
5.Edaphic factor : both physical and biotic factors of the sol like soil composition, soil air, soil water,
soil temperature, organic matter, soil organisms, etc. Edaphic factors constitute the root environment,
while climatic and biotic factors together from the shoot environment.

Objective of environmental Education:

Individual and social groups should acquire awareness and knowledge.

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 ii.Developing attitudes skills, abilities and participate in solving real-life problems with practical
basis for developing a healthy environment around.
Environmental studies to solve biggest environmental problem.
1. Global worming: To tackle it we need to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels, viz. coal, oil, and
natural gas. Burning fuels gives off carbon dioxide, and the build-up of that greenhouses gas causes half
of global warming processes. To insulate our buildings better, and use advanced light bulbs.
2. Wind Power energy: During just the past few years generating capacity has risen rapidly until wind
power is now the faster-growing energy source.
3. Business sense: Environmentally friendly practices making good business sense are increasing.
4. Population problems: In developing counties, there can hardly be a more widespread pollution
problem to day than dirty water. It is source of 90 % of all disease.

Need for public awareness:

As the Earth’s natural resources are rapidly 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 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 al degradation that must become a part of all our lives. Just as for any
diseases prevention is better than cure, protecting our environment is economically more viable than
cleaning it up once damaged .Individually, we can play major role in environment management .We
can reduce wastage of our natural resources and we can act as watch dogs that inform the government
about sources that lead the pollution and degradation of the environment.

This can only be made possible through public awareness. Mass media such as news papers,
radio, and 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. Politician
in a democracy always respond positively to a strong public supported movement .Thus if you join an
NGO that support s Conservation, You might be able to influence to 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.

Review Questions:
1. What do you understand by the term environment?
2. Define ecology.
3 What is an environmental science?
4. Bring out the scope of the subject environmental studies.
5. What is environment education?
6. What are the objectives of environmental education?
7. Examine the need for public awareness toward environmental protection.
8. Discuss the role of media towards environmental protection.

2. NATURAL RESOURCES

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 Scattering easier than gathering

Nature: The living world, including plants, animals, fungi and all microorganisms and naturally formed
features of the landscape, such as mountains and rivers.
Resource: Any material which can be transformed in a way that it becomes more valuable and useful
cab be termed as resource.
Natural Resource:
Anything required by us for living and provided by nature is called a natural resources.
Types of Natural Resources:
1. Renewable Resources:
These can be regenerated within a given span of time. These are also known as
inexhaustible resources. For example forest, , grassland, animals, ground water, fertile soil.
2. Non-Renewable Resources:
These cannot be regenerated. Hence, they need to be used in a judicious manner. These
are also known as exhaustible resources because they exist fixed quantities in the earths crust.
For example, coal, lignite, petroleum, copper, oil and aluminum. Now 80% of the estimated supply has
been extracted from earth.
3. Continuous Resources:
The continuous to be available and with possible exception of solar energy, the receipt of which could
be affected by atmospheric pollution cannot be depredated, even with gross mismanagement. For
example, solar energy, wind gravity, tidal energy, geothermal energy.
4. Extrinsic Resources:
These are fickle resources and prone to breakdown or degradation, yet can be continuous resources if
well–managed. For example, human, skills, institutions, management abilities etc.

Natural Resources:
1. Forest Resources
2. Water Resources
3. Mineral Resources
4. Food Resources
5. Energy Resources
6. Land Resources
1.Forest Resources:
Forest resources are important for ecological balance of an area. About 1/3 rd of earths land area is
covered with forest. Although natural forest have declined every where in the world, greatest loss has
occurred in the tropical Asia, USSR accounts for fifth and Brazil for seventh of the words forest.
World land use:
 Forest 30%
 Range of pasture 26 %
 Cropland 11%
 Others 33%
The other category includes s tundra, desert, wetlands and urban areas.
India has 15 per cent of worlds live stock , but only 2.4 per cent of geographical area, one per cent of
forest area and 0.5 per cent of pasturelands.

Deforestation:
Forest area of the word was about 7,000 million hectares in the year1900. It reduced to
2890 million hectares in 1975 and further fell down to 2,300 million hectares by 2000.India is poorest in

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the word as regards to per capital land is concerned. Today, per capital forest land in India is 0.08
hectare as compared to world average of 1 hectare. India is losing about 1.5 million hectares of forest
cover each year. About 1 per cent of the land surface in India turns barren each year due to
deforestation. Deforestation is more prominent in tropical than temperate countries.
Importance of forests:
1. Protective functions: These include the protective role of forests against soil erosion, droughts,
floods, intense radiation etc.
2. Productive functions: Forests are the source of wood and many other products like gums, resins,
fibers, medicines, katha, honey, bidi-wrappers, pulp, paper, medicinal plants, etc.
3. Accessory functions: These include the roll of forests in recreation aesthetics, and as habitat of
diverge wildlife etc.
Uses of Forests:
1 .Check air and noise pollution: Forests can absorb many toxic gases and keep air
Pure. Trees can also absorb noise and lower down the noise pollution level.
2. Reduce wind erosion.
3. Reduce soil erosion.
4. Prevent land slides: Forest reduce land slides/ soil erosion by binding the soil particles
With their roots.
5. Protection of wild life.
6. Balancing the gaseous cycle.
Forests balance the carbon dioxides and Oxygen ratio in the atmosphere.
7. Reduce global warming: Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen during photosynthesis
thereby reducing carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.
8. Reduce flood havoc.
9. Recreational uses.
10. Commercial uses.
Causes of Deforestation:
1. Explosion of human population.
2. Shifting cultivation
It involves felling of trees, followed by cultivation of crops for a few years.
3. Raw materials for industries.
4. Dams and hydro electric project.
5. Road construction.
6. Mining operation.
7. Fires
8. Pests
9. Over grazing.
10. Weather conditions- such as storms, frost and heat
Consequence of deforestation:
1. Deforestation reduces biodiversity.
2. Deforestation reduces rainfall by disturbing hydrological cycle.
3. Deforestation increase soil erosion.
4. Deforestation induces global worming.
5. Deforestation threatens indigenous tribal people who depend on forests for their
survival.

Social Forestry in India:

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 Forestry practices for the benefits of the society are known as social forestry. Tim of social forestry is
to disperse forest along the length and breathe of the country to meet the basic firewood requirement of
the village.
Area used social forestry:
In social forestry programme, forest is raised on the following areas:
i. Government wastelands
ii. Community lands
iii. Marginal and sub marginal farm land
iv. Around urban and industrial areas
v. Along road sides, canals and railway lines
Objectives of social forestry:

The objective of social forestry s is as follows:

i. Fuel wood supply to the rural areas and replacement of cow dung.
ii. Small timber supply
iii. Fodder supply
iv. Protection of agricultural land against wind
v. Recreational needs.

Case study-1

Joint forest management –

The need to include the local communities in forest management has become a growing concern local
people wii only support greening an area if they can see some economic is senomic benefit from
conservation. An informal arrangement between local communities and forest department began in
1972,in the midnapore district of west bangal.JFM has now evolved into a formal agreement which
identifies and respects the local communities. Rights and benefits that they need from forest resources.
Under JFM schemes, forest protection committees [FPCs] from local community members are formed.
They participate in restoring the green cover and protect the area from being over-exploited.
Case study-2
Forest Management
Nearly 50% of the world’s population depends on fuel wood as a source of energy. This is obvious in
our own country, which has lost a large proportion of it’s forest cover as our population expands and
burns enormous amounts of wood. Rural women, and even women from the lower economic strata in
towns, still have to spend a large part of their lives collecting fuel wood. To overcome this, various types
of fuel-efficient stoves(Chula)that burn wood extremely slowly and do not waste the heat, and also
produce less smoke and ash have been devised. There have also been several efforts to grow fuel wood
by involving local people in these efforts. Examples include social Forestry, Farm Forestry and JFM.

Mining: Large scale deforestation due to mining has been reported in Mussorie and Dehradoon vally.
The forest area has declined up to 33 per cent due to mining activities. About 480,000 hectare of land is
under mining activities in India.
Environmental Problem:
Mining operations are considered one of the main sources of environmental degradation.
The extraction of all these produces from the lithosphere has a variety of side effects .Depletion of
available land due to mining. Pollution of land , water and air by industrial wastes are environmental
side effects of these non-renewable resources.
Case study: 3

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Sariska Tiger Reserves, Rajasthan
The forest department has leased land for the mining in the Sariska Tiger Reserves area by denotifying
the protected forest areas. The local people have fought against the mining lobby, and have filed a public
Interest Litigation(PIL) in the supreme court in 1991.Rajendra Singh, secretary of TBS, points out that
as many 70 mines operate in close
Proximity to the forest.
2.Water Resources:
Water is a magic resource which sustains life. Water is the general solvent in living beings. All chemical
reaction occurs in the solution form. Water is required for maintaining for the turgidity of cell and
proper functioning of protoplasm.
About 97 % of earth’s surface is covered by water.About97 % of earths total supply of water is found in
the oceans and remaining 3% is in form of fresh water and distributed unevenly. Only 0.5 % of earth’s
water is available as fresh water in rivers, lakes and as ground water.
The rapid rise in population and industrialization has increased the demand for water. The use of water
has increased by 4 to 8 % per year. Since 1950, agriculture has 70 % of the water available to us. Hence,
agriculture involves maximum consumption of water in the world. Only 1.1 % is used for domestic and
municipal supplies and rest of water is used for various activities like cement, mining, detergent, leather
and textile industries.
In India we use 93 % of the water in agriculture while in Kuwait only 4% is used for watering crops.
Only 60 % of the water withdraw is consumed because rest is lost through evaporation.
Uses of water:
 Agricultural uses
 Industrial uses
 Domestic uses
 Aquatic culture e.g. fish culture
 As source of minerals
 As source of energy
Sources of water:
1. Atmospheric water: Rain water and water formed by snow are grouped under atmospheric water.
2. Surface water:
The water which comes through precipitation and does not infiltrate into the ground or does not return
to the atmosphere is known as surface water. e.g. river, lake, pond wetland and reservoir.
3. Ground water:
Water percolates into the ground through precipitation and it partially fills pores between soil particles
and rocks within the upper soil and rock layers of Earth’s crust is known as ground water.
Aquifers:
The layers of Earth crust or rock that is highly permeable and transmits water is called aquifer.
Aquifers can be divided into two types:
1. Confined aquifers: It is also known as artesian aquifers. It is formed when groundwater is
sandwiched between two impermeable layers of rock or sediments.
2. Unconfined aquifer: It is also known as water table aquifer. It is formed when ground water collects
above the impermeable layers of rock.
Pollution of surface and ground water:
Agriculture pollutes surface water and underground water stored by the excessive use of chemical
fertilizers and pesticides.
Methods such as the use of biomass as fertilizer and non toxic pesticides such as neem products and
using integrated pest management system reduces the agricultural pollution of surface and ground water.

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Industry tend to maximum short term economic gains by not bothering about its liquid waste and
releasing it into stream, rivers and the sea.
Case study-4
Israel’s drip-Irrigated Farming
The small and arid state of Israel began using drip irrigation systems, as it is short of water. with this
technique, Israeli’s farmers have been able to improve the efficiency of irrigation by 95%.Over a 20-
year period, Israel’s food production has double without an increase in the use of water for agriculture!
Today, Israel is one of the major suppliers of fruits and vegetables in the world.
In India, some traditional communities in urban and semi-urban towns used to grow their own
vegetables in backyards, using waste water from their own homes Kolkata releases its waste-water into
surrounding lagoons in which fish are reared and the wateris also used for growing vegetables.
Case study-5
Narmada Project
The Narmada Bachao Andolan in India is an example of a movement against large dams. The gigantic
Narmada River Project has affected the livelihood of hundreds of extremely poor forest dwellers. The
rich landholders downstream from the Sardar Sarovar Dam will derive the maximum economic benefit,
whereas the poor tribal people have lost their traditional way of life. The Dam will also destroy the
livelihood of fisherman at the estuary. The disastrous impact that this project has on the lives of poor,
and the way in which they are being exploited, needs to be clearly understood.

Flood: Massive run-off of water due to heavy rainfall leads to flooding in the low-lying coastal areas.
Causes of Flood:
Deforestation, urbanization, cultivation of marginal lands, overgrazing, mining and so on
Methods for preventing or reducing floods:
 Replanting vegetation,
 To create pond in urban areas,
 Diversion of rain water towards holding tanks
 Flood prone areas should be converted into parks etc.
Floods in India: The National Remote Sensing Agency (NRSA) sends regular flood maps along with
data obtain through Radar satellite for assessing the intensity of flood situation in various states.
Drought: Drought is defined in three ways: an extended period of below normal rainfall, a long term
depletion of ground water, or tree stunting of vegetation growth due to a lack of water.
Nearly 80 courtiers or about 40 per cent of the world population experiences serve droughts. Most of
these countries are form Asia and Africa.
Reduced precipitation, less annual rainfall and evaporation leads to drought conditions.
Factors responsible for drought conditions are overgrazing, deforestation and mining etc.
Social forestry and wasteland development are two methods to combat the problem of drought.
Dam: Dam is the barrier constructed across a stream or river to impounded water and raises its level.
Why Dams are constructed?
Dams are constructed for water harvesting and flood control.
Advantages: Generate electricity, reduce water and power shortage, promote navigation , provide
drinking water in remote sensing area , supply water for irrigation, used for swing, boating and fishing.
Disadvantages: 1.Problem related to upstreamLoss of forests and non forest land, Displacement of
tribal people, water logging near reservoir, Breeding sites for vector born diseases like malaria.
2. Problem related to upstream:
Water logging and salinity due to irrigation in excess.

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 Case study-6
Hydel power in the Western Ghats
In 1882,the first hydroelectric power dam was built in Appleton, Wisconsin. In India the first
hydroelectric power dams were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s by the Tatas in the Western Ghats
of Maharashtra. Jamshedjee Tata,a great visionary who developed industry in India in the 1800s,wished
to have a clean source of energy to run cotton and textile mills Bombay as he found people were getting
respiratory infections due to coal-driven mills. He therefore asked the British Government to permit him
to develop the dams in the Western Ghats to generate electricity .The four dams are the Andhra,
Shirowata, Val van and Mulshi hydel dams.An important feature of the Tata power project is that they
use the high rainfall areas in the hills as stronger areas. While the rivers flowing eastwards from the
Western Ghats are dammed in the foothills near the Deccan plateau, the water is tunneled the crest of the
Ghats to drop several hundred meters to the coastal belt. Large turbines in the power plants generate
electricity for Mumbai and its giant industrial belt.

3. Mineral Resources:
Minerals are non-renewable resources.
Mineral: Mineral is a homogenous, naturally occurring composition, solid inorganic substance with a
definable chemical composition and physical structure.
Mineral are two type: 1. Metallic and 2. Non - metallic.
More than 3500 minerals have been identified and only 24 are very common.
Uses of Mineral Resources:
1. Minerals are used as alloy material in jewelers.
2. Minerals are used as fungicide, insecticides, land seed dressings and as fertilizers.
3. Minerals are used in formation of alloys, metal planting and coins.
4. Minerals are used in medical system particularly in Ayurvedic system.
5. Minerals are used in thermometer like mercury.
6. Minerals are used in electric switches.
7. Minerals are used building material, cement. For example lime stone.
8. Minerals are used for generation of energy like lignite, uranium and coal.
9. Minarals are used in transportation.
10. Minerals are used as fuel include coal, lignite, peat oil , uranium and gas.
Major minerals in India are found in Jarkhand, Orrissa, Madhy Pradesh, Adra Pradesh, Madhy Pradesh,
Magalya, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Tamilnadu.
India produces about 84 minerals.
Minerals of India:
India , a land of remarkable mineral wealth has provided the world with many fine minerals
specimens –Diamond sapphire and zealite group in perticular .Tree majorlocalities –the sapphir
mines of kashmir ,the Dewccan of the poona- Bombay –Nasik district and the diamond mines of the
Golconda district.

Indian Diamond:
Diamond is the crystal form of pure carbon, hardest of all substance, prized as precious gemstone.
The English name is derived form the Latin word adamas meaning "invincible". Totally colorless
diamonds are very scare; most contain varying, traces of yellow or brown. Yellow is caused by the
presence of nitrogen within the crystal structure and brown is associated with plastic deformation.
1. Iron Ore: Iron is back born of modern civilization. It is the basic foundation of our basic
industry. The standard of living people in the country can be judged from the quantity of

17
 iron used. It is the main row material for making for steel. Man had using iron ore for the
last 4000 years .The Ashok pillar in Delhi is the proof of utilization of ores in India.
Since the old time.
Types of iron ore:
i. Magnetite: This is the best quality of iron ore contains 72 % pure iron. It posses
magnetic properties and is called magnetite. It is found in Tamilnadu and Karnataka.
ii. Hematite: It contains 60 -70 % pure iron ore and found in Bihar , M.P, Karnataka,
Maharashtra.
iii. Limonite: It contains 40 -60 % pure iron. It is yellow or light brown colour.
iv. Siderite: It contains many impurities and has just 40-50 %.
Production: According to Geological survey of India, our iron are reserves are
estimated at 2071 crore tones which is about 20 % of the world total reserves.
Gujarat: Bhavanagar, Junagath, Baroda

2. Bauxite: Bauxite: is the raw material for making aluminium.Total reserve of Bauxite in
India are estimated at 23 crtore tones. The major Bauxite: producing states in India are
M.P, Bihar, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamilnadu ,U.P and Goa.
Madhy Pradesh is the largest producer of Bauxite in the country and contributes about
30 % of the total Bauxite production in India.

Gujarat: Gujarat produces about 19.3% of the total Bauxite production in India and
occupied third l position. Jamanagar ,Khaira, sabarkantha, Kutch and Surat are the main
bauxite producing districts.
3. Copper: Copper is used for electrical goods, utensils and coins.Singbum ditrict of Bihar
is leading copper producing area. Balaghat is an important copper producing district in
Madhy Pradesh.
4. Gold: Gold serve as international currency and over 96 % of the worlds total Gold
used in monetary system. Alarge quantity of the remaining dold is used for
manufacturing jewelers, dentistry and decorative articles .The total gold reserve in India
are gold field is efll known .Hutti fieldis located in Raichur district of Karnataka.Ramgiri
–and Yeppamama gold fields are located inAnanpur district of Andhra Pradesh.
The main goldmine at Kolar is one of the deepest mines of the world and the
production from this mines is decreasing with each passing day due to heavy cost of
extraction .More over most of the gold has already been taken out and very little gold is left
in the mine .Now gold is available at depth of 2700meter and it is not economically viable

5. Mica: Mica is known as Abhrakh. Its insulating properties have made its valuable
minerals in electrical and electronic industry. It can stand with high voltage and has low
power loss factor .The three major types of mica found in India are muscovite,
Phlogopite, and biotite. India is big exporter of mica about 90 % of our production is
exported.
India has monopoly in the production of mica producing about 60 % of world total
production. About 95 % of the India s mica is found in just tree state Bihar, Andhra Pradesh
and Rajasthan.
6. Manganese:
It is important mineral which is used for making iron and steel and its acts as basic raw
material for manufacturing its alloy. Nearly 6 kilograms of manganese is required for

18
 manufacturing one tone of steel. It is also used for the manufacturing of bleaching powder,
insecticides and pints, batteries and china –clay.
India has the second largest manganese ore reserve in the world after Zimbabwe. About one-
fifth of the world manganese ore in India. About three fourth of our reserve is located in
Maharashtra and M.P
Gujarat: Panchmahal and Vadodra.
Conservation of Minerals:
Minerals are exhaustible resources and it is very essential to conserve these resources.
1. India exports a large number of minerals to earn much needed foreign exchange. But it
will be much better if we exports goods manufactured from the minerals rather than
exporting minerals in their raw from.
2. Minerals can be conserved by bring efficiently in mining technology as well as in the
technology of beneficiation.
3. Recycling of iron, aluminum and copper can be help reducing the waste.
4. Japan, Britain, Italy etc are some of the countries which are using scrap iron on a large
scale for iron and steel industries. Scare minerals can be saved by substituting them by those
minerals which are cheaper and found in abundant. The best example of that of aluminum
what is now extensively used in electrical industry in place of copper.

Six major mines:

1. East coast bauxite mines in Orissa.
2. North east coal field in Assam.
3. Kudremukh iron ore mine in Karnataka.
4. Sukina chronite mines in Orissa.
5. Joduguna uranium mines in Jharkhand.
6.Jharia coal mines in jhakhand.
Important environmental effects of extracting minerals are as follows.
 Ground water pollution
 Surface water pollution
 Air pollution
 Land subsidence
 De-vegetation
 Occupational health hazards
 Noise pollution
4. Food Resources:

Food: Anything eaten to satisfy appetite and meet physiological needs for growth, to maintain all
body processes, and supply energy to maintain body temperature and activity is called food.

Food security:
When policy makers use the term food security, they are usually referring to gain stocks in excess of
demand, left in storage against bad crop years. This has been concern of planners, since agriculture
began .But there is another aspect of food security, at the level of the individual household. True food
security means that each person has a reliable, available and affordable food security supply .The united
Nations Sponsored World Commission On Environment and Development ,setup to prepare for the U.N
conference on these subjects in RIO de Janeiro in 1992, used the term equity as a criterion for
distributing the worlds resources ,including food.

19
It is estimate that 18 million people worldwide, most of whom are children die each year due to
starvation or malnutrition, and many others suffer a variety of dietary deficiencies.
The Earth can only supply a limited amount of food. If the world’s carrying capacity to produce food
cannot meet the needs of a growing population, anarchy and conflict will follow. Thus food security is
closely linked with population control through the family welfare program. It is also linked to the
availability of water for farming. Food security is only possible if food is equitably distributed to all.
Many of us waste a large amount of food carelessly. This eventually places great stress on our
environmental resources.
World Food Supply: World food Supply is defined as the ration of food produced to world population.
Malnutrition:
The dietary condition caused by an insufficiency or excess of one or more nutrient in the diet. A person
is at risk of malnutrition if the amount of energy and /or nutrients in the diet does not meet his or her
nutritional needs. If diet is lacking in energy, the body s fat stores followed by protein from the muscles
and organ, are to provide energy. The body eventually becomes too weak to function properly or to fight
infection.
Children, especially those under the age of the five suffer from the effects of starvation more quickly
than adult. They develop a condition called protein –energy malnutrition (PEM).The two common forms
of PEM, marasmus and Kwashiorkor, are seen in all developing countries and are life-threatening
conditions. Marasmus occurs when a child is weaned early on to foods low in energy and nutrients. The
child may also suffer repeated infections (such as gastroenteritis) due to poor hygiene, and may be
treated with non-nutrition’s fluids such as water or rice water. A child with marasmus is very under
weight, and has no body fat and wasted muscles. Kwashiorkor occurs when a child is weaned late on to
a traditional starchy diet low in protein. It often follows an acute infection. A severe lack of body weight
is often masked by water retention, which makes the face moon-shaped and the belly swollen.
If an individual’s diet is lacking in nutrients he or she will eventually develop the symptoms of
deficiency. Deficiency diseases are usually associated with lack of vitamins or minerals. Most are rare in
developed countries. A vitamin or mineral deficiencies can occur for a variety of reason. Most
obviously, a diet that contains few foods may lack nutrient. For example, in countries where maize is the
staple food and few other foods are eaten diets may lack niacin, a vitamin. As a result the deficiency
disease pellagra sometimes occurs.
Use of chemical Fertilizer and Pesticides:
In order to meet the requirement of food by the global population s agriculturists are mostly using
fertilizers and pesticide to all crops. The use of fertilizer and pesticides are now widely accepted as one
of the key elements inn the strategy for accelerating the growth of agricultural output especially in the
short run. But in the long run this will degrade the fertility of the soil and ultimately will affect farm
productivity. Hence, some people believe the best way to stabilize food production research focused on
sustainable systems rather than exclusively of higher production.
Environmentalist suggested that we need to be concerned more about ecology and less about chemistry
if we want to establish farming systems that will last for many generations. Many new and alternative
methods could be used in farming to reduce soil erosion, water logging, avoid dangerous chemicals,
salinity, improve yields and make agriculture just and sustainable.

Today our food comes almost entirely from agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing.Al thogh India
is self-
\There are about 80,000 edible species of plant and only about 30 types of crops feed the world. Four
crops namely, Wheat, rice, corn and potato form major part of the worlds total food production.

20
 World Food problems:
1. Food quantity: During last 50 years, world food production has increased three times, there by
increasing per capita production by about 50 %. At the same time population growth has increased at
such rate that outstripped food production. Thus, food problems directly related to population.
2. Under nutrition, malnutrition and over nutrition: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of
United Nations estimated that on an average the minimum calorie on a global scale is 2,55 calories/
day. People receiving less than 90 per cent of these minimum dietary calories are called under-
nourished. Besides the minimum calories intake we also need proteins and minerals. People
consuming insufficient food often suffer from malnutrition. India is the third largest producer of
staple crops and yet an estimated 300 million Indians are still undernourished. Every year 40 million
people of under developed countries dies of undernourished and malnutrition.
Food storage and distributing: proper food storage facility, processing , transporting and marketing
in most under developed countries is below its potential and much of the food produced never
reaches the consumers.

3.Poverty: people around the world do not have the requisite land and money to grow enough food
for consumption.

Environmental effects on agriculture. More food productions have adverse affect on air, water and
soil. Saves environmental degradation like soil infertility, deforestation, loss of genetic diversity,
water logging, overgrazing etc. take place.
Modern Agriculture:
Modern agriculture involves the use of hybrid seeds, high –tech equipments, fertilizers, pesticides
and irrigation water. Modern agriculture has succeeded significantly in creasing crop yield (green
revolution).

5. Energy Resources:
Energy is defined by physicists as the capacity to do work.
Energy resources are renewable as well as non –renewable resources. Energy is considered to be an
index of development for nation.
The sun is the primary energy source in our lives. We use it directly for its warmth ant through
various natural processes that provide us with food, water, fuel and shelter.

Growing Energy Needs

Development of different countries depends upon input of energy. Industry, Mining, agriculture,
lighting, cooling and heating in buildings, household, transportation all need energy. The fossil like
oil, petroleum, coal and natural gas provide 95 % of the energy. Norway, Switzerland and U.S.A
have high gross national products and energy consumption while India and China have low gross
national products and low energy use.

In 1998, the World resources Institute found that the average American uses 24 times the
energy used by an Indian.
Industry and transport are the main growing users of energy in India. The industries that are known
for generating pollution also waste the most energy. These include chemical industries, especially
petrochemicals units, iron and steel, textiles, paper etc, Unplanned and inefficient public transport
systems, especially in cities also waste a large amount of energy. Using bicycle is an excellent
method to reduce the use of energy. In agriculture, irrigation pumps to lift water are the most energy
–intensive agricultural use; these are either electrical or run on fossil fuels.

21
 Case study-7
Indian industries use more energy than necessary.
Steel and energy: To produce 1 t of steel, India spends 9.5 million kilocalories. In Italy, it is 4.3 million
kilocalories and for Japan it is only 4.1 million kilocalories.
Cement industry: Over 2 million kilocalories are used to produce 1 t of cement in India
In Germany it is 0.82 million kilocalories, in USA,0.92 million kilocalories.
Vehicles: Lighter materials should be used for cars. Instead of steel we should use aluminum, fiberglass
or plastics. These lighter materials can reduce the weight by 15% and increase the fuel economy by 6-
8%.
Refrigerators: Better technology reduce the annual energy needed by a typical Danish 200 L
Refrigerator (with no freezer)from 350 kwh to 90kwh.

Renewable Energy Sources: These are also called as non conventional of energy because they can
used again and again.
1. Solar energy: Sun is source of energy. Human being use solar energy in day to day life in various
forms like drying of cloths, production of food grain, preservation of eatable.
There are many methods by which we can convert solar energy in to electrical or mechanical energy.
These are as
1. Solar cells: converted solar energy into electrical energy.
2. Solar heat collectors: These solar heat collectors absorb heat during the day time and release it
slowly at night.
3. Wind energy
4. Hydropower energy. Hydropower potential of India is about 4x10 KWH
5. Geothermal energy.
6. Ocean thermal: It is also denotes by OTE. In the energy is generated due to differences in
temperature of water at the surface of the ocean and at deeper levels.

2. Biomass energy: Biomass is the term used for all material produced from photosynthesis.
Type of biomass energy:
1. Biogas: In this a lot of animal waste and agricultural waste is put for anaerobic degradation in the
presence of water. This anaerobic degradation results in the production of biogas. Biogas is the
mixture of methane, carbon dioxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. These gases can be used as
fuel.
2. Petro-plants: The products obtain from these petro-plants are gases, kerosene, oilcake etc.
Examples are Euphorbia plants are rich in hydrocarbons.
3. Energy plantation: It is also known as dendrothermal energy. In this waste land are used for
plantation of fast growing trees, shrub and herb with high caloric values. These plants produce
energy either by burning or may be converted into fuels by fermentation.
4. Energy from urban and agricultural wastes: Agricultural wastes are burnt in dweller for generating
fuel.
5. Bagasse based plants: Bagases, a waste of sugar mills can be used to generate energy. Biomass
can be fermented to alcohol like ethanol and methanol which cab be used as fuel.

Non- renewable energy resources: These types of resources involves, fossil fuels like natural gas,
petroleum, coal and nuclear fuels.
1. Natural gas: The main constituent of the natural gas are methane, propane and ethane. It is
produced by decomposed remains of dead animals and plants buried under the earth.

22
 2. Petroleum: Petroleum is a mixture of alkane hydrocarbon. After purification it gives number of
products like petroleum gas, kerosene, petrol, diesel fuel oil, lubricating oil, paraffin wax, plastic and
so on.
3. Coal: India has about 5 % of the world’s coal. It is produced from the buried dead plants and
animal remains. These remains under go high heat and pressure and converted into peat and coal
over millions of years.

4. Nuclear energy:
Nuclear power:
In 1938 two German scientists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman demonstrated nuclear fission,. They
found they could split the nucleus of a uranium atom by bombarding it with neutrons. As the nucleus
split, some mass was converted to energy. The nuclear power industry however was born in late 1950s.
The first large-scale nuclear power plant in the world became operational in 1957 in Pennsylvania, US.
Dr. Homi Bhabha was the father of nuclear power development in India. The Bhabha Atomic Research
center in Mumbai studies and develops modern nuclear technology. India has 10 nuclear reactor at 5
nuclear power stations that produce 25 of the India’s electricity. These are located in Maharasahtra
(Tarapur), Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu,Utter Pradesh and Gujarat. India has uranium from mines Bihar and
Tamil Nadu.
The nuclear reactors use Uranium 235 to produce electricity. Energy released from 1 kg of uranium 235
is equivalent to that produced by burning 3,000 tones of coal U235 is made into rods which are fitted
into a nuclear reactor. The control rods absorb neutrons and thus adjust the fission which release energy
due to the chain reaction in a reactor unit. The heat energy produced in a reaction is used to heat water
and produce stream, which drives turbines that produce electricity.
Drawback:
The drawback is that the rods need to change periodically. This has impact on the environment due to
disposal of nuclear waste. The reaction release very hot waste water that damages aquatic ecosystems
even though it is cooled by a water system before it is release.
For environment reasons, Sweden has decided to become a Nuclear Free Country by 2010.There have
been nuclear accidents at Chernobyl in USSR and at the Three Miles Island in USA. The radioactivity
unleashed by such an accident can affect humankind for generations.

6. Land Resources:
Soil(Land),in traditional meaning, is the natural medium for the growth of land plants. The terms, soil
and land, are synonymous. The difference between the two is largely of academic interest. Soil is
integral part of land, hence, any deterioration in its quality, mass or volume, either singly or in
combination, is deterioration of land. The term soil degradation is more specific and is directly related to
crop production. Land is largely covered with grassland, wetlands, natural forest, and agricultural land
urban settlements. The top layer of the land is soil and continuously regenerated by natural process over
a period of time. Hence classified as a renewable resource.
Land related problems:
Land degradation:
Soil/ land Degradation is the decline in quality and quantity of a soil/land
Or
Soil degradation refers to an appreciable loss of soil productivity.
Human population is expanding day by day and need for more land to produce fiber, fuel wood and
food is also increasing at an alarming rate. Land degradation is great concern because soil reformation
is a very slow process. The annual erosion rates agricultural land is about 18 to 100 times more than
renewal rate. Lake of natural vegetation results in soil erosion. Land degradation also depends upon

23
topography, wind intensity, rainfall and type of agricultural practices. There are so many cause of land
degradation like water logging, deforestation, salinisation, contamination of soil with sewage and
industrial effluent.
Man induced landslides:
Man induced land slides usually take place in hilly area. While in plain, landslides are due to
construction of large building, mining, reservoirs, large dams, construction of roads and railway tracks
are the major causes of land slides over hilly as well as plain area.
Soil erosion: Soil erosion is the movement of soil components from one place to another. Soil erosion
results in loss of fertility of top soil layer. About 7% of the world top soil washes and blows into the
rivers, cropland is eroded.
Types of soil Erosion:
1. Natural geological erosion
2. Human-accelerated erosion
Causes of soil erosion :
1. Biotic agents:
Biotic agents are overgrazing, deforestation and mining. About one-fourth of the worlds soil is eroded
by the biotic agents.
2. Climatic agents: Wind and water are two climate agents responsible for soil erosion.
Water erosion:
(i) Rill erosion: When rain water produces rills or finger shaped groves over the area.
(ii) Sheet erosion: It involves less uniform removal of this layer of soil from the area.
(iii) Gully erosion: When rain water from deeper cavities or gullies.
(iv) Stream bank erosion: During rainy season, water of stream, lakes turn in other direction by cutting
the soil.
Wind erosion: wind erosion is common in barren lands.
(i) Saltation: In this 1-1.5mm diameter of soil particles or in the from of short bounces moves along
with the wind.
(ii) Suspension: In this less than 1 mm diameter of tiny soil particles move along with the high velocity
of wind.
(iii) Surface creep: In this 5 to 10 mm diameter heavy soils particles move along with wind.
Desertification: It includes a number of ecological changes that destroy the ability of land to be used for
growing crops or grazing. It is the activities that degrade soil and water resources and lead to the
creation of desert like land. The conversion of rangeland, rain fed cropland, or irrigated cropland to
desert like land with a drop in ten per cent agricultural productivity is called desertification.
There are three types of desertification:
1. Moderate desertification: It reduce productivity up to 10% to 25 %
2. Severe desertification: It reduce productivity up to 25% to 50 %
3. Very sever desertification: It reduce productivity more than 50% and results in formation of sand
dunes.
Causes of desertification:
 Drought and hot temperature
 Overgrazing
 Deforestation
 Improper spoil and water resources management
 Salinisation
 Water logging
 Mining

24
Most affected areas of desertification are central and south America, Africa, Asia and Australia.
UN environmental program one- fifth of the world land area may become desertification over the next
20 years.
Conservation of Resources:
The conservation is a practice embracing preservation, maintenances, sustainable, utilization,
restoration, and enhancement of the natural environment.
Methods of Conservation of Resources:
Conserve energy
 Construct house with more doors and windows to provide light.
 Use solar cooker, solar light and solar geysers
 Turn off light, fans and other electrical appliances after use.
 Grow big tree for cooling effects in summers.
 Recycle and reduces metal, paper and glass.
 Use bicycle for riding instead of car and scooter.
Conserve soil:
 Develop a garden in open areas to prevent soil erosion
 Grow trees in colony to prevent erosion.
 Make composed of kitchen waste.
 Use mixed cropping for the protection of soil nutrients.
 Use cow dung for the manuring of the fields.
 Reduce the uses of pesticides, fungicides.
 Use drop irrigation for irrigation
Conserve water:
 Using washing machine for washing machines for washing clothes.
 Install water saving toilets.
 Don’t keep water taps running while not in use.
 Check for water leakage in pipes and toilets
 Reuse soapy water for courtyards.
 Install a water harvesting system in your house.
 Use dip irrigation.
Forest conservation:
 Protection of the growing tree crop from fire, insects and disease.
 Proper harvesting methods, ranging from removal of all tree, to removal of selected mature trees,
and provision for reproduction, either naturally from seed or by planting.
 Complete use of all trees harvested.
Role of an individual in conservation of natural resources:
In general, acquisitiveness has become a way of life for a majority of people in the development
world. Population growth and the resulting shortage of resources most severally affect people in the
development countries. In nations such as ours, which are both developing rapidly and suffering from
a population explosion; both factors are responsible for environment degradation. We must ask
ourselves if we have perhaps reached a critical flashpoint, at which economic ‘development’ affects
the lives of people more adversely than the benefits it provides.

The best way to arrest environmental degradation and promote sustainable use of environment is to
ensure the central participation of the people, especially the tribal and rural poor, in the control and
management of natural resources.

25
 Equitable use of resources for sustainable lifestyles:

Reducing the unsustainable and un equal use of resources, and controlling our population growth are
essential for survival of our nation and indeed of humankind everywhere. Our environment provides
us with a variety of goods and services necessary for our day-to-day lives but the soil, water, climate
and solar energy, which form the biotic support that we derive from the nature, are in themselves not
distributed evenly thought world or within countries . A new economic order at the global and at
national levels must be based on the ability to distribute benefits of natural resources by sharing own.
It is at the local levels where people subsist by the sale of locally –collected resources, that the
disparity is greatest. Development has not reached them and they are often unjustly accused of
exploiting natural resources. They must be adequately compensated for the removal of the sources to
distant regions and thus develop a greater stake in protecting natural resources.

Review questions:

1. What are renewable and non –renewable resources?

2. Explain the importance of forest?
3. Brief explain the general causes for deforestation.
4. Discuss the objectives of social forestry.
5. List out the causes of soil erosion.
6. Write short note on soil conservation.

3. Ecosystems

Do well and have well

26
Ecosystem is the basic functional unit in ecology, since it includes both biotic and environment,
influencing each other for maintenance of life. A.G.Tansley (1935) first proposed the term ecosystem.
He defined as the system resulting from the integration of all the living and non-living factors of the
environment.

Concept of ecosystem:
Ecosystem is an ecological concept. Life-sustainable activities take place within this system. Here
natural resources combined with energy flow. The result is out put of consumer goods and wastes. The
wastes are called pollutants. In general terms, ecosystem is the intergradations of abiotic and biotic
components. Abiotic means nonliving and biotic means living. The ecosystem are the basis fictional
ecological units which include both the living and nonliving organisms each influencing the properties
of one another and both are necessary for maintain ace of life.

The structural and functional system of communities and their environment is called an ecological
system or ecosystem.
Kinds of Ecosystem:
1. Natural Ecosystems:
(i). Terrestial: Forest, grassland, desert etc.
(ii).Aquatic: Fresh water- Which may be lotic(e.g running water as spring, stream or living) or lentic
(e.g standing water as lake, pond, Marine
2. Artificial(Man-engineered)Ecosystems: Crop, Urban, Cropland, Spacecraft,
Micro ecosystem
Function of An Ecosystem:
Nutrient cycling:
Autotrophic plants obtain a number of inorganic nutrient from the environment, which become
component of organic matter. From autrophs nutrients goes to other living constituents and again in the
environment with help of decomposers. In this way nutrient circulates between living and non-living
organisms.
Sun →producers →Primary consumers →Secondary consumer →Tertiary consumers
Flow of Energy: Autrophis plant has ability to change radiant energy to chemical energy by
photosynthesis. Part of this energy is consumed by autrophs during their respiration, growth and other
metabolic reaction. The remaining chemical energy is called net primary production which issued in
body building of autotrophic plants. Other living organisms obtained compounds and energy from
autrops organic compounds are used in body building .The flow of energy ecosystem is undirected. Its
transfer from one organism to another.
Interrelation:
No ecosystem behaves as an isolated system. The plants provided O2, food and shelter to animal and
animal supply CO2 to plants and help in dispersal and pollination. When plant and animal dies their
bodies are broken down by a decomposers due to which raw material release into soil and reused by
autotrophic plants.
Cybernetics: Ecosystem maintains a functional balance between various components. It is achieved by
a number of limitation which is called cybernetics. For example no species increases its number beyond
the limit thus it controls own growth in response to scarcity to resources and overcrowding.
One living component can control other through feed back system.

Characteristics of an Ecosystem:

27
 1. It is the major structural and functional unit of ecology.. Its function is related to energy flow and
material cycling through and within the system.3. The relative amount of energy needed to maintain an
ecosystem depends upon its structure.
4. It matures by passing from fewer complexes to more complex stages.
5 . Both the environment and the energy fixation in any given ecosystem are limited.

Structure of an Ecosystem:
The structure of an ecosystem is formed of two components, a namely abiotic factors and biotic factors.
The components of biotic and abiotic factors are shown in figure.

Ecosystem

Abiotic factor Biotic factor

Producer Consumer Decomposer

Secondary Tertiary
Primary

Structure of Ecosystem

Kind of Ecosystem:

28
The ecosystem is generally divided into natural ecosystem and artificial ecosystem. Both apparently
exist in the world. Natural ecosystem consists of two types of ecosystem as Follows:

Ecosystem

Natural Ecosystem
Artificial Ecosystem (Man made
ecosystem like crops, industrial space
,agro ecosystem

Aquatic ecosystem
Terrestrial ecosystem

Fresh water
Marine
ecosystem

Lotic,i.e
Running water Letic,i.e. standing water (ponds
(River) ,lake, pools etc.

What is forest ecosystem?

The forest ecosystem has two parts:
The non-living or abiotic aspect of the forest: The type of forest depends upon the biotic conditions at
the site. The forests on mountains and hills differ from those along river valleys. The vegetation is
specific to the amount of rainfall and local temperature, which are very according to latitude and altitude
and soil type. The living or the biotic aspect of the forest: The plants and animals form communities that
are specific to each forest type. For instance, Coniferous tree occur in Himalaya ,Mangrove tree occur in
river deltas; thorn trees grow in arid areas.
The snow leopard lives in the Himalaya while the leopard and tiger live in the forest in the rest of India.
Wild sheep and goat live high up in the Himalaya ,and many of the birds of Himalaya forest are different
from those in the rest of India.
What is grassland ecosystem?
Grassland covers areas where rainfall is usually low and or the soil depth and quality is poor.
The low rainfall prevents the growth of large number of trees and shrubs. But is sufficient to support the
growth cover during the monsoon. Many of the grasses and other small herbs become dry and the part
of above the ground dies during summer months. In next monsoon, the grass cover grows back from
root-stocks and seeds of the previous year.
A varieties of grass, herbs and several species of insect, birds and mammals have evolved so that they
are adapted to these wide open grass- covered areas.
What is a desert or semi-arid ecosystem?

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 The deserts and semi-arid area mainly located in eastern India and the deccan plateau. The climate in
these vast tracts is externally dry. These are also cold deserts such as In Ladakh, which are located in the
high plateaus of the Himalayas. The most typical desert land scrape that is seen in Rajasthan is in the
Thar Desert. This has sand dunes; it also has areas covered with spares grasses and a few shrubs which
grow if it rains.
The Great and little Rann of Kutch are extraordinarily specialized arid ecosystem. The The Great and
little Rann of Kutch is famous, as it is only known breeding colony of the Greater and Lesser Flamingos
in our country. The little Rann of Kutch is the only home of Wild ASS In India.
The desert and semi-arid regions have a number of highly –specialized Insects and reptiles. The rare
animals include the Indian wolf, desert cat, desert fox and birds such as great India.

What is an aquatic ecosystem?

In aquatic ecosystem, plants and animals in water. These species are adapted to live in different types
of aquatic habitats. The special features are its physical aspects such as the quality of the water, which
include its clarity, salinity, oxygen content and rate of flow. Aquatic ecosystems may be classified as
being stagnant ecosystem, or running water ecosystems. The mud gravel or rocks that form the bed of
the aquatic ecosystem alter its characteristics and influence its plants and animals species composition.
The aquatic ecosystems are also classified into freshwater, brackish and marine ecosystems which are
based on the salinity levels.

For each of these ecosystems, we need to understand 4 basic issues:

1. What is the nature of an ecosystem? What are its structure and functions?
2. Who uses the ecosystem and for what purpose?
3. How is the ecosystem degraded?
4. What can be done to protect from deteriorating in the long term? How can the
Ecosystem be conserved?

Energy flow in the Ecosystem:

Energy can be defined as the capacity to do work; whether that works is done scale as raising
mountains and moving air masses over continents or on a scale such as transmitting a nerve impulse
from one cell to another. There are two kinds of energy, potential and kinetic.

The expenditure and storage of energy is described by two laws of thermodynamics. The first
law of thermodynamics called law of conservation of energy states that energy is neither created nor
destroyed. It may change forms, pass from one place to another or act upon matter in various way this
means regardless of transfers and transformations, no gain or loss in total energy occurs.

Energy is simply transformed from one form or place to another. During this transfer some amount
of stored energy is degraded without any work performance. The Measure of this relatively disorder in
known as entropy.
The second law of thermodynamics states that whenever energy is transformed from one kind to
another, there is an increase in entropy and decrease in the amount of useful energy. Thus, when coal
is burnt in a boiler to produce steam, some of the energy creates steam that performs work, but part of
energy is dispersed as the heat to the surrounding air. The same thing happens to energy in the
ecosystem also. As energy is transformed from one organism to another in the form of food, a large
part of that energy is degraded as heat with net increase in the disorder of energy .The remaining is
stored in tissues.

30
 Three sources of energy account for virtually all the work of the ecosystem viz.
gravitation, internal forces with the earth and solar radiation. The solar radiation is very significance
for ecosystem.

SUN

PRODUCERS CONSUMER

DECOMPOSERS

NUTRIENTS

ECOSYSTEM

Fig - Presentation of living and non- living compounds. They interacting with each other.

PRODUCERS, CONSUMERS AND DECOMPOSERS:

All ecosystems, whether terrestrial, freshwater, marine or man-engineered, consist of two major
components: biotic and abiotic.
1. Biotic (Living) Components: This comprises of all living organisms. On the nourishment ( or
trophic) stand point they may be divided into two groups:
The autotrophic ( self nourishing ) or Producers;
These are green plants and certain photosynthetic or Chemosynthetic bacteria, which can convert the
light energy of the sun into potential chemical energy in the form of organic compounds, needed by

31
plants for their own growth and development. Oxygen is produced as a by- product of photosynthesis,
needed by all living organisms for respiration. These green plants are also known as producers because
they produce food for all the other organisms. They are also known as converters because they change
radiant energy into chemical form. About 99 %of living mantle of the earth is made of producers, rest
being consumers, parasitic, scavengers.
The heterotrophic (other nourishing) or Consumers:
They are depends directly or indirectly upon the autotrophs for their food. The organisms involved are
also known as consumers because they consume the materials built up by producers. These may be
divided into two groups:
Macro consumers or Biophages: They are animals which ingest other organisms their particulate
organic matter. They are of two types: herbivorous and carnivorous.
Herbivorous are known as primary consumers as they directly feed on plant matter. e.g. rabbits, deer,
cattle, goats, horse etc Carnivores feed on flesh of other animals. The animals which
feed on herbivores are known as secondary consumers. The animals which feed on secondary consumers
are known as tertiary consumers. The carnivores, which are not further preyed upon are called top
carnivores e.g. lion, tiger, leopard, For example insect like grasshopper, chew up stems and leaves,
animals like goat, cow, deer, rabbit eat up entire aerial portion of green plants and man eats up plant
products are all primary consumers. Frog, a carnivore, is a secondary consumer as it eats the herbivores,
the snake that eats the frog is a tertiary consumer.
Micro consumers:
1. Parasite : They obtain food directly from other organism of all tropic levels. Parasites rob the hosts of
their food. They may also cause disease.
2. Detervores and Scavengers: Detervares e.g. termite, earth worms, wood lice feed on organic
fragment and whereas scavengers ( e.g. vulture, carrion beetle) feed on dead bodies. Scavengers and
deterv ores seem to be essential for quick break down of dead bodies of organisms.
3. Decomposers: They are mostly parasitic and saprophytic bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi.
Decomposers breakdown the complex compounds of dead or living protoplasm, absorb some of the
decomposition products and release inorganic nutrients which are cycled back to the soil and the
atmosphere from where they are once again made available to the primary producers.
2. Abiotic components:
Structurally abiotic components includes
1. Physical factors: Light, temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, soil, topography, etc.
2. Inorganic substances: They include water, mineral and gases. The inorganic substances required for
synthesis of organic substances are called biogenetic substances. The amount of biogenetic nutrient
present in the environment at any time is called standing. The minerals and atmospheric gases keep on
cycling. They enter into biotic systems and after the death and decay of the organism return to the soil
and atmosphere. This is known as biogeochemical cycle.
3. Organic substances: Carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and humic substances that link the abiotic
components with the biotic components.
Ecological pyramids:
There is some sort of relationship between the numbers, biomass and energy contents of the primary
producers, consumers of the first, second order and so on to the top carnivores in any ecosystem. These
relationships represented in diagrammatic ways and are referred to an ecological pyramid. The
ecological pyramids are of three categories:
1. Pyramids of number
2. Pyramids of biomass
3. Pyramids of energy
1. Pyramids of Number:

32
 . Pyramid of numbers deals with the relationship between the numbers of primary producers and
consumers of different orders .The base of such a figure is always the number of primary producers and
the number of consumers of successive levels represents the subsequent structures on this base. The top
represents the number of top carnivores in a ecosystem. In fig. the upright Pyramids of number has been
illustrated. The numbers of plants in a grassland or cropland are very large. The number of rabbits in the
grassland or the number of grasshoppers in the crop field is usually less than the number of green plants.
The numbers of frog s are lesser than the number of grasshoppers. The number of carnivores is the least
in the pyramid. However, there are instances, where the trend of decreasing number of primary
producers (atree0 is less than the herbivores birds, feeding upon the tree fruits. The number of parasites
like bugs and lice living and feeding upon birds body is still higher. Thus depending upon the size of
producer organisms the pyramid of numbers may not be always upright. It may even be completely s
inverted in shape. The Pyramids of numbers ignore the biomass of the organisms. Although the numbers
of certain organisms may be greater, their total weight or biomass may not equal to that of the larger
organisms.

2. Pyramid of biomass:
More informative is the pyramid of biomass. These indicate the total bulk of organisms or fixed energy
present at anyone time. Since some energy and material is lost in each successive link, the total mass
supported at each level is limited by the rate at which energy is being stored below. The Pyramids of
biomass differ for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. In terrestrial ecosystems the biomasses of all the
primary producers is always maximum at any time and the top carnivores have minimum biomass
(upright pyramid0. In oceans, the situation is different and the biomass of the consumers is always
higher than that of the primary producers, which are planktons and have a shorter life-span. The pyramid
of later type of ecosystem is inverted.
The upright Pyramids of biomass can represent a forest or a grassland ecosystem. The biomass of one
tree is very high, and even the biomass of a number of birds feeding upon tree is far less than that of
tree. The biomass of even a very large number of parasites and on the body of birds is far less. Similarly,
the biomass of grassland or cropland is higher than that of the herbivores feeding upon it and further
more the biomass of carnivores is still lesser in comparison to that of the herbivores. The pyramid of
biomass on land surface, there fore, becomes upright. Instances where the pyramid of biomass gets
inverted are aquatic ECOSYSEMS. The biomass of phytoplankton is quite negligible as compared to
that of small fishes that feed on them. The biomass of large fishes living on small fishes is still higher.
3. Pyramid of Energy:

The primary producers of an ecosystem trap the radiant energy of the sun and convert it into potential
chemical energy .This tapped energy flows in the food chain from the producers to the top carnivores,
decreasing at successive tropic levels .If the relationship of total quantity of energy utilized in unit area
over a particular period of time by different tropic level is diagrammatically represented, an upright
pyramid is invariably formed called pyramid of energy. Comparatively, the amount of energy utilized in
a year by the top carnivores is much less than that of carnivore fishes.

33
 Produser(algae
,diatoms)

Fig. Pyramid of Fig. Pyramid of Fig. Pyramid of

Number in a lake biomass for a Marine energy in an
ecosystem ecosystem ecosystem

Pyramids of number Biomass Energy

Ecological succession:
Ecological succession is a process through which ecosystem tend to change over a period of
time.
Ecological communities have a history in a given land scape. The process by which organism occupy
a site and gradually change environmental conditions by creating soil, shade, shelter or increasing
humidity is called ecological succession or development.
Primary succession occurs when a community begins to develop on a site previously unoccupied by
living organisms, such as an island, a sand or silt bed, a body of water. Secondary succession occurs
when an existing community is disrupted and a new one subsequently develops s at the site. The
disruption may be caused by natural catastrophe such as fire, flooding or by a human activity such as
deforestation, ploughing or mining.
The most frequent example of succession change occur in a pond ecosystem, where it fluctuates from
a dry terrestrial habitat to the early colonization stage by small aquatic species after the monsoon,
which gradually passes through to a mature aquatic ecosystem, and then reverts back to its dry stage in
summer when its aquatic life remains dormant.
Food chains:
The food chains:
The most obvious aspect of nature is that energy must pass from one living organisms to another .When
herbivores animals feed on plants energy is transferred from the plants to the animals. In an ecosystem,
some of the animals feed on other living organisms ,while some feed on dead organic matter ;the letter
form the detritus food. At each linked in the chain ,a large part of the energy from the food is lost
through daily activities .Each chains usually has only four to five such links. How ever, a single species
may be linked to a large number of species.
The food webs: In an ecosystem there are a very large number of the interlinked chains together, these
forms a food web. If the links in the chains that makeup the web of life are disrupted due to human
activities that lead to the loss or extinction of species, the web breaks down.

34
 The biotic factors of the ecosystem are linked together by food. For example, the producers form the
food for the herbivores. The herbivores form the food for the carnivores. The sequence of the eaters
being eaten s called food chains.
Types of food chains:
The food chains are of two types, namely, grazing food chains and detritus food chain.

Plants Herbivore s Primary Secondary

carnivores Carnivores

Fig. Grazing Food Chain.

Food chain in a forest:
The food chain in a forest is given in fig. The Food chain originates with green plants
then pass on to goat to man and lion and ultimately to the soil with organic and inorganic
salts.

Green plants Goat Man Lion

Organic and Decomposers Dead bodies

inorganic
salts

Fig. Food chain in a forest

Detritus food chain:

This begins with organic matter and ends up with inorganic compounds there are certain organisms
which depend exclusively on the dead bodies of animals and plants. These organisms are called
detritivores.
Food web:
The interlocking of many food chains is called food web.
As a matter of fact , the chains are not isolated sequence, but are inter connected with one another. In an
ecosystem, the various food chains are inter connected with each other to form a network called food
web.
For examples: In grassland ecosystem, grass is eaten by grass hopper, rabbit and mouse. Grass hopper is
eaten by lizard which is eaten by hawk. Rabbit is eaten by hawk in addition, hawk also directly gets
grass hopper and mouse. Thus four linear food web in this case would be:

Grass Grass hopper Hawk

Hawk
Grass Grass hopper Lizard

Grass Mouse Snake Hawk

Grass Rabbit Hawk

35
Significance of food web:
Food webs are very important in maintaining the stability of an ecosystem. For example ,the
deleterious growth of grasses in controlled by the herbivores. When one type of herbivore become
extinct, the other type of herbivores increases in number and control the vegetation. Similarly, when one
type of herbivores animal becomes extinct, the carnivores predating of this type may eat another type of
herbivore. Thus ,the existence of a food web denotes the self-sustaining capacity of an ecosystem.
Simplification or disruption of food web may endanger the biodiversity in an ecosystem.

Structural Aspect:
The component of that makes up the structural aspects of an ecosystem:
1. Inorganic compounds:C,N,CO2, H2O
2. Organic compounds: Protein , carbohydrates, lipids which link the abotic to biotic aspects.
3. Climatic regimes: Temperature, moisture, light and topography
4. Producers-plants
5. Macro -consumers: Phagotrophs ,i.e. large animals
6. Micro-consumers- Saprotrophs i.e absorbers like fungi.

Functions aspects:

1. Energy cycle
2 .Food chains
3. Diversity –interlinks between organisms
4. Nutrient cycle-biogio-chemical cycle
5. Evolution

Review questions:
1. What is an ecosystem?
2. Brief explain the components of ecosystem.
3. State the nature of energy flow in ecosystem.
4. Explain the meaning and types of ecological succession.
5. What are the various types of food chains?
6. What do you mean by food web?
7. Give the meaning for ecological pyramids.
8. Explain different types of ecological pyramids.
9. Write down the various kinds of ecosystem.

36
4. BIODIVERSITY

WE SHALL NOT SURVIVE WITOUT TREES

WE DRAW OUR SUSTAINCE FROM TREES.

Biodiversity is the natural biological capital of the earth. The word was coined in 1985 and during
the 1990 has become very widely used in the popular media and in government and scientific circles.

Biodiversity: is totality of genes, species and ecosystem in a region.

Or
It is the term given to the variety of life on earth.
Types of biodiversity:
1. Genetic diversity:
It refers to the variation of genes within the species.
This constitutes distinct population of the same species or genetic variation within population or
varieties within a species.
Genetic diversity is particularly important for agricultural productivity and development. Agriculture
has for centuries been based on a modest number of plant and animal species, but in the case of plants
especially an extraordinary range of local varieties has been developed. This diversity of plants genetic
resources often has real practical benefits: if a subsistence farmer plants several varieties of a crop plant,
she or he obtains a form of insurance against harvest failure, because unusual weather conditions or an
attack by pests are unlikely to affect all varieties in the same way. A natural habitat have become
converted to other uses, thereby destroying wild relative of crop plants that might be needed for plant
breeding, and as intensive modern cropping systems have come to rely on a very small number of
commercial varieties, the need to identify and conserve plant and animal genetic resources has become
increasingly urgent.
2. Species Diversity: It refers to the varieties of species within a region. Such diversity could be
measured on the basis of number of species in a region.
Species richness varies geographically: wormer areas tend to support more species than colder ones :
wetter areas more species than drier ones: less seasonal areas more than strongly seasonal ones: areas
with varied topography and climate support more species than uniform ones.
Any given area contributes to overall global diversity both through the number of species present and
through the proportion of those species which are unique to that area. These latter are called endemic
species. Area rich in endemic species might sites of active speciation but whatever the theoretical
interest, it is important for practical biodiversity management to be able to identify such discrete areas
of high endemism.
Ecological significance of Species:
The ecological importance of a species can also be significant in so far as some keystone species have an
important role in maintaining the diversity of a whole community of others species .Keystone species
would include decomposer organisms, top predators, pollinators and so forth. In general, large trees
greatly increase local biodiversity because they provide a range of specialist resources for other species
(including nesting birds, epiphytes, parasites, fruit-eating herbivores and a great many other organisms).
3. Ecosystem Diversity: Ecosystem diversity may be assessed in term of the global or continental
distribution of broadly defined ecosystem types or in terms of the diversity of species within ecosystems.
4. Agro-biodiversity: The agricultural biological diversity more commonly referred to as the agro-
biodiversity has been fast emerging as a strong, evolutionary divergent line from the biodiversity, which
deals with the life forms at large.
Agro-biodiversity in a traditional farming system is as follows:

37
1. Rich in plant and animal species
2. A wide diversity of niches in the local environment utilized
3. Reuse of organic residues, consuming biomass enabled
4. Ecosystem functions, such as pest, weed and disease management enhanced.
5. Locally available resources consumed to an advantage.
6. Reduction of risk and optimization of resources use.
7. Associated with farmer’s time tested local knowledge about resources.

Global Biodiversity: It is estimated that there exists 5-30 million species of living forms on the our
earth and of these, only 1.5 millions have been identified and include 3,00,000 species of green plants
and fungi, 8,00,00 species of insects, 40,000 species of vertebrates and 3,60,000 species of
microorganisms. Recently, it has been estimated that the number of insects alone may be as high as 10
millions but many believes it to be around 5 million.
The number of species so far described globally is around 1.74 million.
The estimates vary from 10 to14 million species approximately.
Biodiversity of India: India as mega-diversity nation
India being one of the 12 mega biodiversity countries of the word, having
only 2.45 % of land area (329,000,000 ha) of the word, supports 16 % of human population of the
word and 8% of global diversity with 1, 26,188 species described. India has 47,0000 species of
flowering and non flowing plants constituting 12% of worlds recorded flora and more than 8,000 animal
species.
Endemism of Indian biodiversity is significant. About 4,900 species of flowering plants are
33 % of the recorded floras are endemic to the country. These are distributed over 141 genera belonging
to 47 families.
India ranks tenth in the world and fourth in Asia in the plant diversity. it ranks seventh
in the word as far as the number of species it contributed to agriculture and animal husbandry with rice
and sugarcane being the two most important contributions.

Table -1: Biodiversity in animal species:

Group Number of species
World India
Mammals 4,231 372
Birds 12,450 1,200
Reptiles 6,330 435
Amphibians 4,184 181
Fishes 23,000 2,000
Insects 8,00,000 60,000

38
Biodiversity conservation:

Biodiversity conservation:
|
-------------------------------------------------------------
| |
Conservative Measures Progressive measures
| |
------------------------------------ -----------------------------------------------------
| | | |
1. Save 2. Sustainable use 3.Study input 4. Human resource
a. Research Participation
b. Monitoring - Teachers
a. Species diversity a. Husbanding c. Preparation - Journalist
b. Agricultural a. Research -Governments
- Botanical garden ecological i. Composition - Biologists
- Zoological park and -Social scientists
- Sanctuaries Distribution -Political leaders
- National park ii. Structure - Business man
-Biosphere and -Religious
b. Gene diversity Function -Ecosystem people
c. Eco- system iii. Interaction -Ecological refuge

Sanctuaries and National park:

Sanctuaries
Wildlife sanctuaries are an area constituted by competent authority in which hunting and capturing of
animals is prohibited except by or under control of the highest authority responsible for management of
the area.
National Park:
National park is an area decided to conserve the environment, the natural objects and the wildlife
therein.
Wildlife sanctuaries were established in India in the pursuit of conserving wildlife which was suffering
due to ecological imbalances caused by human activities. There are 89 national Park, 500 wild life
sanctuaries in India.
Important national parks and wildlife sanctuaries:
Sr.No. Name Location Animals
1. Bandhipur National Park Karnataka Indian bison, Chital
(It is a tiger reserve too)
2. Corbett National Park Uttarkhand Tigers, Chital,
(India first National Park) elephants, leopard,
jungle cat, sloth
bear)
3. Gir National park Gujarat Asiatic lion
4. Kanha National Park Madhy pradesh Swamp
deer,tiger,chital

39
 ,black buck,leaopard
5. Kazinagar National Park Assam One-horned
rhinoceros
6. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Rajasthan 374, species of
birds, Indian darter,
Spoon hills, painted
stork, open billed
stork, black necked
stork
7. Indira Gandhi wild life sanctuary Western Ghats Tiger, leopard,
,Tamilnadu elephants, guar,
pangolin
8. Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctury Iruneveli districts Lion tailed,
,Tamilnadu macaque, sambhar,
sloth bear, flying
squirrel
A very special rare species is the Indian wild ass, endemic to the little Rann of Kutch.
Sanctuaries:
A wildlife Sanctuary, similar to national park, is decided to protect the wildlife, but it considers the
conservation of species only and also the boundary of it is not imitated by state legislation. Further, in
the sanctuary, killing, hunting or capturing of any species of birds and mammals is prohibited expect by
under the control of highest authority in the department responsible for management of the sanctuary.
Private ownership may be allowed to continue in a santury and forestry and other usages permitted to
the extent that they do not adversely affect wildlife.
Wildlife sanctuaries are an area constituted by competent authority in which hunting and capturing of
animals is prohibited except by or under control of the highest authority responsible for management of
the area.
National Park:
IUCN defined national park as a relatively large area where(a) one or several ecosystem are not
materially altered by human exploitation and occupation, where plant and animal species,
geomorphological sites and habitats of specials scientific, educative and recreative interest or which
contain a natural landscape of great beauty and (b) where the highest competent authority of the country
has taken steps to prevent or eliminate as soon as possible exploitation or occupation in the whole area
and to enforce effectively the respect of ecological , geomorphologic or aesthetic features which have
led to its establishment and (c) where visitors are allowed to enter special condition, for inspiration,
cultural and recreative purposes.
National park is an area decided to conserve the environment, the natural objects and the wildlife
therein.
Wildlife sanctuaries were established in India in the pursuit of conserving wildlife which was suffering
due to ecological imbalances caused by human activities. Biosphere Reserves:
Bio sphere Reserve is undisturbed natural area, is dedicated to conservation of biological diversity and
genetic integrity of plants and microorganisms in their totality as well as scientific study .A protected
area that can be declared as a biosphere.
Biosphere reserve is multi purpose protected area to preserve area to preserve the genetic
diversity .Its objectives are as follow:
1. To promote research on ecological conservation and other environmental impacts.
2. To conserve diversity and integrity of plants, animals and microorganisms.
3. To provide facilities for education; awareness and training.

40
 There are 13 biosphere reserve in India at present. They are Nilgiri(tamilnadu,Kerala, Karnataka),
Nanda Devi(Uttarakhand),Kokrek (Meghalaya), Great Nicobar(Nicobar islands),Gulf ofMannar
(tamilnadu),Manas(Assam), Sunderbans(West Bengal), Similipal(Orrisa), Dibru Saikhown
(Assam)Debang(ArunachalPradesh)Panchamari (Madhy Pradesh) Kanchanjanga(Sikkim) and
Agasthiyamalai Hills(Kerala)
In recent time approximately 5.2 % of the total geographical area of the country is being used for
extensive in-situ conservation for habitats and ecosystem. Important national parks and wildlife
sanctuaries: There are 13 biosphere Reserve, 89 national Park, and 500 wild life sanctuaries in India.
Table: Important national parks, wildlife sanctuaries and reserves

Sr.No. Name Location Animals

1. Bandhipur National Park Karnataka Indian bison, Chital
(It is a tiger reserve too)
2. Corbett National Park Uttarkhand Tigers, Chital,
(India first National Park) elephants, leopard,
jungle cat, sloth
bear)
3. Gir National park Gujarat Asiatic lion
4. Kanha National Park Madhy pradesh Swamp
deer,tiger,chital
,black buck,leaopard
5. Kazinagar National Park Assam One-horned
rhinoceros
6. Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary Rajasthan 374, species of
birds, Indian darter,
Spoon hills, painted
stork, open billed
stork, black necked
stork
7. Indira Gandhi wild life sanctuary Western Ghats Tiger, leopard,
,Tamilnadu elephants, guar,
pangolin
8. Kalakkadu Wildlife Sanctury Iruneveli districts Lion tailed,
,Tamilnadu macaque, sambhar,
sloth bear, flying
squirrel
A very special rare species is the Indian wild ass, endemic to the little Rann of Kutch.

Table: A comparison of National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and Biosphere Reserves:

No. National Park Sanctuary Biosphere Reserve
1. Attention is not given on biotic Attention is given Attention is focused
community as whole i.e on biotic on biotic
conservation being hitched to habitat community as community as a
for particular wild animal species whole i.e whole ecosystem
like tiger, lion, rhino, etc. conservation being oriented.
species oriented
2. The approach is not based on Not based on Based on sound
scientific principles scientific principles scientific principles

41
3.. The size ranges from 0.04 to 3162
The size ranges Size well over 5670
sq.km; the usual size being between
from 0.61 to7818 sq.km.
100 and 500 sq.km (in about 39%)sq.km; the usual
and between 500 and 1000 sq.km in
size being between
about 16%) 100 and 500 sq.km
(in about 39%) and
between 500 and
1000 sq.km in about
24%)
4. Boundary circumscribed by state Limits are not Boundary
legislation. sacrosanct circumscribed by
state legislation.
5. Tourism is not only permissible, but Permissible Normally not
often encouraged permissible
6 Research and scientific management Lacking Carried on
lacking
7. No biotic interference except in Limited biotic No biotic
buffer zone interference interference except
in buffer zone.
7. Due attention to gene pool Lacking Due attention being
conservation of economic species, given to
particularly of plants, has not been conservation of
given. plants as well as
animal species.
Gujarat’s National Park(4) and Sanctuaries(21)
No. Name of National Fauna
Park/Sanctuaries/Districts

1 Gir National Park, Junagadh Indian lion ,panther, sambar, chital,

neelgai,chawsingha,Chikara,wildboar,langur,crocodile
2 Gir wild Sanctuary , Junagadh Same as above
3 Velavadar National Park ,Bhavanagar Black-buck, wolf,etc
4 Wild Ass sanctuary in Little Rann of Wildass, neelgai, wolf, chinkara
Kutch, Surendranagar
5 Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary, Ahmedabad Water birds

Value of Biodiversity:
The dangers from the loss of biodiversity, especially the thread to agriculture. This is all more
regrettable as we posse’s nowadays modern technologies which can utilize the different genetic qualities
in a variety of ways. Some species of a plant may have high yield but are unappetizing: some are both
low yielding and tasteless, but these species are hardy and can grow in saline soil. Through modern
biotechnologies, wild diversity can also be incorporated into crops and contribute to world agriculture
development. We can now extract chemical substance not known to us before from various plants for
use in medicine or industry.
Consumptive use:
Productive use:

42
More and more use of fertilizer, pesticides etc: will influence the agro-biodiversity and ultimately affect
the productivity of the plants. Our agriculture system depends on microbial activities and there appears
to be a tremendous potential for making use of micro organism in increasing crop production. If
biodiversity of microbial flora is disturbs it will effect productivity and directly influence national
economy.

Plant diversity loss is implicated in altered host-parasite relationship, plant-pollination relationship,

plant-pathogen relationship relation ship, etc.
The change in species composition of a natural ecosystem can affect the nutrient cycling adversely by
changing the nutrient reserves in various parts of soil profile.

It is assumed that these generic resources shall play a positive and unique role in the development of
new cultivars. The most important characters derived from the relatives have been the resistances to
biotic and abiotic stresses. Such resistance has been mostly observed to be invariably simply inherited,
easily transferable and clearly expressed.
Social value:
Human activities are critical to the relationship between biological diversity and ecological processes.
The current problem of air pollution and global climate change have clearly emphasized the need to
understand the biodiversity response to these antrothropogenic stress factors.
Ethical Value: The ethics of biodiversity loss is now a major consideration for saving biodiversity. This
is particularly, so because such loss is forever and there is no way to recreate lost biodiversity.
Aesthetic value:
Aesthetics is a branch of philosophy concerned with the essence and perception of beauty and ugliness.
Biodiversity has Aesthetics value. Efforts are being made to develop attraction for animals and plants by
keeping then in gardens.
Zoological gardens institution, known popularly as zoos , in which animals are kept for public
recreation, education and conservation purposes.
Thousands of plants are being conserved in garden. Gardening is a science and art of growing, fruits,
vegetables, flowers, shrubs and trees on public places. Gardens are the means of biodiversity
conservation and are of aesthetic value.
Opinion value:
Opinion means attitudes, perspectives, and preferences towards events, circumstances and issues of
mutual interest. Opinions are generally accepted as useful tools. Knowledge of biodiversity and its
conservation are now becoming the key aspects of many Government and Non Governmental
organization in India.
Biogeography classification of India:
Our country can be continently divided into ten major regions, based on the geography , climate and
pattern of vegetation seen and the communities of mammals ,birds, reptiles, amphibians, insect and other
invertebrates that live in them. Each of these regions contains a variety of ecosystem such as forests,
grasslands, lakes, rivers, wetlands, mountains and hills, which have specific plant and animal species.
India’s biogeography Zones:
i.The cold mountains snow covered Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh.
ii. The Himalayan ranges and valley of Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Utterakhand, Assam and other
north-eastern States.
iii. The Trai, the lowland where the Himalayan rivers flow into the plains
iv. The Gangetic and Brahmaputra plains
v. The Thar desert of Rajasthan

43
vi. The semi-arid grassland region of the Decca plateau, Gujarat, Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka
and Tamil Nadu
vii. The North eastern States of India
viii. The Western Ghats in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala
ix. The Andaman and Nicobar islands
x. The long western and eastern coastal belt with sandy beaches, forest and mangroves.

The botanical survey of India, the Zoological survey of India and the Forest survey of India have
been studying and documenting the plant and animal diversity of the country.
Hotspots in India:
Hotspots are areas that are extremely rich in species, have high endemism and are under
constant threat .Among the 25 hotspots of the world , two are found in India, extending into neighboring
countries. The Western Ghats /Sir Lanka and Indo –Myanmar region .These area are particularly rich in
floral wealth the endemism is not only in flowering plants but also in reptiles, amphibian, swallow tailed
butterflies and some mammals.

Eastern Himalayas:

Phytogeographically, the eastern Himalayas form a distinct floral region. The area comprises Nepal,
Bhutan and Neighbouring states of Northern India.
Many deep and semi isolated valleys are exceptionally rich in endemic plant species in Sikkim within
an area of 7298 sq.km, 2550 (60%) of the 4250plants species are endemic . In India, there are about
5800 plants species of which roughly 2000 (36%) are endemic.
Western Ghats:
Western Ghats account for Indias 49219 plant species ,1600 endemics (40% of the total number of
endemics) are found in a 17000 sq,km strip of forest along the seaward side of the western Ghats in
Maharastra, Karnataka ,Tamil Nadu and Kerala .Forest tracts up to 500 meters in elevation, comprising
one –fifth of the entire forest expanse, are mostly evergreen, while those in the 500-1500 meters ranges
are semi-evergreen. There are two main centers of diversity, the Agastyamali hills and the silent valley/
New Amambalam basin.

Forms of conservation:

The different forms of conservation can be grouped into two main categories. They are as follow:
In-situ conservation:
Biodiversity conservation done in the habitat itself (original place ) is known as in-situ conservation.
It is ideal system of genetic resources conservation, i.e the conservation of genetic resources within the
nature or in main made ecosystem in which they are normally occur. In-situ conservation includes a
comprehensive system of protected areas. There are different categories of protected area which are
managed with different objectives for the benefit to the society. These include national park, sanctuaries,
natural resources, natural mountains, cultural land scape, biosphere reserves and others.
Protected area in India:
India a long history of In-situ conservation of fauna through protected area. In 1981 , such a network
comprises 19 national park and 202 sanctuaries extending over 74,763 sq.km. The protected area
network has been strengthened to day, as India have 75 national parks and 421 sanctuaries convening
about 4% of the total geographical area of the country.

44
Ex-situ conservation:

Ex-situ conservation means the conservation of components of biological diversity outside their natural
habitats or Ex-situ conservation means the wild life conservation in captivity under human care. In this
the endangered plants and animals are collected and bred under controlled conditions in gardens, zoos
and sanctuaries etc.

The biodiversity bill 2000 was introduced in the parliament in the month of May 200 for the
conservation of biodiversity. The bill emphasized on the following:
1. Prohibits transfer of Indian genetic material out side the country without approval of Indian
government.
2. Patent or other intellectual property right (IPRs) over such material or even related knowledge can be
taken after seeking permission in advance.
3. Provide a measure for habitat and species protection.
4. Provide for the protection of indigenous knowledge ,through appropriate legislation.
5. Regulates access to such material by Indian nationals also to stop over exploitation.

Heritage sites in India:

The maintained heritage sites of India are given in below:

Site Location

Kazinagar National Park Assam

Keolado Ghana National Park Rajasthan
Mans Wildlife Sanctuary Assam
Nanda Devi National Park Utter Pradesh
Sundarban National Park West Bengal

Wild life Conservation by Government and NGOs:

A number of governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are actively involved in
wildlife conservation. Some of them are as follows:
Bombay Natural History Society:
The society was started in 1883. This society is engaged in collecting information and specimens of
fauna and flora all through the country and played an important role in drawing public attention to the
need of wildlife conservation. It has museum which exhibits the skin of rare animals, stuffed birds,
reptiles and other animals. It has been carrying out various useful research projects on Indian flora and
fauna. It has published excellent books like “The book on Indian Natural History and Some Beautiful
Indian climbers and Shrubs.

Zoological Survey of India (ZSI):

It was established in 1916 to promote survey, exploration and research leading to the advanced of fauna
resources. Its head office is located in Kolkata with 36 offices located allover India.
Wild life Institute of India (WII):
This institute was setup in 1982 by Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. WIIs
aim to develop wild life science and promote it s application in the field according to Indians economic
and socio-culture background. Research in Wildlife is the major activity of WII.

Wild life preservation Society of India:

45
Wild life preservation Society of India was founded in 1958 in Deharadun. Its main objectives as
follows:
i. Impart knowledge about conservation.
ii. Promote Wild life tourism
iii.Promote interest in conservation through journals, monographs, films and bulletins.
iv. Assist in forming Wild life protection acts.
v. Help Wild life administration in maintain ace and protection on National Parks and
Sanctuaries.
Word Wild life Foundation (WWF) in India:

This foundation was formed in 1961. Its head quater is in Switzerland .Its takes up conservation project
all over the world. It is supported by the United Nations. WWF supports number of projects of its kind
in the world.
Case study-8
Breeding programs

Project tiger: Project tiger was launched by the government of India with the support of WWF-
international in 1973 and was the first such initiative aimed at protecting this key species and all its
habitats .project Tiger was initiated in nine Tiger Reserves in different ecosystems of the country,
covering an area of 16339sq km. By 2001,the number of tiger reserves increasedto27,covering an area of
37761sq km. the tiger count climbed from268 in 1972 in the 9 tiger reserves, to around 1500 in 1997 in
the 23 tiger Reserves. The Project Tiger recognized the fact that tigers can not be protected in isolation,
and that to protect the tiger, its habitat needed to be protected.
Crocodile Conservation : Crocodiles have been threatened as their skin is used for making leather
articles. This led to the near-extinction of crocodiles in the wild in the 1960s in I0ndia.

Case study-9
Beej Bachao Andolan(Save the seeds Movement)
This movement began in Himalayan’s foothills. The members have collected seeds of diverse crops in
garhwal. The movement has successfully conserved hundreds of local rise verities, Rajma, pulses,
millets vegetables spices and herbs. Many different verities are being grown as an out come of this
programmed in local farmers fields. This has also been supported by local women’s groups who felt this
verities were better than those provided by the grill revolution. In cottas man who were interested in case
returns in a short time found it difficult to appreciate the benefit of growing indigenous verities.

Case study-10
social issues
Silent valley: the proposed hydel project at a silent valley ,a unique pocket of tropical biodiversity in
south India, In the 1970s was stopped and the area declared a National Park in 1984.This was achieved
by several dedicated individuals, groups and organizations lobbying to save the area from being
submerged and protects it’s rich bio-diversity.

Review Questions:

46
 i. Define biodiversity.
ii. Outline the important hotspots in India.
iii. List out the important parks, sanctuaries in India.
iv. Write short notes on a. In-situ conservation b. Ex-situ conservation
v. State and explain the role of NGOS and governmental towards wild –life conservation.

5. Environmental pollution

Tomorrow’s harvest depend on

Today’s ploughing and sowing

Pollution: pollution is a contamination of the environmental by the man-made substances or energy that
have adverse effects on living matter.
Pollutant: A contaminant at a concentration high enough to endanger the aquatic environment or the
public health.
OR
The presence of a substance which causes pollution is known as pollutant.
Classification of pollutants:
a. Non-degradable pollutants: These are the pollutants, which cannot be decomposed. For
example DDT, Mercury, salts, etc.
b. Bio- degradable pollutants: These are the pollutants, which can be decomposed natural process.
For example sewage, heat, noise, etc.
Types of pollution:
Pollution can be categorized to the medium in which occurs:
1. Air pollution 2.Water pollution 3.Land pollution 4. Noise pollution

5. Thermal pollution 6. Marine pollution 7. Radio active pollution

Cause of pollution:
1.Air pollution: The major concern over air pollution are acidification of soils and waters with its
detrimental affects on animal and plant life and the impact of traffic derived pollutants on health cities.
On a global scale air pollution probably represents the greatest problem of all, with greenhouse gases
(such as carbon dioxide) in resulting in global warming and synthetic chlorine compounds depleting the
stratospheric ozone layer. Nuclear waste is a further modern environmental concern which poses a
problem not just for the present generation, but for future generations as the wastes remains radioactive
for thousands of years.
Table-2 Major sources of air pollution
Sr.No Pollutant Sources Effects
1. CarbondioxideCO2 Oil, coal, petrol, diesel Green house effect
combustion
2. Carbon monoxide Limited combustion Oil, Leads to photochemical
CO coal, petrol, diesel fuels smog in some area; Causing
Headaches, drowsiness and
can be fatal at high
concentration.
3. Lead compounds From leaded petrol used by Slows development of
cars neural issue in children

47
4. Oxide of nitrogen High temperature Acid rain
NO,NO2 combustion in cars and some formed,exacerbates asthma,
extent power stations causes irritation of lung
tissues, increase
susceptibility to viral attack
5. Sulphur SO2 Oil, Coal combustion in Acid rain formed, which
power station. damages plants, trees,
building and lakes;
exacerbates asthama and
cause irritation to eyes,nose
and throat.
6. Nuclear waste Nuclear power plant, nuclear Radioactivity,
weapon testing, war contamination of locality,
cancers, mutation, death
Air pollution control: 1. particulate control technology 2.Gaseous pollutants control 3.Automobile
Emission control.

Air pollution in India:

The world health Organization (WHO) ,which rates only the mega-cities of the world has rated New
Delhi as the Fourth most polluted city in the world. However, compared to other cities in India, Delhi is
not at the top of the list of polluted cities .Our country has several pollution hotspots. The recent release
from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Parivesh, January 2003 ,state that Ahmedabad’s air
is the most noxious, followed by Kanpur ,Sholapur and Luck now, with small particulates levels
(PM10) 3-4 times of 60 microgram per cubic meter (mg/m3 ) .The report has ranked 29 cities according
to the respiratory Particulate Matter (RSPM) levels during thr year 2000.This report thus confirms the
fact that Indian cities show high particulate pollution ,with 14 cities hitting critical levels.

Air Quality monitoring:

At present, India does not have a well established system of monitoring air pollution. When air quality
monitoring began in India in the late 1960s, planners focused only on a few pollutants namely sulfur
dioxide on a limited scale. The threat from other air toxins like benzene, ozone and other small
particulates is known, as these are not monitored at all. A database on ambient air quality in Indian cities
has been prepared by the monitoring networks of the National Environmental Engineering Research
Institute (NEERI) , Nagpur. The CPCB initiated it own national Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
(NAAQM) is supplied by the respective State pollution Control Boards(SPCBs) which than transmitted
to the CPCB) expert feel that the present air quality monitoring network cannot capture the true profile
of urban air pollution due to the lack of adequate monitoring stations .Moreover critical toxins have still
not been included in the list of pollutants to be monitored.

Table-3: Ambient air quality standards in India developed by the Central pollution Control Board

Area Category SPM( /m3) SO2 ( /m3 CO ( /m3 NOx( /m3

Industrial and mixed use 500 120 5000 120
Residential and rural 200 80 2000 80
Sensitive 100 3 1000 30

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Case study-14
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy-
The careless sitting of industry and relatively poor regulatory controls leads to ill health in the urban
centers. The Bhopal Gas tragedy on December-02, 1984, where union
carbides plant leaked 43 turns of methyl isocyanine and other substances, used in the manufacture of
pesticides, is one of the worst industrial accidents in the resent past. Of the 502000 people who where
exposed to the Gas,8000 died during the first week and another 8000 later. The impact on the survivors
is visible even today.

2. Water pollution:
Defination: Water pollution is the contamination of water by foreign matter such as microorganism,
chemicals, and industrial or other wastes, or sewage.
Major water pollutants: 1. Pesticide 2.DDT 3.Heavymetal 4.Mercury 5.Cadmium 6.Fluoride 7.
Petroleum 8.Crude oil 9. Radio active substance 10.Plastics 11. industrial Waste 12. Agricultural
Waste 13. Fertilizers 14. Agro food processing Industry 15. Thermal pollution

Fluoride pollution and Hunan Health and Animal Health:

Fluoride is not absorbed in the blood stream . It has an affinity for calcium and gets accumulated in the
bones, resulting in the molting of teeth, pain the bones and joint and outward bending of legs form the
knees. According to WHO , fluoride concentration below 0.5 ppm over a period of 5-10 years may result
in fluorosis terminating in crippling or paralysis. It is estimated that 20-25 million Indians are afflicted
by fluorosis.
Cattle grazing around fluoride pollution sources such asa ceramic work, phosphate fertilizer plants and
aluminium factories often develop fluorosis. The toxicity symptoms developed involve staining,
mottling and abrasion of teeth and lameness and decreased milk production in dairy cattle.

Water pollution arises from the discharge of indusial , agricultural and human wastes in to fresh waters,
estuaries and seas. This may result in the poisoning of aquatic organisms or the depletion of oxygen
owing to excess growth of microorganisms which makes less of the water habitable for fish. Metal
pollution and toxic organic compounds are of concern for human and environmental health as a result of
discharges to water, air and terrestrial environment.
Control of water pollution: 1. Stabilization of ecosystem,2. Reutilization and Recycling of waste, 3.
Removal of pollutants. Water pollution:
Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD): The amount of dissolved oxygen taken up by microorganisms
in a sample of water.
Biochemical oxygen demand is the most commonly used parameter to define the strength of a municipal
or organic industrial wastewater.
 It is the amount of oxygen used for biochemical oxidation by microorganism of Water.
 This test has been developed for five days at 20 C is expressed as ppm of oxygen taken from a
BOD value appropriate the amount of oxidizable organic matter, and therefore ,used as a
measure of degree of water pollution and waste strength
 BOD values are useful in process design and loading calculations ,measure of treatment
efficiency and evaluating self purification capacity of the stream
 Types of micro organisms pH ,presence of toxins some and nitrification process are the
important factors that influence the BOD test.

49
Chemical Oxygen demand (COD):
 It is the amount of oxygen require by organic matter in a sample of water for its oxidation by a
strong chemical oxidant and solution of potassium dichromate in two hours.
 This value is poor measure of strength of organic matter as oxygen is also consumed in the
oxidation of inorganic matter such as nitrate, sulphates, reduced metal ions, and also that some
organic materials such as benzene, pyridine and few other cyclic organic compounds are not
oxidized by this test.
 It is very important parameter in management and design of the treatment plants because of its
rapidly in determination. Values at=re taken as basis for calculation of in the standards for
discharging efficiency of treatment plants and also figure industrial/domestic effluent in various
kinds of waters.
 Presence of toxins and other such unfavorable conditions for the nisms don’t affect COD values.
Case study-11

Water pollution-Nepal
The narayani river of Nepal has been polluted by factories located on its bank. This has endangered the
fish, dolphins, crocodiles, and other flora and fauna of the region.
Case study-16
Groundwater pollution in India
An example of groundwater pollution caused by excessive extraction is that of fluoride contamination
or flurosis. Fluorosis is not a localized problem. It has spread across 19 states and across a variety of
ecological regions ranging from the Desert, the Gigantic plains and the Deccan plateau. Each of these
regions in distinct in terms of rainfall, soil type, groundwater recharge regime, climatic conditions and
hydrology. High fluoride concentration in groundwater is a natural phenomenon in several countries like
China, Srilanka, West Indies, Spain, Holland, Italy and Mexico. Experts claim that a FLOURIDE belt
stretches across the middle East across Pakistan and India and then into South-east Asia and the south of
China. According to a report of the Rajiv Gandhi National drinking water mission, the bedrock of the
Indian peninsula consists of a number of fluoride-bearing minerals. When the bedrock weathers, the
fluoride leaches into water and the soil. Although the Indian peninsular bedrock has always been the
same, this problem has only surfaced during the last three decades. It is related to the over-extraction of
groundwater, resulting in the tapping of aquifers with high fluoride concentration.
The beginning of this phenomenon can be traced back to the 1970s and 1980s,when there was a massive
state investment in rural water development for irrigation as well as for drinking. Encouraged by state
subsides on diesel and electricity, people invested in diesel and submersible pumps in a bid to extract
groundwater through bore-wells. This policy aggravated the fluoride problem.
Fluoride mainly enters the human body through drinking water where 96%-99% of it combines with the
bones, as it has an affinity for calcium phosphate in the bones. The excess intake of fluoride can lead to
dental fluorisis, skeleton or non-skeletal fluorisis is characterized by discolored, blackened, mottled or
chalky-white teeth. skeleton fluorisis leads to serve and permanent bone and joint deformities. Non-
skeleton fluorisis leads to gastrointestinal problem and neurological disorders. Fluoride can damage the
fetus and adversely affect the IQ of children.
Once fluoride is detected in the water, the only solution is to de-fluoridate Various technologies are
available for this process. However the type of technology to be selected depends upon the fluoride
levels in the water and the volume of water to be de-fluoridated .None of the Indian technologies are
foolproof. Deflouridation plants and
household water treatment kits are only stop-gap solutions.

50
 Case study-12
Pesticide population in India
One of the most terrifying effects of pesticide contamination of groundwater came to light when
pesticide residues were found in bottled water. Between July and December 2002,the population
Monitoring Laboratory of the New Delhi-based center for science and environmental (CSE)analyzed 17
brands of bottled water, both packaged drinking water and packaged natural mineral water, commonly
sold in areas that for within the national capital region of Delhi. Pesticide residues of organizer and
organ phosphorus pesticides, which are most commonly used in India, where found in all the samples
Among the organochiorines, gamma hexashlorocyclohexane (lindane)and DDT were prevalent, while
among organochiorines pesticides, malathion and Chlorpyrifos where the most common. All this where
present above the permissible limits specified by the
European economic community(EEC),which is the norm, used all over Europe.

One may wonder as to how this pesticide residues gate into bottled hotter that is
manufactured by several big companies. This can be tracked to several facts. There is no regulation that
the bottled water industry must be located in clean zones. Currently, the Manufacturing plans of most
brands are situated in the dirtiest real-estate or in the midst of agricultural fields. Most companies use
bore-wells to pump out water from ground from depths verifying from 24-152m below the ground. The
ray water samples collected from the plants also revealed the presence of pesticide residues .This clearly
indicated that the sources of pesticide residue in the polluted groundwater are used to manufacture the
bottled water. This is despite the fact that all bottled water plants use a range of purification methods.
Thus, the fault obviously lies in the treatment method used.
These plants use membrane technology, where the water is filtered using membranes
with ultra-small pores to remove fine suspended solids and all bacteria and protozoa and
even viruses. While Nanofiltration can remove insecticides and herbicides, it is expensive
and thus rarely used. Most industries also use an activated charcoal adsorption process,
which is effective in removing organic pesticides but not heavy metals. To remove
pesticides, the plants use reserve osmosis and granular activated charcoal methods. So
even though the manufacturers claim to use these process, the presence of pesticides
residues points to the fact that either the manufacturers do not use the treatment process
effectively or only treat a part of the raw water.
The low concentration of pesticides residues in bottled water do not cause acute or
immediate effects. However, repeated exposure even to extremely miniscule amounts can
result in chronic effects like cancer, liver and kidney damage, disorders of the nervous
system, damage to the immune system and birth defects.
Similarly six months after CSE reported pesticides residues in bottled water it
also fount these pesticides in popular cold drink brands sold across the country.
This is because the main ingredient in a cold drink or a carbonated non-alcoholic
beverage is water and there are no standards specified for water to be used in these
beverages in India.
There were no standards for battled water in India till
September 29, 2000, when the union ministry of health and Family Welfare issued
a notification (no. 759(E) ) amending the prevention of Food Adulteration Rules,
1954.The BIS (Bureau of Indian Standards) certification mark became mandatory for
bottled water from March 29, 2001.However, the parameters for pesticides residues
remained ambiguous. Following the report published by CSE in Down to Earth
(Vol 11, no.18), a series of committees were established and eventually on 18th July
2003, amendments were made in prevention of Food Adulteration Rules stating

51
that pesticides residues considered individually should not exceed 0.0001 mg/l and that the total
pesticides residues should not be more than 0.0005mg/l and that analysis shall be conducted by using
internationally established test methods meeting the residues limits specified herein. This notification
came into force from January 1,
Case study-13
River pollution:
All most in the India most river are polluted. The causes of pollution may also be more or less similar.
This is a case study of the river Damodar as reported in Down to Earth. The 563-km long Damodar
River originates near Chandwa village in the Chhanagpur hills in Bihar’s palamau district. It flows
through one of the richest mineral belts in the world before draining into the Hooghly, about 50km south
of Kolkata.Indian industries depends heavily on this region as 60% of the coal consumed in our country
comes from Chhanagpur belt. Coal-based industries of all types dot the area because of locational
Advantages and the easy availability of water and power. In addition, various industries such as steel,
cement, fertilizer and explosive plants are located there. The river Damodar is polluted with minerals,
mine rejects and toxic effluents. Both its water and its sand are infested by coal dust and waste from this
industries. There are seven thermal power plants in Damodar-valley. The states of Bihar and West Indies
depend almost entirely on this area for their power requirements. These power plants not only consume
a lot of water but also dump ash in the valley.
Mining
As underground mines can not keep pace with the rising demand, 60% of the coal extracted from the
area comes from open-cast mines, which are responsible for serious land degration. The disposal of rock
and soil extracted along with the coal only adds to the problem.
Industries
The industries in the area do not have proper effluent treatment plants. Among the big-coal based
industries the washeries account for the bulk of the pollution in terms of the total suspended solids
(TSS), oil and grease. About 20% of the coal handled goes out in the form of slurry, which is deposited
in the ponds outside. After the slurry settles, coal fine (the sediment) is collected manually. Due to
inadequate retrieval methods very often the water discharges into the River from the pond carries high
amounts of fine coal particles and oil, thus polluting the river. The volatile components in the coal
removed, leaving hot, non-volatile coke in the oven, which is washed with huge quantities of water. This
water that contains oil and suspended particles is then discharged into the river.
Fly-ash from the thermal power plants
Only one of the thermal power plant has an electronic precipitator to collect the fly-ash, while the other
make just do with mechanical dust collectors. As most of these plants are located on the banks of the
river, the fly-ash eventually finds it’s way into the river. The bottom-ash from the boilers is mixed with
water to form a slurry, which is then drained into ash-ponds .Most of the ponds are full and in several
cases the drainage pipes are choked. The slurry is, therefore, directly discharged into the river.
Effects
The river and it’s distribute are the largest source of drinking water for the huge population that lives in
the valley. On April 2,1990,about 200000 liters of furnace oil spoiled into the river from the Bokaro
Steel Plant. This oil traveled 150km downstream to Durgapur. For a week after the incident, five million
people drank contaminated water in which the oil levels were 40 to 80 times higher than the permissible
value of 0.03mg/l.

The Damodar action Plan, an end-of-the pipe pollution treatment scheme, seeks to tackle effluents. One
viable option could be to switch to less polluting industries and cleaner technology. This would need
strong Government initiative and also a mass movement by people.

52
3. Land pollution : a wide range of agrochemicals is currently used by farmers to sustain food
production. Global fertilizer use has skyrocketed from 14 million to 125 millions tones, an increase of
almost 900 per cent over the last 30 to 40 years. In addition to increased fertilizer use, modern
agriculture practices have also relied on increasing pesticides use. With introduction of DDT in the
early40s, non chemical methods of pest control dwindled. Today, over100,000 chemicals including
insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, acaricides and rodenticide are in use through world for pest weed
control.
Control of soil pollution: Eco- friendly systems is the only approach to control soil pollution.1. Organic
farming 2. Nature farming 3.Ecologicsal farming system 4. Integrated intensive Farming system 5. low
External input supply Agriculture 6. Remediation of Chemically Degraded soil.
Effect of pollution; Pollutants increasingly overwhelm the biospheres capacity to deal with them, and
often have long-term consequences. Fish in the great lakes, in about 20 5 of all our other lakes and 5 %
of Americas rivers contain too many pollutants to be safely eaten. Wide spread lead, from decades of
using gasoline whose lead contain was dispread through exhausts, remains distributed over our soil.
Lead is dangerous, especially for children, because it reduces brain development when it gets into the
blood. Persistent residues of pesticides, plastics and other materials accumulate in body fat and disturb
human and other animal’s hormone system. Some radio active wastes from nuclear bomb testing, power
plants and other sources will remain dangerous for ten to thousands of year.
Soil Degradation is the decline in quality and quantity of a soil.
. Case study-14
Selenium: Punjab
In 1981-82,farmers from Hoshirapur and Nawansheher Districts approached the scientists in the Punjab
Agriculture University(PAU),Ludhiana, as their wheat crops had turned white. Soil analysis indicated
selenium(Se)levels in the area were above toxic limits. Se is a naturally-occurring trace element,
essential for animal and human wealth, but the gap between the requirement and excess is narrow. Soils
containing 0.5 ug of se per kg or more are injurious to health. In some areas of Punjab, se levels range
from 0.31 ug/kg to 4.55 ug/kg .Rice cultivation requires the presence of standing water. Being highly
soluble, Se dissolves and comes to the surface; the water then evaporates leaving the Se behind.

4.Noise pollution:
Noise word is derived from the Latin word nausea. It is usually defined as unpleasant or disagreeable
loudness sound, or sound without value that causes discomfort to the listener.
Sound: Sound which is pleasing to the ears, which is sweet to hear and which gives comfort like
musical notes is defined as sound. While one, which is penetrating and uncomfortable, which creates
psychological stress is called as noise.
Domestic Noise:
Anything between 50 and 90 dB is considered as noise. While one beyond 90-120dB is considered to be
health hazard. Entertainment devices (e.g.Tabla, harmonium ,metal utensils0,fans,airconditioners,
washing machines, lawn moves, kitchen appliances 9e.g. vacuum cleaner, food mixtures. Pressure
cookers, etc.0 are common sources of domestic noise.
Noise has significant impact on the quality of life, and in that sense, it is a health problem in accordance
with the World Health Organizations (WHO) definition of health. WHOs definition of health include,
total physical and mental well-being in, as the absences of disease. Along these lines, a 19781 WHO
working group stated :” Noise must be recognized as a major threat to human well-being.
The effect of noise is determined mainly by the duration and level of the noise but they are also
influenced by the frequency. Long –lasting, high –level sounds are the most damaging to hearing. High
frequency sound tends to be more hazardous.

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Sound is the result of pressure change in a medium (usually air), caused by vibration. Sound level is
measure by decibels (dB) and sound frequency is stated in terms of cycle per second. Or now day, Hertz
(Hz) . A small increase in decibels can represent a large increase in sound energy. The frequency is
defined as the number of vibration per second. One Hz is equal to 1 vibration per second. Typical
frequency limits of the ear are between 2 and 20,000 Hz. The lowest frequency which is audible is 20
Hz , while the highest audible frequency is 12,000 Hz. Human ear is known as to be sensitive to an
extremely wide intensity from 0 to 180 dB. Here 0 Db is the threshold of hearing, while 140 db is the
thresh hold of pain.
Tables-4: Various decibel levels of sound:
Decibel (dB) Description
0 Absolute science
10 Threshold of hearing
25 Quiet room
35 Rural night time setting
55 Day time busy roadways
70 Noisy restaurant
80 Road construction site
90 Printing pass plants
100 Railway locomotive
120 Uncomfortable loud
130 Intolerable
140 Causes pain in ears
150 Painfully loud ,can rupture eardrum

Table-5:Permissible noise levels in different types of localities:

Locality Permissible noise levels in dB
Day Night
Industrial area 75 65
Commercial area 65 55
Residential area 55 45
Silence zones for hospitals 45 45
Educational institutional etc

Sources of noise pollution:

Sources of noise pollution can be studied under following headings.
1. Population Trends: The word population is increasing with a fast growth rate.This is the major reason
for noise pollution.
2. Road traff1noice noise
3. Aircraft Noise
4.Noise from Railroads
5. Construction Noise
6. Noise in Industry
7. Noise in buildings
9. Noise from consumer products

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 Effect of Noise:
1. Noise-Induced Hearing loss
2. Interaction with other agents; Noise can intersect with drugs and industrial agents to produce
additive or even synergistic effects on hearing. As expected, the higher the levels of noise and the
greater the dose of the dose of the other agent, the greater will be the resulting hearing loss.
3. Effect on sleep:
4. Effect on performance and Behavior: Noise can cause adverse effects on task performance and
behavior at work, and in no occupational and social settings.
5. Extra-Auditory Health effects: Noise has been implicated in the development of a variety of health
problem ranging from hyper tension to psychosis.

6. Effect on blood pressure: Mostly of occupational noise exposure significantly increases in either
systolic or diastolic blood pressure, or both.
7. Effect on blood chemistry: Noise pollution increase levels of the catecholamine epinephrine and nor
epinephrine.
8. Interactions: There is a significant correlation between noise annoyance and cardiovascular disorders.
9. Other adverse effects: Noise pollution effects on fetal development, reduction in birth weight or an
increase in premature birth, but the effects are usually slight.
The effects of noise on documented mental health disorders likewise inconclusive it increases
psychoneurotic and psychosomatic effects.

5. Marine Pollution:
The coastal waters of India are extremely rich in food and mineral resources .Pollution in the marine,
environment is largely increasing out of increased economic activity like industrialization and
urbanization. There are number of factors responsible for the pollution of coastal waters. These
include sewage discharge form cities, industrial wastes, dumping of garbage and agricultural waste,
petroleum, etc. the magnitude of oil pollution are increasing rapidly, particularly in coastal water.

6. Thermal pollution:
Increase or decrease in temperature of air, water and land by human activity is called thermal pollution.
Causes of Thermal pollution:
Carbon dioxide:
Carbon dioxide is produced during the combustion of fuel in houses, power station, and factories. It is
also released by plants and animals in the process of respiration. The CO2 content of the atmosphere has
gone up by 15 % in the past 100 years. As a result we are able to experience warming up of the earth.
This is called green house effect. This melting of polar icecaps will lead to rise in the sea level. As a
result , coastal areas and low-lying areas all over the world will be flooded and will go under water.
Hot water:
Power station, industries and nuclear reactors use large quantities of water for cooling purposes. The
resulting hot waters are released into the rivers.
Arise in 10 0C temperature increase the rate of exchange of salts between the organisms and the
environment. This will accelerate the entry of toxin into the body from the external medium.
7. Nuclear Hazards:
Nuclear wastes from atomic power plant come in the form of spent fuel rods of uranium and by products
such as plutonium. It is estimated that these can remain toxic to humans for 2, 00,000 years. Radioactive
iodine, another waste product from power plats can cause cancer of the thyroid gland. Waste coming

55
 from the production of nuclear weapons produces radioactive strontium and cesium both of which are
re-carcinogenic. These materials generate heat and penetrating radiation from centuries. The nuclear
waste such as contaminated dust, debris, clothing, industrial clothing, trash etc. when dumped into soil
and pollute the drinking water. It is therefore necessary that the waste coming from power station and
defense established should be carefully handled, isolated, buried and protected.

Nuclear Fall out:

The radioactive dust that falls to earth after atomic explosion is called radioactive fallout. These
materials mix and interact with natural particulate material in the atmosphere and increasing amount of
man –made air pollution.

Role of an Individual in prevention of pollution:

Environment is concerned with every walk of life and every problem in the world. To conserve
our environment we have to think globally and act locally. The following steps can be taken up by the
individuals, corporate and government in order to prevent pollution.
7. To decrease pollution through better waste collection method and make available the discard materials
for recycling.
8. To reduce rates of resources depletion by more efficient recycling.
9. To make available pollution free power sources like harnessing solar energy.
10. To minimize capital equipment depreciation rate by better product design to increase product lifetime
and easy repair.
11. To control natural pests based on more complete understanding of ecological interrelationship.
12. To decrease death rate by medical advances and to equalize birth rate with decreasing death rate by
contractive advances.
Therefore, our future environment is at our hand what is really needed is a change in fundamental
approach by individuals with nature.

Pollution case studies:

DDT in India: A study by the centre for Science and Environment gives the warning that “Some of
these pesticides – whose traces have for exceeded limits considered fit for human consumption –are
persistence organ chlorines responsible for causing serious maladies like cancer " Many of the pesticides
used in India have been banned in the west for more than twenty years. DDT is a case in point. Banned
in 1972, in the U.S ten years after its dangers were brought to light in Rachal Carson’s “Silent spring "
,It is still manufactured by a public sector undertaking in India which produces and distributes about
900 tones of DDT annually for the malaria eradication programmed. Now DDT is universally present in
air, soil, water and living tissues reaching us through the food chain. Residents of Delhi and Punjab
record the worlds highest levels of DDT bio accumulated in their body fat.
Yamuna and Gomathi Action Plans:
Phase II of Ganga Action Plan mainly involves cleaning of Yamuna, Gomati and Damoder under
Yamuna Action Plan. The Government of India Central pollution Control Board (CPCB) is responsible
for monitoring the quality of water. The parameters analyzed are pH , temperature, dissolve oxygen,
biochemical oxygen, demand, chemical oxygen demand, ammonia, coli form and faucal coli form. Site
specific parameters like mental and pesticides are also being monitored at certain locations. All the
micro and other significant pollutant are also analyzed seasonally.
In is observed that the section of the river Yamuna flowing through Delhi constitutes only two
percent of the total length but the city contributes nearly 71 per cent of the wastewater discharge into
the river. Ironically river Yamuna has been the primary sources of Delhi’s water supply. But adequate
attention has not been paid to the treatment of the sewage flowing into it.

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Disaster Management: Disaster management:
The Indian subcontinent is very vulnerable to droughts, floods, cyclones, earthquakes,, landslides,
avalanches and forest fires. Among the 36 states and Union territories in the country, 22 are prone to
disaster.
Among all the disaster that occurs in the country, floods are the most frequently
occurring natural disaster, due to the irregularities of Indian monsoon. About 75% of the annual rainfall
in India is concentrated in three to four months of the monsoon season. As a result there is very heavy
discharge from the rivers during this period causing widespread floods. Approximately 40 mHA of land
in the country has been identified as being prone to floods. The major floods are mainly caused in the
Ganga-Brahmputra-Meghna basin, which carries 60% of the total river flow of our country.
India has long coastline of 5700kms., which is exposed to tropical cyclones arising in the bay of Bengal
and Arabian Sea. The Indian ocean is one of the six major cyclone-prone regions of the world. In India,
cyclones occur usually between April and May and also between October and December. The eastern
coastline is more prone to cyclones as it hit by about 80% of total cyclones generated in the region.
Droughts are a perennial feature in some states of India;16% of the country’s total area is
drought-prone. Drought is a significant environmental problem as it is caused a lower-than average
rainfall over a long period of time. Most of the drought-prone areas by the government lie in the arid and
semi-arid areas of the country.

Earthquakes are considered to be one of the most destructive natural hazards. The impact
of this phenomenon occurs with so little warning that it is almost impossible to make preparations
against damages and collapse of buildings. About 50-60 of India is vulnerable to seismic activity of
varying intensities. Most of the vulnerable areas are located in the Himalayan an sub-Himalayan regions.
The term’ tsunami’ comes from the Japanese language, meaning harbor(tsu) and wave
(nami). A tsunami can be generated by any disturbance that rapidly displaces a large mass of water, like
an undersea earthquake, volcanic eruption or submarine landslides. The wave travels across the ocean at
speeds of 500-1000 km/h. As the wave approaches the land, it ‘compresses’- sometimes up to a height
of 30 meters-and the sheer weight of the water is enough to crush objects in its path, often reducing
buildings to their foundations and scouring exposed ground to the bedrock. The tsunami on 26
December, 2004, killed 310,000 people, making it the deadliest tsunami in recorded history.
The main elements of a mitigation strategy are as follows:
1. Risk assessment and vulnerability analysis:

This involves the identification of hotspots areas of prime concern, collection of information on past
natural hazards, information of the natural ecosystem and information on the population and
infrastructure. Once this information is collected, a risk assessment should be done to determine the
frequency, intensity, impact and the time taken to return to normalcy after the disaster. The use of
Geographical Information System (GIS) ,a computer program, can be valuable tools in this process as a
the primary data can be easily update and the corresponding can be made.

2. Applied research and technology transfer:

There is a need to establish or upgrade observation equipment and networks, monitor the hazards
properly, improve the quality of forecasting and warning, disseminate information quickly through the
warning systems and undertake disaster simulation exercises.
Thus, space technologies such as remote sensing, satellite communications and Global
positioning systems (GPSs) have a very important role to play. Government organization like the
ISRO(Indian Space Research Organization ) can play a vital role.

57
3. Public awareness and training;

One of the most critical components of a mitigation strategy is the training to be imparted to the officials
and staff of the various departments involves at the state and the district level .This enables the sharing
of information and methodology. The success of a mitigation strategy will depend to a large extent on
the inter-sectional, inter –departmental and efficient teamwork. Thus, a well designed training program
taking into the gaps in knowledge, skill and attitude, with respect to the various tasks that need to be
undertaken is a vital component.

4. Institutional mechanisms:
The most important needs at the national level to strengthen or develop the capacity to undertake
disaster-mitigation strategies. There is a need to emphasize on pro active and pre-disaster measures
rather than post –disaster response. It is thus, essential to have a permanent administrative structure
which can monitor the development activitiesacross and provides suggestions for necessary mitigation
measures. The national Disaster Management Center (NDMC) can perform such a task. Professional
like architects, structural engineers, doctors and chemical engineers who are involved with management
of hazardous chemicals, can be asked to form groups that can design specific mitigations. 5. Incentives
and resources for mitigation:
To a very large extent, the success of mitigation programs will depend upon the availabilities of
continued funding. So there is a need to develop mechanisms to provide stable sources of funding for all
mitigation programs. This will include incentives for the location of commercial and residentially
activities outside the disaster-prone areas. Housing finance companies should make it mandatory for
structures in structures in such hazard prone areas to follow special building specifications. The
introduction of disaster-linked insurance should be explored and should cover not only life but also
household goods, cattle, structures and crops.
6. Land use planning and regulation:
Long-term disaster reduction efforts should aim at promoting appropriate land use in the disaster prone
areas. The separation of industrial areas from residential area, maintains of wetlands as buffer zones for
floods, creation of public awareness of proper land practices and formation of land use policies for long
term sustainable development are ass imperative.
7. Hazard-resistant design and constructions:
In areas that prone to disasters, protection can be enhanced by the careful selection of site and building
technologies. Thus, it is essential too promote the knowledge of disaster-resistant construction materials,
techniques and practices among engineers, architect and technical personnel.
8. Structural and Constructional reinforcement of existing building.
It is also possible to reduce the vulnerability of existing building through minor adaptation or alterations
thereby ensuring their safety. This can be done by the insertion of walls on out side of the building
,buttresses, walls in the interior of the building, portion fill-in-walls ,specially anchored frames, covering
of columns and beams, construction of new frame system, placing residential electrical equipment above
flood level, designing water –storage tanks to be able to withstand cyclonic winds earthquakes and
floods, etc.
Floods and mitigation measures:
The lower plain regions of India, in particular Bihar, Utter Pradesh and West Bengal with respect to the
River Ganga and Assam with respect to the Brahmaputra, suffer from the adverse effects of floods every
year.
The mitigation measures for floods include both structural and non structural measures.

58
The structural measures include:
 Reservoirs for impounding monsoon flows to be released in a regulated manner after peak floods
flow passes.
 Prevention of over-bank spilling by the construction of embankment and floodwalls.
 Improvement of flow conditions in the channel and anti-erosion measures.
 Improved drainage
The non- structural measures include:
 Flood-plain management such as flood plain Zoning and flood proofing, include disaster
preparedness
 Maintaining wetlands
 Flood forecasting and warning services
 Disaster relief and public health measures
 Flood insurance
Earthquake and mitigation:
It has been several years since the earthquake struck Gujarat on January 26, 2001. In these years
rehabilitation has been done on a massive scale, Gujarat’s experience has taught that building shelters
with less vulnerability to earthquakes should also take into consideration the specific needs of the victim
s instead of being a top –down approach. The role of NGOs in this is very important. Their strength lies
in their manpower, informality in operations and valuable human resources. Self –Employment
Women’s Association (WEWA) and the Governments initiative in community –based live hood
security for earth quake and drought victims have the potential to shape future disaster respond and
development projects in Gujarat.

Cyclones and Mitigation measures:

Tropical cyclones are the worst natural hazards in the tropics. They are large revolving vortices in the
atmosphere extending horizontally from 150-1000km and vertically from the surface from 12-14 km.
These are intense low-pressure areas. Strong winds spiraling anti-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere
blow around the cyclone center at the lower level.
The effect of cyclones can be mitigated through effective and effective mitigation policies and strategies
are given below:
 Installation of early warning systems
 Developing communication infrastructure
 Developing shelter belt
 Developing community cyclone shelter
 Construction of permanent house
 Training and education
 Landuse control and settlement planning

Landslide and Mitigation measures:

Land slides are recurring phenomena in the Himalayan region. In recent years, however, intensive
contraction activity and the destabilizing forces of nature have aggravated the problem. Land slides
occur as are result of change on a slope, sudden or gradual, either in its composition, structure,
hydrology or vegetation. The change can be due to geology, climate, weathering, changing land use and
earthquakes.\
A significant reduction in the hazards caused by landslides can be achieved by preventing the exposure
of population and facilities to landslides and by physically controlling the landslides. Developmental

59
 programs that involve modification of the topography, exploitation of natural resources and change in
the balance load on the ground should not be permitted.
Disasters cannot be totally prevented. However, early warning system, careful planning and
preparedness on part of the vulnerable community would help in minimizing the loss of life and property
due to these disasters.

In India a high powered committee was constituted in August 1999, for preparation of Disaster
Management plans at national, state and district levels. Because of the sever cyclonic storm affected part
of four districts of Orissa and the district of Andhra Pradesh on October 17-18.Susequently ,a super
cyclone crossed the Orissa coast near Paradipon October 29 ,1999affecting 12 districts. Soon after the
cyclone ,the prime Minister for Ministerial level coordination of relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction
in the affected areas.
Seven states including Rajasthan, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Hichal Pradesh, Madhy Pradesh
and Maharashtra experienced drought condition in some parts due to deficient rain during the south west
monsoon2000.
An earthquake of magnitude 6.9 Richter scale rocked Gujarat on January 26, 2001.It caused un
precedence damage to life and properties in the state .Rescue, relief and restoration measure were
undertaken as war footing .A National Committee On Disaster Management ,under the Chairman of the
prime minister with representation of national and state levels political parties was constituted to
suggested measures for an effective and long term strategy to deal with natural calamities future. The
major disasters are cyclone, floods, earth quakes and land slides.
Cyclone:
In the science of meteorology, cyclone refers to a low pressure area in the atmosphere in which
spiral inward. Cyclone is characterized by low level convergence and ascending air within the system.
All cyclones have two characteristics as follows:
1.The atmosphere pressure is lowest at the centre and
2.The wind spiral in toward in centre.

Storm usually, occur with cyclone. Falling atmospheric pressure generally indicates that bad weather is
coming. But sometimes cyclones do not bring bad weather, because the kind of air also has much to do
with the weather.
Types of Cyclone:
1. Warm-core cyclone: It is warmer at the centre than near the edges. They are fairly shallow and
become weaker in the upper atmosphere. The offer occur especially warm land areas.
2. Cold-core cyclones:
It is coldest near the centre and warmer near the edge. These cyclones may be very deep and are more
intense several though feet in the air than they are cat the surface of the earth. On the basic of area of
origin cyclones are classified into:
Temperature cyclone and tropical cyclones
Earth quakes:
An earthquake is a sudden vibration or trembling on the earth. Earthquake is caused by the quick
release of stored potential energy into the kinetic energy motion. Earthquakes are a form of wave energy
that is transferred though bedrock. Motion is transmitted from the point of sudden energy, the
earthquake cause, as spherical seismic wave that travel out on all the directions. The point of earthy
surface directly above the focus is termed as the epicenter two different types of seismic waves have
been described by the Geologists they are body waves and surfaces waves.

60
 The strength of an earth quake can be measured by a device called a seismograph. When an
earthquake occurs, this device converters the wave energy into a standard units of measurement like the
Richter scale. In the Richter scale units of measurement are reoffered to as magnitudes. The Richter
scale is logarithmic.

Effects of Earth quakes:

Earthquake are a considered hazard to humans- earthquakes can cause destruction by structurally
damage building and dwellings, fires etc. This can also take human lives. The amount damage and loss
of life depend on factors like ,magnitude of the earth quake and duration of event ,population ,density,
etc.
Flood:

Land slides:
Land slides are a general term of rapid down slope movement of soil or rock. Gravity constantly
pulls downward on every material every where on earth, causing a variety of phenomena collectively
termed mass wasting ,in which geological material are moved down slope from one place to another.
The resulting movement is often slow and subtle, but some slope processes such as rock slides,
avalanches and land slumping can be swift, dangerous. In India, very often –active steps are taken to
control land slides or to limit the damage cause.
Tsunami:
Tsunami, or seismic sea waves, is generated by impulse from geophysical event occurring on
the ocean floor or along the coastline such as earthquake, and slides and volcanic eruptions. Mostly
occurring in the Pacific Ocean, tsunamis, although hardly noticeable at sea ,can reach gigantic
proportions as they reach shallow, coastal waters. In Hawwaii and Japan, for examples, tsunami have
been know to reach 30 m in height. At least 22 countries along the rim of the Pacific are estimated to be
at risk from potential tsunami.

About 6,000 people have been killed by tsunami in the last decade alone. Probably the best
documentation of these events is the occurrence at Noshiro, Japan, in 1983 which caused approximately
100 deaths and extensively property damage and flooding.
Windstorms:
Judged by the frequency with which they cause damage and by the surface area of the region they strike,
wind storms can be said to be the most significant of all natural hazard. Windstorms influence
precipitation systems,
Floods and most importantly, causer severe destruction to crops and properties .Severe tropical cyclone,
tornadoes, monsoon and thunderstorms between them affect every country in the world.
Today, increasing attention is being paid to windstorms, particularly tropical cyclone as some accident
see their incidence as being a their frequency. Has tropical cyclone frequency or the intensities increased
with global changed throughout the last century? At present available evidence does not support this
idea perhaps because the warming is not yet large enough to make its impact felt.

Volcanoes:
An active volcanic occurs where magma reaches the earths surface through a central vent or a long
crack. Volcanic activity can release ejecta (debris) ,liquid lava and gases (H2O vapour, C02 ,SO2 NOx
etc) in to the environment.

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 Land use planning better prediction of volcanic eruption and development of effective
evacuation plans can reduce the loss of human life from volcanic eruption. The prediction systems
related to volcanic activity has improved considerably during past few decades.
The Ozone Hole:
What is the ozone hole? .In 1985 the Ozone hole was discovered. The phenomenon is a depletion of the
concentration of the global stratospheric ozone layer, which has been occurring locally over the
Antarctic continent in the Austral spring, between September and November each year since, 1979.
Strata spherical ozone is very important because it act as a Us filter, cutting out shortwave ultraviolet
radiation from the sun which otherwise would damaging plants and animals as they have evolved on the
earth. In addition as a result of absorbing those shortwave, higly energetic radiation ozone causes a
warming of the upper stratosphere, which influences global air motions.
The chipko movement:
About 300 years ago, a ruler in Rajasthan decided to fell the “ Khejri” trees in his tree state to create
lime. Local women led by Bishinoi women, Amrit Devi, clung to the trees to prevent the felling of the
tree that formed the basis of the scare resources on which they were dependent. The women were
ruthlessly massacred .It is said that the ruler later realized his mistake. The story ,however ,has been
remembered and was revioed in the 1970s when serves tree –felling for vtimber in the Himalaya
promoted local women ,supported by people such as Sundarlal Bahuguna and Chandi Prasad Bhat ,led
a people movement to prevent deforestation by timber contractors. They called their movemrtmt the
“CHIPKO “movement in the memory of the event during which women had clung to three and given up
their lives. The movement followed the path the 300 Bishnoi women had taken three centuries ago in
Rajasthan.

Review Questions:
1. Distinguish between pollution and pollutant.
2. What are the types of pollutants?
3. State different types of pollution.
4. What is air pollution?
5. Discuss the major air pollutants and their effects.
6. Write short notes on Marine pollution.
7. Discuss the causes and effects of noise pollution and suggest measures to control the problem.
8. What is thermal pollution? Discuss the causes and effects.
9. Explain briefly the following environmental movement.
a. Chikpo movement
b. Appiko movement

10. State and explain the concept of disaster management.

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6. SOCIAL ISSUES OF THE ENVIRONMENT
Learn from the past,
Lives for today’s,
Look for tomorrow

Sustainable development is a term commonly defined as economic and social development that meet
the needs of the current generation without undermining the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs.

Use of traditional fuel wood, their collection, use, and large hydroelectric schemes are widely regarded
as unsustainable if applied and intensively, these two sources of renewable energy are sometimes
distinguished from the new forms, which are regarded as sustainable. However, even new forms of
renewable energy are likely to have local environmental impacts that may cause controversy over their
sustainability.

Modern utilization of biomass involves the large-scale copping of rapidly growing trees, the harvesting
of rapidly growing trees (for example, eucalyptus), or the conversion of crops into fuels (for example,
sugar cane into ethanol). These may adversely affect biodiversity, natural habitats, visual amenity, and
the quality of land, water, and air. Wind-power development can be bulky and obtrusive. Geothermal
energy projects may release carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulphide, and mercury. Tidal power
projects, especially tidal barrages may destroy or fundamentally change estuarine habitats.

The renewable forms of energy are, however seen as having two important advantages over the fossil
fuels. They do not produce, or not to the same extent, emissions regarded as having harmful local and
regional effects-notably sulphur, oxide of nitrogen, suspended particulate matter, and other noxious
emission such as benzene and volatile organic compounds. They also do not emit green houses gases, or
when they do, only to an extent likely to be compensated for by future offsets. The offsets arise from
carbon sequestration, the absorption, the absorption of CO2 that occurs when new tree or other plant
growth follows modern biomass processing.

Greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere by the conversion and use of fossil fuels and by the
burning of biomass. Some of this is a absorbed in the oceans and some on land , but the rest-for varying
lengths of time-goes to increase the atmospheric concentration of these gases. This concentration is
widely believed to have a global warming effect.

Modern agriculture largely depends on the use of fossil fuel- based inputs, such as chemical fertilizers,
pesticides, herbicides and lab our saving but energy intensive farm machinery. While the applications
of such high input technologies have undoubtedly increased production and lab our efficiency. There is a
growing concern over their adverse effects on soil productivity and environment quality which is
emerging to recognize that the farmer has a great social responsibility as a land owner than merely
agribusiness considerations. This is the step toward un sustainable development. The adverse effects of
agricultural practices on the farm environment are, soil erosion, water availability, salinization, fertilizer
and pesticide contamination, genetic erosion, etc.

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URABAN PROBLEMS RELATED TO ENERGY:

Energy supply combined resources by which the nations of the world attempt to meet their energy
needs. Reference to energy needs may simply be to the demand for so many tones of coal, barrels of oil,
and cubic meters of gas and so on: but consumers are usually less interested in quantities of a fuel than
in the energy services that it provides. What we really seek is heating, cooling, cooking, lighting,
mobility, and motive power. The supply of energy should therefore be seen primarily as meeting the
actual or potential demand for energy services rather than demand for particular fuels.

Fuel wood and biomass has, of course, represented the main fuel for millennia.
However, the contribution of renewable energy to the total fuel mix needs to be kept in perspective.
Shift in future world energy supply cannot be predicted. We need scenarios of possible differing futures-
internally consistent, plausible portryals of what could occur. Such an exercise needs to take account of
pollution prospects and the demand for energy services: management and economic factors. Institutional
developments: finance and technology flows management and training and perhaps above all, the
impacts of greater efficiency in energy provision and use ,of conservation and of a whole ranges of
environmental considerations.
Water conservation and Rainwater Harvesting:

Water as a vital component of a Human Body:

Each and every cell of our body depends on water to function properly. Water forms very essential
vital nutrients of a human body .It helps to digest and absorb all the nutrients and flushes out solid and
liquid waste from our system. Inadequate liquid intake wills result in chronic constipation.
Water forms an essential component of blood. It transports oxygen as well as infection fighting
cells antibodies to where they are much needed. It lubricates joints Keeps internal organ form sticking
together and skin from Shriveling and drying out. Salts dissolved in drinking water maintain electrolyte
balance inside and outside cells. During pregnancy, it provides a protective cushion for the growing
foetus.

Conservation of water:
Due to increase demand for water and reduced availability of fresh ground water resources, urgent
measures are to be taken to conserve each and every drops of water that is available.

Run-off water during monsoon can be prevented by diverting the flow of rain water into the river and
finally to the sea. This surplus water can be easily harvested and can be stored as under water table
efficiently Water conservation even solves the problem of seawater inward movement in coastal areas
and help s to push back the sea water from mixing with the fresh water.
Change inn the irrigation practices, adoption of modern irrigation methods like drip irrigation
and sprinkler irrigation , prevention of seepage loss , moisture conservation of soil ,water efficient
cultural practices will help conserve more water .Establishing plant covers can minimize run-off water.

Rainwater harvesting (RWH):

It is the activity of direct collection of rain water which can be stored in sumps or can be recharged into
the ground water aquifer in use.
During monsoon, within a span of two or three month’s time, 1, 60,000liters of rainwater can be
harvested per ground (223 sq.m) approximately.

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 Method of rain water harvesting:
i. Roof top harvesting: where open wells or bore wells are available, rooftop water can be used for direct
recharging of these wells.
ii. Open space harvesting :Open spaces around the building and offices are also used of rain water
harvesting ,by following simple and less expensive methods
a. Percolation /recharge pits
b. Recharge trenches
c. Recharge wells

For effective recharge of rain water, combination of different structure may be used as per the site
requirement particularly the size and areas of building, open spaces and soil condition s.
Rain water harvesting involves three important steps, they are
a. Collection
b. Filtration
c. Recharge of rain water into well or ground.
Benefits of Rain water Harvesting:
1. Ground water levels are increased.
2. Recharge the well and reduce the cracking of building structure
3. Improve the quality of ground water by diluting the salt content into the well.
4. Reduce the amount of run-off waste, soil erosion loss of valuable topsoil and evaporation rate .
5. Helps growth of plants and trees.
6. A dangerous phenomenon called sea water intrusion towards the land is arrested.
7. Reduce drinking water problem.
Water shed: A watershed is a geo-hydrological unit, which drains into a common point.
Water shed Management:
Watershed management and conservation are often more economical and environmentally sound ways
to prevent flood damage and store water for future use than building huge dams and reservoirs.
After disastrous floods in the upper Missippi Valley in 1993, it was suggested that rather –than allowing
residential commercial or industrial development on flood plains ,these are should be reserved for water
shortage aquifer recharge ,wildlife habitat and agriculture. Sand farming and forestry practices can
reduces run-off .Regaining crops residues flooding and minimizing plowing and forest cutting on sleep
slopes protects watersheds. Small dams can be built with simple equipment and local labour, eliminating
the need for massive construction projects and huge dams.

Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP):

The drought Prone Area Programmme (DPAP) is one of the area development programme launched by
the government in 1973-74 to tackle the special problem faced by those fragile areas which are
constantly affected by Committee (994) ,the programme is being implemented on watershed basis. The
responsibility of planning, executing and maintaining the watershed project is entrusted to local peoples
organization specially instituted for the purpose. In view of the large problem area to be treated and
present level financial allocation, the programme has to be taken up on a continuing basis for several
years. The Watershed projects taken up for this purpose have a project period of 5 years.

Presently ,947 blocks of 155 districts in 13 states are covered under the programme.The States
are A.P; Bihar ,Gujarat ,H.P; Karnataka, M.P; Maharastra, Orrisa, T.N, Rajasthan, U.P and WB.

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National Watershed Development Project for Rain fed Area (NWDPRA):

In India, National Watershed Development Project for Rain fed Area (NWDPRA) was launched in
1990-91. The main objectives of this project included conservation and up gradation of natural
resources, generation of employment in concerned watersheds and reduction of imbalance in agricultural
production and productivity between irrigated areas and rein fed areas of the country. Presently this
project is being carried out selected development blocks of 28 states and 2 union territories.
Resettlement and Rehabilitation of people:
Human population has grown at an unprecedented rate over the past four decades in India. Human
number is doubling every 40 years in the world. In most of the countries it has been observed that
industrialization and economic developments have been accompanies by large scale movement of
people from farm area to town, from towns to cities and from one country to another, Cities grow natural
increase (births) and migration. People move into the because they are pushed out to rural Areas or
because they are pulled in by the advantages and opportunities of the city. Huge rapidly growing cities
in the developing world often have appalling environmental conditions.
After the migration process, all the migratants should be given an opportunity to make sure of
their existence on this earth. Rehabilitation of people must be the responsibility of the Government. In
our country, Rehabilitation work is done not only by governments but also by NGOS charitable
institutions and individuals. If some people wants to settle in a particular place they must be having
some opportunity to make sure of their earning. But people who do not have any opportunities to
contribute their labour for productive purpose and who do not receive income must be given some
rehabilitation.

ENVIRONMENTAL EHICS: ISSUES AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS:

Ethics is a branch of philosophy concerned the distinction between right and wrong and the ultimate
worth of actions or things. Ethics evaluates the relationships, rules principles or codes that require or
forbid certain conduct.
Environmental ethics deal with issues to the right of individuals that are fundamental to life and
well –being. These concern not only the needs of each person today, but also those who will come
after us. It also deals the right of other livings creature that inhibit the earth
Environmental ethics is the field of applied ethics concerned with those issues that arises when human
beings interact with the natural environment. It not only seeks to evaluate past and present attitudes and
practices, but aims to offer guidance as to how people ought to think about and conduct, their
relationship with the natural environment is simply an exploitable resources for human interests, or
whether it has significance independent of any use that might be made of it ,a value that ought to
constrain certain practices
.
Medical ethics is the principles or standards of human conduct with regard to the field of medicine.
Questions about medical ethics were at one time thought to be the medical profession alone to answer.
There might be questions, for example, about whether it could ever be right to breach the strict code of
confidentiality that held, and still holds, between doctor and patient.

Animal biotechnology has attracted criticism from animal welfares groups, which point out that some
experiments have had adverse effects on the animals. However, scientists defending this type of work
say that had it is essential, from both ethical and safety points, that the animals enjoy good health and
have a normal lifespan.

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Bioethics:
Bioethics especially includes medical and environmental ethics. Bioethics considers the ethical issues
raised in biology and medicine, especially those raised by human activity in society and the
environment using biotechnology. Bioethics considers issues affecting all living organisms and the
environment, from individual creature to the level of the biosphere in complexity. All living organisms
are biological beings, and share a common and inter wined biological heritage. Agricultural system
include economic, environment and human interactions. To resolve the issues, and develop ideals or
principles to help us do so, we must involve anthropology, sociology, biology religion, psychology,
philosophy, and economics: we must combine the scientific rigor of biological data, with the values of
religion and philosophy to develop a world view. Bioethics is, therefore, challenged to be multisided and
thoughtful approach to decision making so that it may be relevant to all aspects to human life.

To make good choice and choices that we can live with improving our life and society, is certainly a
good thing. However, what is good for one person may not be good for the broader society and global
nature of agricultural economics and environmental impact, make us think of the global arena.

Global Environmental Issues:

Now there are many environmental problems at the global level which have become the global issues.
They are as follows:
1. Atmospheric pollution- air pollution
2. Water pollution
3. Chemical pollution
4. Solid waste problem
5. Metal pollutants
6. Environmental carcinogens
7. Soil pollution due to fertilizers
8. Noise pollution
9. Global worming
10. Acid rain
11. Global Ozone problem
12. Radiation hazards
13. Effect of modernization of agriculture.
Possible solutions:
1. One should respect the power of environment and apply it for the benefit of humankind.
2. We should listen carefully to those who are concerned about the implications of environmental issues
and respond to their concerns.
3. We should place our higher priority on health , safety and environmental protection in the use of our
products.
4. We should educate the public about environment, its benefits and implications.
5. We should respect the animal and plants and should conserve them.
6. One should be sensitive to ethical and social issues regarding environmental researches.
7. Develop our agricultural products to enhance the world’s food supply and to promote sustainable
agriculture with attendant environmental benefits.
8. We should place our highest priority on health, safety and environmental protection in the use of our
products.
9. One should oppose the use of nuclear weapons for was.
10. We should continue to support the conservation of biological diversity.

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CLIMATIC CHANGES:

Global worming:
Global warming is a an increase in the earths temperature due to the use of fossil fuels and other
industrial processes leading to a build-up of “ greenhouse gases “ in the atmosphere. The climate change
is rapid, continuous and irreversible.
Green house gases- Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, and Chlorofluorocarbons.
Carbon dioxide thus acts the glass of a green house and on a global scale it tends to warm
the air in the lower levels of the atmosphere. When sun’s ray that penetrates the thick layer of CO2 strike
the earth and are converted into heat. The heated earth reradiated this absorbed energy as radiation of
longer wavelengths. Much of this does not pass through CO2 layers to the outer space but is absorbed by
the CO2 and water in the atmosphere and adds to the heat that is already present. Thus the earth’s
atmosphere heats up. This phenomenon is known as the Green house effect. The change in carbon
dioxide concentration in the air has triggered the so-called greenhouse effect.
More heat from the sun is prevented to escape from the earth, rather like the mechanism of
a greenhouse. Greenhouse effect will cause expansion of the oceans and gradual melting of polar ice
caps with a consequent rise in sea level. This would in turn cause flooding of low-laying land where
many capital cities lie. But greenhouse effect is not totally bad. Their influence maintains the Earths
temperature at an average of the 15 0C rather than -180 C which would be the case without any
greenhouse gases.
The long term emission (since industrial revolution ) of the carbon dioxide has posed great
effects(50-70 5 contribution) on global warming. Though other gases like water vapour, methane and
nitrogen oxides may absorb infrared radiation from the sun more effectively and play a bigger role in the
process. The long shell life of the gas in the atmosphere provides that it has the major influence on
greenhouse effect.
It is estimated that temperatures have been increasing at the average rate of 0.3 % per decade or 50 C
in 170 year due to industrialization. With the doubling of carbon dioxide
concentrations expected within 40 years, arising from current industrial system, the mean global
temperature will probably be raised by 1.5 to 5 oC .
Green house effect: a greenhouse is a glass-built building for growing plants. With illumination from the
sun, heat enters the house with little of it escaped as the glass trps it. The temperature inside the house is
much higher than that of air outside. Plants grow there can have more warmth and healthier. Our
atmosphere is like a huge greenhouse. Green house gases, like carbon dioxide, acts like the glass of a
greenhouse. The changes in climate of the Earth and the subsequent effect are called greenhouse effect.
Table: Type of greenhouse gases
Name of gas Contribution (%) Source(s)
Carbon dioxide (CO2) 50 From burning coal and oil, and the
removal of vegetation
Chlorofluorocarbons 20 From air conditions, refrigerators and
(CFCs) aerosols
Methane (CH4) 16 From rice growing ,animal waste,
swamps and landfills
Ozone (O3) 8 From air pollution
Nitrous oxide (N2O) 6 From fertilizers and burning of coal and
oil.

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Source: Global Ecology Handbook
How the problem intensifies?
1. The burning of coal and oil in cars, power stations and factories gives out huge amounts of carbon
dioxide and nitrogen into the atmosphere.
2. The rapid growth of population needs more food. More cattle, sheep, etc are reared. More people
breathe out more carbon dioxide and the waste of animals generates methane.
3. Forests are cleared or burnt for development. Fewer plants can contribute for absorption of carbon
dioxide that maintains the balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The level of carbon
dioxide increases.

Causes of Global Warming:

The main cause of Global warming is green house gases. These are carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous
oxide and Ozone. These gases (particularly carbon dioxide (CO2) are rising) could trap more heat in the
atmosphere, leading to a gradual warming of the earths atmosphere.
Effect of Global Warming:
1. Climatic effect:
a. There will be warming of the earths surface and lower atmosphere and cooling
Stratosphere.
b. Precipitation pattern will be changed.
c. Seasonal pattern will be change.
d. Soil moisture will be changed
e. wind direction and wind stress over the sea surface will be changed.
2. Rise in sea level.
The sea level rise is the product of thermal expansion of seawater. It will possibly rise 18 cm by 2030
and 58 cm by 2090.Flooding will probably occur in lowlands. Many cities along the coast may be under
sea water.
3. Impacts on forests.
4. Biotic effects
5. Effect of human health.
Acid Rain:
It forms when oxides of sulphur and nitrogen combine with atmospheric moisture to yield
sulphuric and nitric acids, which may then be carried long distances from their source before they
are deposited by rain.
The problem of acid rain originated with the industrial Revolution and it has been growing ever since.
The severity of its effects has long been recognized in local settings as exemplified by the periods of
acid smog in heavily industrialized areas. The widespread destructiveness of acid rain, however, has
become evident only in recent decades. One large area that has been studied extensively is northern
Europe, where acid rain has eroded structure, injured crops and forest, and threatened or depleted life
in freshwater lakes. In 1984, for example environmental reports indicated that almost half of the trees in

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Germanys black Forest had been damaged by acid rain. The north-easten United State and eastern
Canada have also been these countries and other regions of the word. In china, rapid industrial growth
and an increasing demand for coal in the 1990s has led to a dramatic rise in environmental damage from
acid. Nearly 40 % of china's land area is now affected a figure scientists expect will continue to rise.
Causes of Acid Rains
Unpolluted rain water is slightly acidic owing to the presence of carbon dioxide in the air.

CO2 (g) + H2 O → H + + HCO3-

There fore, rain water with pH values lower than 5.7 is called acid rain. Some parts of the word, a part
as low as 2.5 in rain water has been recorded. Sulphure dioxide is the primary cause of acid rain. It is
released from burning of fossil fuels and industrial plants.
The sequence of change from the emitted gas to acid is as at follows:

2SO2 + O2 → 2SO3
SO3 + H2O → H2SO4
Besides the formation of sulphuric acid, sulphurous acid is formed.
SO2 + H2O → H2SO3
Nitrogen oxides also cause of acid rain. Nitrogen oxides are released from vehicles and power plants.
The sequence of changes is as follows:

2NO + O2 → 2NO2
4NO2 +2H2O +O2 →4HNO3
Effect of Acid Rain: Acid rain mobilizes heavy metals such as calcium and mercury in soil, rock and
sediments, which are then leached out by rain and enter the surface water. Acidified lakes have high
levels of cadmium, lead, aluminum, manganese, zinc, copper and nickel. All these can kill living
organism if present in sufficient quantities and it is thought that it is their presence rather than the actual
acidity of the water that cause the death of fish.
Effect on Building materials:
Acid rain will cause damage to common building materials such as lime stone and marble.
Many metals will become oxidized. Iron corrodes with presence of acid rain to form rust. The cost of
maintenance of iron structures is high in highly polluted areas.

OZONE: Ozone is highly reactive pale-blue gas with a penetrating odour. It is an allotrope of oxygen,
made up of three atoms of oxygen. It is formed when the molecule of the stable form of oxygen (O2) is
split by ultraviolet radiation or electrical discharge. At ground level, ozone can cause asthma attack,
stunted growth in plants and corrosion of certain materials. It is produced by the action of sunlight on air
pollutant, including car exhaust fumes and is a major air pollutant in hot summers. In the upper
atmosphere ozone has a beneficial effect, shielding life of earth from ultraviolet rays, a cause of skin
cancer. Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent and is used industrially in bleaching and air conditioning.
A continent-sized hole has formed over Antarctica as a result of damage to the ozone layer. This has
been caused in part by chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), but many reactions destroy ozone in the
stratosphere: nitric oxide, chlorine, and bromine atoms are implicated. In 1989 ozone depletion was 50
% over the Antarctic compared with 3% over the Arctic. In April 1991 satellite data from NASA
revealed that the ozone layer had depleted by 4-8% in the N hemisphere and by 6-10% in the S
hemisphere between 1978 and 1990.It is believed that the ozone layer is depleting at rate of about 5 %
every 10 years over N Europe, With depletion extending south to the Mediterranean and southern USA.
However ozone depletion over the Polar Regions is the most dramatic manifestation of general global

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effects. As a pollutant at ground level, ozone is so dangerous that the us Environmental Protection
Agency recommended people should not be exposed for more than one hour a day to ozone levels of
120 parts per billion (ppB). It is known that even at levels of 60 ppb ozone causes respiratory problem,
and cause the yields of some crops to fall. In the USA the annual economic loss to ozone has been
estimated at $5.4 billon.
Ozone Layer depletion:
Ozone depleter is a chemical that destroy the ozone in the stratosphere. Most ozone depleters are
chemically stable compounds containing chlorine or bromine, which remains, unchanged for long
enough to drift up to the upper atmosphere.
Once in the upper atmosphere, they are broken up by the intense solar radiation and form a cocktail of
more active substance, which then react with ozone, causing its depletion. The best known are
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) but many other ozone depleters are known, including halons, used in some
fire extinguishers; methyl chloroform and carbon tetrachloride, both solvents some CFC substitutes and
the pesticide methyl bromide. Most research into alternative to ozone depleters seeks chemical
alternatives which break up before they get into the upper atmosphere, but still has a useful working life
as a refrigerant or propellant.

Reactions responsible for the destroy of ozone:

UV
O2 → 2O·

O· +O2 → O3

Reactions responsible for the formation of ozone:

UV
O3 → O2 + O·
O· + O3 → 2O2

Under this natural equilibrium, the rate of destroy equals the rate of formation. There fore the
concentration of ozone is fairly constant in the stratosphere. Chlorofluorocarbons(CFCs) is is the killer
of ozone. They generate chlorine radicals that attack and destroy ozone molecules, CECs are important
compound in industry. And domestic uses. Now a region of low ozone concentration (commonly called
the hole) is situated over Antarctica and the Arctic region.
Why CFCS are accumulated ?
There are 3 major sources of escape of CFCs
1. Escape into the atmosphere during use.
2. Scraping of refrigerators and air conditioners.
3. Disposal of foam plastics.
CFCs have a relatively long lifetime. They are inserting in nature that gives enough time for them to
be transported into the stratosphere. Their low solubility in water makes them difficult to be removed by
rainfall or dissolution in the vast ocean.
Effects: Ozone layer in the stratosphere filters out 99 % of dangerous ultraviolet radiation from the sun
.The thinning of the ozone layer may lead to an increase of skin cancer and eye cataract. The presence of
“ozone hole” over Antarctica and the Southern hemisphere has introduced incidence of increasing
victims of skin cancer. The yield of crops may also decrease. The expanse in medical cure and
economical loss in food is uncountable.

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The increase in intensity of sun light may induce global warming that melt the ice caps at the poles. If
this happens, the sea level will rise from a few centimeters to a few meter. The low-lying areas will
become under water. It is an ecological disaster.

THE ATMOSPHERE: The atmosphere has a distinct layered structure and can be divided into
different layers(for zones ) on the basis of temperature and altitude form the earths surface. These are
Troposphere (0 to 6-17 km ), Stratosphere (6 to 17-50 km ), Mesosphere (50 to 85 km and
Thermosphere.(above 85 km).

Structure of the atmosphere:

The atmosphere is normally composed of 79 % nitrogen, 20 % oxygen and 1% as a mixture of carbon
dioxide, water vapor and trace amounts of several other gases such as neon, helium, methane, krypton,
hydrogen and xenon. The general structure of the atmosphere has several important features that have
relevance to environmental problems. The atmosphere is divided into several layers.
The innermost layer, the troposphere, extends 17 km above sea level at the equator and about 8 km over
the poles. It contains 75 % of the mass of the Earth’s air. The fragility of this layer is obvious from the
fact if the Earth were an apple; this particular layer would be no thick than an apples skin. Temperature
declines with altitude in the troposphere. At the top of the troposphere temperature abruptly begins to
rise .This boundary where this temperature reversal occurs is called the ‘tropopause’
The tropopause marks the end of the troposphere and the beginning of the stratosphere, the second layer
of the atmosphere. The stratosphere extends from 17-48km above the Earths surface .While the
composition of the stratosphere is similar to that of the troposphere, it has two major differences. The
volume of water vapor here is about 1000 times less, while the volume of ozone is about 1000 times
greater. The presence Ozone in the stratosphere prevents about 99 % of the Suns harmful ultraviolet
(Uv) radiation from reaching the Earths surface thereby protecting humans from cancer and damage to
the immune system. This layer does not have clouds and hence, airplanes fly in this layer as it creates
less turbulence. Temperature rises with altitude in the stratosphere, until there is another reversal .This
point is called the “stratopause” and it marks the end of the stratosphere.
In the next layer, the mesosphere, the temperature decrease with altitude, falling up to -110 0 C at the
top. Above this is a layer where ionization of the gases is a major phenomenon, thus increasing the
temperature? This layer is called thermosphere. Only the lower troposphere is routinely involved in our
weather and hence, air pollution. The other layers are not significant in determining the level of air
pollution.
Wasteland:

The National Wasteland Development Board has defined wasteland as any part of land which is
not put to optimal use. It means that any land which is not put to use accordance with its capability has
to be called a wasteland.

Wastelands can be classified into:

1. Easily reclaimable
2. Reclaimable with some difficulty
3. Reclaimable with extreme difficulty

Easily reclaimable wastelands can be used for agriculture. Those which can be reclaimed with
some difficulty can be utilized for agro forestry. Wastelands that are reclaimed with extreme difficulty
can be used for forestry or recreate natural ecosystems.

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Needs for wasteland Development:

Waste land development provides a source of income for the rural poor. It ensures a constant supply
of fuel, fodder and timber for local use. It makes the soil fertile by preventing soil erosion and
conserving moisture. The program helps maintain an ecological balance in the area; the increasing forest
cover maintains the local climate conditions; the regenerate vegetation cover helps in attracting birds
which feed on pests in the surrounding fields and function as natural pest controllers ; and tree helps in
holding moisture and reducing run-off rates thus controlling soil erosion.

Process of Wasteland reclamation:

The first major task is to identify the problem at the micro-levels. District, village and plot –level
surveys of the wasteland are necessary. A profile of the maps indicating the detailed distribution and
information on the wasteland is essential With the help of local government institutions such as the
village panchayats ,along with Block Development Officer and Revenue Department Functionaries a
plan must based on the community need must be produced. This must be a participatory exercise,
involving all the different stakeholders in the community. A think of administration, ecologists and local
NGOs must be involved in the process.
The next step is to identify the factors that are responsible for the formation of wastelands. Based
on these factors the waste should be classified into: marginal, partially or severely –deteriorated lands.
Local –specific strategies for reclaiming the wasteland must be workout. Government officials along
with the local NGOs must assist the farmers by demonstrating improved methods of cultivation
arranging loan for the small, marginal and landless farmers and the people perform the weaker sections
of society. Involving the local women has proved to be of great value. Another essential component of
the program is to organize publicity campaigns, integrated with training farmers and frontlines
government and forest Department staff on the various aspects of wasteland utilization. Environmental
scientists can help be suggesting the necessary changes in cropping pattern particularly for drought
prone areas.
Integrated wasteland Development Programme (IWDP):
This scheme has been under implementation since 1980-90 and has come to this Development
along with the National Wastelands Development Board in July 1992. From 1st April ,1995, the scheme
is being implemented on watershed basis under common guideline for watershed Development. The
Scheme also helps in generation of employment in rural areas besides enhancing people’s participation
in the wastelands development programmes at all stages. This leads to equitable sharing of benefits and
development, The major activities taken up under scheme are:
1. Soil and moisture conservation measures like terracing, bunding, trenching, vegetative barriers
etc.
2. Planting and sowing of multipurpose trees, shrubs, grasses, legumes and pasture land
development.
3. Encouraging natural regeneration.
4. Promotion of agro forestry and horticulture.
5. Training, extension and creation of greater degree of awareness among the participants.
Case study-15

Pani panchayat, pune district, Maharastra

Mahur village, in the pune District of Maharastra, is situated in a drought-prone area. he people were not
able to grow a good crop in most years; lean drinking water was also scarce. man named Vilsaro
Salunkhe initiated a movement, known as Pani panchayat, to conserve water in this drought-prone area.

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Watershed development was initiated on a barren and uncultivated piece of land belonging to a temple.
oil conservation and water harvesting, brought about through a comprehensive micro- Watershed
management program, gradually to a surplus of water. Out of the 16 ha of land in the village, 9.6 ha
were brought, under irrigation, 2.4 ha were afforested and 4 ha were converted into percolation tanks.
Wells and field bunds were built. While 200 quintals of grains were produced on 24 acres of Salunkhe’s
land, 40 acres in the same area yielded only 10 quintals. This made other villagers follow suit, and area
rapidly turned green and productive.

Case study-16
Mewar Rajasthan
The mewar region of Rajasthan has a rich legacy of traditional water-harvesting system to share the
available water for cultivation.
Medhabandi: This is a stone embankment built on a hill-slope to help create a level field for cultivation.
It controls erosion and conserves moisture.
Naada/bandha: There are stone check-dams across streams or gullies that are constructed to capture
runoff on a stretch or fertile land that is submerged in water during the monsoon. The land not only
becomes more fertile after trapping silt, but also retains substantial quantities of water in the soil. These
dams are constructed in phases over several years. The height is slowly increased up to the same height
of the check-dam, which determines the size of the naada..
Hem bar:
These are small temporary dams constructed with stones, twigs and mud over a seasonal stream, when
water flows in it is reduced to a point that it cannot be taken directly to the fields for irrigation.
Chak: Chak is big plot of land , enclosed by a stone boundary wall called a kot. Tree plantations,
seeding of grass for fodder, contour bunds with trenches and loose stone check-dams are developed in
the chak. The chak is used for fodder and fuel wood. It reduces soil erosion and enhances the recharge of
groundwater.
Talab: The Mewar region is well-known for it’s built reservoirs(talabs).Udaipur City is famous for it’s
large number of talabs, and is called the lake city. A small reservoirs of less than five big has is called
talali, a medium-sized lake is called bandh or talab, and a bigger lake is called sagar or samand.
Saza kuva :This is an open dug well, which has several owners. In Mewari language, saza means
‘partner’. This is an important method for irrigation in the Aravalli’s hills. About 70,000 wells in the
Udaipur District provide water for 80% of the area under irrigation and provide water for their owners.
These are considered common property resources
Hazardous wastes:
Modern society produces large quantities of hazardous waste that are generated by chemical
manufacturing companies, petroleum refineries, paper mills, smelters and other industries. Hazardous
wastes are those that can cause harm to human or the environment. Wastes are normally classified as
hazardous waste when they cause or significantly contribute to increase immortality, or an increase in
serious irreversible or incapacitating reservesible illness, or pose a substantial present or potential hazard
to human health or the environment when improperly treated stored, transported or disposed of.
Characteristics of hazardous wastes:
A waste is classified as a hazardous if it exhibits any of four primary characteristics based on the
physical or chemical properties of toxicity, ignitability and corrosively. In addition to this, waste
products that are either infectious or radioactive are also classified as hazardous.
Environmental problems and health risks caused by hazardous wastes:

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As most of the hazardous wastes are disposed of on and in, the most serious environmental effect is
contaminated ground water. Once ground water is polluted with hazardous wastes it is very often not
possible to reverse the damage.
Lead, mercury and arsenic are hazardous substances which are often referred to as heavy metals. Lead
is used in batteries, fuel, pesticides, paints, pipes and other places where resistance to corrosion is
required. Lead can affect red blood cells by reducing their ability to carry oxygen and shorting their life
span. Lead may also damage nerve tissue resulting in brain disease.
Mercury occurs in several forms. Mercury is used in the production of chlorine, and as a catalyst in the
production of some plastics. Industrial processes, such as the production of chlorine and plastics are
responsible for most of the environmental damage result from mercury. Our body has a limited ability to
eliminate mercury.

Case study
Minamata – An important lesson about mercury:
A case of human mercury poisoning which occurred about forty years ago in the Minamata Bay in
Japan taught the world an important lesson about the damage of mercury poisoning. A large plastics
plant located near the Minamata bay used a mercury containing compound in a reaction to produce vinyl
chloride, a common plastics material. The left –mercury was dumped into the Bay along with other
wastes from the plant .Tough the mercury wastes less toxic inorganic state when dumped ,the micro
organisms at the bottom of the bay converted the mercury into its organic form. This organic mercury
then entered into tissues of fish which were in turn consumed by the people living in the area. The
contaminated fish thus caused an outbreak of poisoning, killing and affecting several people. Mother
who had eaten the contaminated fish gave birth to infants who showed sign of mercury poisoning.
Mercury poisoning is thus called ‘Mina Mata Disease.’

Consumerism and Waste products:

As industrialization strategy helped to attain high economic growth, high income, high standard of
living in western countries the very same doctrine was advocate to the third world countries, also
without understanding the local environment .As such industrialization was accepted as sine Quo non
for economic development.
The house holds and industry produce mounting volumes of solid waste. Solid waste disposal is
a serious problem. The solid waste disposals spoil the soil, ground water and air. Hence, the collection
of wastage and garbage pose a special problem. As a result communicable disease passes through water,
air and insects. In addition, hazardous and other toxic wastes pose a species problem in less development
countries.
The waste products that are hazardous to the environment are:
E-waste:
Electronic waste is a recent phenomenon. Computer, mobile phone, Microchips and other electronic
waste called as e-waste. Eastern countries are exporting the used computer to the third world countries
in order to reduce disposal problem in their place .Instead of recycling advanced countries are selling the
used gadgets at cheap rate to poor countries. Traders buy this instrument for resale as well as to extract
rare minerals hidden inside the system. Finally, all e-waste are dumped into fertile farm land and
watershed areas. Thus it harms the urban environment and poor people’s health.
Plastics:
Plastics are non-biodegradable in nature. Especially the plastics of less than 20 microns are dangerous
for soil. People in all walks of life, rich and poor, urban and village use all sorts of plastics that endanger
the environment. Non-biodegradable plastics prevent percolation of water into the ground. The chokes

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the water bodies. To reduce the menace, the union ministry Of Environment and forest has stipulated
those plastics carry bags and the items of public use should not be less than 20 microns.
To solve this waste product problem the following important and crucial may help to solve
environmental problem, namely
i. Sustainable development
ii. Precautionary principle
iii. polluter pay principal
iv. Public trust doctrine
v. Eco- mark
vi. Environmental impact assessment
vii. Environmental auditing
The improvement of environment of possible only by self-disciplined innovation action by all
industrialist, user, and technology developers here, consumerism aims at striking balance between
environment and development. Because development should not be at cost of environment.
Environmental (protection) act 1986:
This, in many ways is remarkable pieces of legislation passed by the parliament for the purpose
of planning and executing and nation –wide programmed for the preventions, control and abatement of
Environmental pollution for this purpose, the central government has been empowered to lay down
standard for the quality of environment. It may restrict areas in which industrial operation may be
carried out, but subject to certain safeguard and lay down procedure for handling of hazardous
substances. Under section 5,
the central government has the power to issue direction in writing to any person, officer or any authority
in order to exercise it power and functions including direction for the closure of any industries, operation
and process.
No person carrying on any industries, operation or process shall emit and environment pollutant
in excess of standard prescribed by the central government.
Since passé of the act, the Central Government has framed rules and amendments laying down
standards for emission or discharge of environmental pollutant. The State Board may fix stringent
standards from those provided in schedule after recording reasons in writing .Further more ,industries,
operation or processes which have been allowed by the Central and state Board to implement a time
bound programme to treat environment pollutants in order to bring them to standard fixed by the rules
made by the Central Government will not be treated to have committed an offence if the conditions
stipulated have been strictly adhered to Until the notification of Third Amendment Rules (S.O.443(E)
April 18th , 1987,11 major industries have been covered with regard to maintenance of standards for
emission or discharge of environment pollutants . There are
i. Cosmetic soda industry
ii. Man made fiber
iii. Oil refinery
iv. Sugar industry
v. Thermal power plants
vi. Cotton textile industry
vii. Composite cotton mills
viii. Dye and dye intermediate industries
ix. Electro planting industries
x. Cement plants
xi. Stone crushing units, etc.

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It will, indeed, take several years to lay, down standard for all industries and to revive the existing
standards due to rapid advances in science and technology it has become necessary to monitor the
standards continuously and to devise standards for industries and process which hitherto were not known
to be posing any problem for environmental pollution.

The water (prevention and Control of pollution ) Act,1974

The principle purpose of the Act is the prevention and conrol of water pollution and the maintaining or
restoring of wholesomeness of water stream, and wells .Stream is defined as “ Sea or tidal waters to such
extent, or as the case may be, to such point as the State Government may be notification in the Official
Gazette specify in this behalf” .
The Act comprise of 64 sections covering various types of pollution in water and the Act
provides for a Cetral Board and State Board for implementing the purpose of the Act . Wherever
necessary ,joint Board s emergency measure in the events of causing pollution. The act also provides for
prosecution imposing penalties for contravening the standards laid down by the board.
This act was amended in 1988 and after the amendment; it was made compulsory on the part of
any industry or units to take prior permission of the Board to start any units that many discharge
effluent, section -33A of the Act empowers the State Board to stop supply of electricity or water or any
other services, if the Board finds a particular units is not following the standard and causing pollution. In
the events of default, penalty may go upto the extent of six years imprisonment and also fine to the
extent of Rupee 5,000 for every day if the default continues.
The Air (prevention and Control of pollution) Act,1981
This Act was the outcome of the recommendation of the Stockholm conference in 1972. And
through this Act, all possible steps were taken to prevent air pollution by means of integrated measure
water pollution control board. This Act consists of 54 sections and is divided into 7 chapters. This Act
was amendment in 1987 by which noise pollution was, also brought under the definition of air pollution
and the Act now applies to all polluting industries.
An air pollution has been defined as “any solid ,liqid or gaseous substances presence in the
atmosphere in such concentration as many be tend to be injurious to human beings or other living
creature or plants or property or environment “ Under this Act ,the State pollution Board constituted
under section 3 of the water (prevention and Control of pollution)Act ,1974 also perform function .It
lays down in consultation with Central Board standards for emission of air pollution into the atmosphere
from industrial plants automobiles or from any other sources. After consultation with State Board, the
State Government is empowered to declare any areas or areas within the state, as are pollution control
areas. It may also directed that no fuel other an approved fuel or no appliances other than any
approved fuels or appliance shall be used in air pollution control area If it is of the opinion ,after
consultation with the State Board that they may cause air pollution.
As in the case of water pollution, no person can operate on industrial plants for the purpose of
any scheduled industry an air pollution control area without the prior consent of the State Board .After a
person makes an application for grant of consent the Board and inquiry is conducted and within a period
of four months the state Board may either grant or refuse for reason to be recorded in the order. There
are certain mandatory requirements to be complied with if approval has been granted which includes
installation of control equipment, altering or replacing the existing control equipment and erecting
chimneys of approved type etc. It is expressly provided in section 22 of the Act that persons carrying on
industry shall not all emission of air pollution in excess of standards laid down by the state Board .For
the purpose it has the power to conduct inspection, take sample and get these analyzed in accordance
with the procedure contained in the
. Penal actions can be taken for non –compliance with certain provisions of the Act.
Besides the section iv of the Act has given for or powers to the pollution Boards, the principal power are

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 1. The Board can regulate or check the burning of any fuel with has not been approved by the Board
2 The Board can prohibit using unapproved appliance by the units in the pollution control areas.
3. The Board has power to give instruction relating to standards for emission form automobiles to the
authority concerned in charge of Motor vehicles Registration.
4. As stated already, the Board can inspect any place; check any equipment or manufacturing process or
any related records or documents.
5. The Board has the power to obtain information of all types required regarding the pollutant emitted
into the air by the industrial units.
6. The Board has the power to take samples of air or emission from any chimney or flue or any other
outlet in such manner and procedure as prescribed in the Act for purpose of testing.
.

Wild life protection Act.1972:

Wildlife protection Act, 1973 and Amendment, 1991 provide for the protection of birds and animal for
al matters that are connected to it is their habitat or the waterhole or the forest that sustain them.

Forest Conservation Act, 1980:

The general law relating to forest in British India was contained in the Indian Forest Act, 1878
and it’s amending Acts. The Forest Act of 1927 consolidated the pre-existing laws. The Forest Act of
1927 in its preamble declare that it places emphasis on regulation of transit of forest produce and the
duty leviable on timber and other forest produce. This law had its origin in the old British colonial era
when population was limited and the people were not aware of the environmental hazards for the future.
The classification of forest such as Reserve Forest and protected Forests prohibition of cutting of
trees from reserves forest reservation of trees in protected forests and the restrictions imposed on the
destruction of the forests, levy of penalties etc. In the Forest Act of 1927 should not be constructed as an
attempt towards protection of environment. On a deeper scrutiny of the Acts, during the British period,
we can find that they were after revenue and forest produce and not the preservation of the economy.
The policy of reserving forests deprived the tribal people of commercialized forest supplying raw
materials for the forest based industries turned the rural and tribal poor people into laborers. It is
Stockholm conference, the need for preserving the forest for ecological balance was felt and actions
were taken for the preservation of forests.
The Forest Conservation Act of 1980 provided that reserve Forest shall be made de-reserved
without the prior permission of the Central Government and the notified forest land and forests should
not be used for non-forest purpose. The amendment of the Act has gone against that interest of the poor
and tribal people who used to grow fruits, medicinal plants etc. It is said that Forest Conservation Act is
Pro-industry and anti-poor.
The Factories Act, 1948:
This law has been the statute book for four decades. It contains provisions regarding health safety and
welfare of person s working in the factory .There has been tremendous development s within this period.
Dangers arising out of manufactures and transportation have received wide publicity as a result of
industrial disasters such as Bhopal tragedy and the Oleum gas leak. Tremendous pressure has been
brought to bear on the Government to protect the public from such hazards. It is in context of these
developments that the Factories Act was amended in 1987. In section 7A and 7B General Duties of the
occupier and manufacturer have been spelt out which include
Maintenance of working environment in the factory that is safe and to ensure that a product is so
designed as to be safe without risk to the health of workers.

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Forest Conservation Act:
To appreciate the importance of the forest conservation Act of 1980, which was amended in 1988, It is
essential to understand its historical background. The Indian Forest Act of 1927 consolidated all the
pervious laws regarding forests that were passed before the 1920s.The Act gave the Government and
Forest Department the power to create Reserved Forests, and the right to use Reserved Forests for
government use alone.
The acts remained in force till the 1980s when it was realized that protecting for timber production alone
was not acceptable .The other values of protecting the services that forest provide and its valuable assets
such as biodiversity began to overshadow the importance of their revenue earning from timber . Thus
new essentials. This led to the Forest Conservation act of 1980 and its amendment in 1988.
India’s first Forest policy was enunciated in 1952 . Between 1952 and 1988, the extent of
deforestation was so great that it became essential to formulate a new policy on forests and their
utilization.
The forest conservation act of 1980 provided that Reserved Forest shall be made de-reserved
without the prior permission of the Central Government, and the notified forest land and forests
(according to Government records ) should not be used for non-forest purpose. The amendment of the
Act has gone against that interest of the poor and trible people who used to grow fruits, medicinal plants,
etc.

ISSUES INVOLVED IN ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION:

Environment legislation is evolved to protect our environment as a whole ,our health, and the Earths
resources .The presence of a legislation to protect air, water ,soil etc; does not necessarily mean that the
problem is addressed. Once legislation is made at the global, national or state level, it has to be
implemented .For environmental legislation to be successfully implemented there has to be an effective
agency to collect relevant data it and pass it on to a law through the legal process. Information to law
enforcement officials must also come from concerned individuals .In most situation s, if no cognizance
is given, the interested concerned individual must file a public interest Litigation (PIL) for the
protection of the environment. There are several NGOs in the country such as WWF, I, BEAG and
BNHS, which takes these matters to court in the interest of conservation. Anyone can request them to
help in such matters. There are legal experts such as M.C Mehta who have successfully fought cases in
the courts to support environment causes. A related issues is the fact that there are several irregular
practices for which a bribe to court to an un scrupulous officials is used to cover up an offence. Thus the
general public must act as a watchdog not only to inform concerned authorities, but also to see that
actions are taken against offenders.
Case study:
The Narmada Issue:
The controversy over the plan to build several dams on the Narmada River and its tributaries symbolizes
the struggle for a just and equitable society in India. The construction of these dams displaces many poor
and underprivileged communities, destroying their relatively self sufficient, environmentally –sound
economy and culture and reducing a proud people to the status of refugees or slum dwellers.
The Narmada Bachao Andolan is one of the most dynamic peoples movement fighting for the rights of
these under privileged people who are being robbed of their homes, live hoods and way of living in the
name of “ national interest.” .
One such as dam, the Sardar Sarover Dam, when completed will drown 37,000 ha of fertile land and
displace 200,000 adivasis and cause immeasurable loss to the ecology.

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Case study:
Silent valley:
The proposed hydel project, a valley, a unique pocket of tropical biodiversity in south India, in the 1970s
was stopped and the area declared a National Park in 1984. This was achieved by several dedicated
individuals, groups and organization lo0bbing to save the area from being submerged and protect its rich
biodiversity.

Environmental pollution control and law:

The environmental pollution has now become a global problem. An adequate preventive legislation has
therefore, become quite essential to control pollution, more particularly industrial pollution which is
posing a great danger not only for the workers but also for the people in the vicinity.
Many other countries, too have some provisions under criminal laws or have enacted special criminal
laws or amended the existing ones in order to prosecute the offended through criminal prosecution
system. The Japanese law the first such step for the punishment of crimes relating to environmental
pollution. Canada and the U.S have created new regulations related to crimes dealing with notorious
violations and provided stiff punishment with fines and imprisonment to violators.
The U.N conference at Stockholm on Environment in 19723 focused the attention of the international
community on environments issues. India and particularly late prime Minister Indira Gandhi played a
historical role in preparations for the conference and in the conference it self. India’s role drew the
support of the developing nations to the environmental issues. The United Nations Environmental
Program provided, for the first time, a global information and action set upon environmental
Programmed with global jurisdiction with headquarters at Nairobi. At the international level the
assessment function is being performed through the GEMS and INFOTERA as well as through the
annual reports on the global environment published by the UNEP. The UNEP has also set up a IRPTC.
The Management and regulatory function at the international level is reflected in International
Conventions regarding marine pollution, exploitation of marine resources and right of the coastal states
to enforce their own regulations within 12 nautical miles from shore. Adequate legislative and
supportive organizational measures at the National levels were emphasized both at this conference and
at the conference on WCS(1980).Thus ,the year 1972 was the watershed in the history of environment
management. Since then, the decline in the environment quality has become the concern of the world
community.
Legal Issues of environmental problems:
As a result of environment awareness and increase in its gradual degradation various laws and
regulations were formulates and implement at times. These laws and regulations express the formal
sensibility reached by the community about the environment degradation. Unfortunately, the hand-in-
glove relationship of the Government with companies has prevented any effective implementation of the
laws and enforcement of control measures.
Drawbacks of environmental laws:
As the exiting environment, provisions and laws are punitive and not preventive. They are characterized
by piece mesa legislations. The laws do not specifically recognize the right of the people to clean air for
breathing clean water for drinking or healthy environment to live. Hence, the dockets of every High
Court of India are full with applications seeking environment protection. However, Judges seems to face
difficulties in deciding complex technical issues As expert opinion vary to give concrete verdict. In the
Silent Vally case Kerala High Court expressed, its inability. The court was even willing to go to extent

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of interpreting article 21, the right of life, ass environmentally meaningful life, yet it was reluctant to
issue orders or even stay ordered, to prevent or modify the development project.
The judges also showing their uncertainty with, Tehri Dam Project which will be world’s biggest dam
in rock-filled, geologically unstable area.
Also serious problems arise in the implementations of these laws, as they cause overlapping powers of
authorities involves in supervising the safety and devises of the company and ingraining or refusing the
“No Objection Certificate (NOC). Thus, while pollution control Boards may refuse to grants NOC, the
Forest department or Mining Authority reviews or grants the N.O.C to the Industrial unit.

Public awareness:
Environmental sensitivity in our country can only grow through a major public awareness campaign
.This has several tools- the electronic media, the press, school and college education ,adult education
.which are all essentially complimentary to each other .Green movements can grow out of small local
initiatives to become major players in advocating environmental protection to the government. Policy
makers will only work towards environmental preservation if there is sufficiently large bank of voters
that insists on protecting the environment. Orienting the media to protect pro-environmental issues is an
important aspect. Several advertising campaigns frequently have messages that are negative to
environmental preservation.
Review questions:
1. Define sustainable development
2. What are the objective of sustainable development
3. Discuss the nature of urban environmental problem in India.
4. What are the benefits and types of rainwater harvesting?
5. What is watershed management?
6. Write note on resettlement and rehabilitation of people in India.
7. What are the environmental ethics?
8. Critically explain the global environmental issues.
9. Write note : a. Global Worming b. Green house gases c.Ozone layer
10. What is Acid rain? What are its effects?
11. Explain in following: a. Nuclear accidents b. Nuclear waste c. Nuclear fallout
12. Explain the causes for the formation of waste land in India.
13. Explain the relationship between consumerism and waste product.
14. Define the concept of e-waste
15. State the general law relating to environment.

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7. HUMAN POPULATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Just trust yourself then you will know how to live

Men certainly have the most power. Men have the power to destroy the planet or help it return to a
natural paradise. Our choices have more impact than the choices of other animals, so in some ways,
Homo sapience is the most important species on the Earth.

The population of India has reached 1 billion on May 11, 2000 and the country is likely to
become the world’s most populous country by 2050.
The over-population is a human distribution problem:
It is true that people are crowed together in some areas while other areas remain relatively uninhibited
but let’s define inhabited.
In terms of environment impact crowding human humans together in cities preserve natural areas better
than speeding us evenly over the whole land.
Population Growth Variation among Nations:
India is home to 16.7 percent of the world population living in just 2.4 percent of the words total land
area. The decennial increase in population increase in population (1991 to2001 ) has been 18.1 cores
equivalent to the population of Canada, France and Germany.
The population in this century was 1.6 million, by 1960, it has become 3 billion and by 1987, 5 billion.
Currently the word population is 6.067 billion. It would climb to 7.810 billion by 2025, and 90.339
billion by 2050. Word, population sized will continue grow until equilibrium is achieved. i.e. number
of the births become equal of the number of deaths . Currently, the population is increasing by more than
80 million per year, i.e. after every 12 or 13 years, a billon people will be added. Earth can support 15
billion, but it seems unlikely that this number will be reached and countries whose populations are
growing rapidly will have to stop soon.

Table-6. First fifteen populous countries (mid-2000), arranged rank-wise

Country Population (in
million)
China 1265
India 1002
United States (North America 276
Indonesia 212
Brazil(south America) 170
Pakistan 151
Russia 145
Bangladesh 128
Japan 127

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 Nigeria (Africa) 123
Mexico (North America) 100
Germany (Europe) 82.0
Philippines 80
Vietnam 79
Egypt 68
Source : Word population Data sheet, 2000.
Given India’s current population 1002 million and Chinas 1264 million, their projected growth rates
would yield population of 1363 and 1431 millions, respectively in 2025.

Table -7. Countries with highest population densities.

Country Population(Sq.mile)
Honkong 16,949
Singapore 16,714
Bangladesh 2,305
South Korea 1,234
Lebanon 1,046
Netherlands 1,010
Japan 870
Belgium 869
India 789
Sri Lanka 757
Source: World development Indicators, 1999.

Australia and Mauritania both have the lowest density in the world, about 6-7 people per seq.mile, yet
one in rich and the other is poor. Rich Japan and poor India have roughly the same density.

CAUSES:
Overall population trends in a country do not take into account differential fertility of subgroups
irrespective to religion, cast, etc. For example, white Protestants are declining, and may be white
Catholics. Jews are declining except for the ultra-orthodox who are increasing. Mormons are increasing
rapidly. Blacks and Hispanics have higher fertility than whites do. Low IQ people increase while high
IQ people decline.
The total population of India as at 0.00 hours on 1st March 2001 stood at 1,027,015,247 persons. With
this, Indian became only the second country in the world after China to cross the one billion mark. The
population of the country rose by 21.34% between 1991-2001. The sex ratio (i.e;number of females per
thousand males) of population was 933, rising from 927 as at the 1991 census.
Problems of Population Growth:
Human population growth particularly in developing countries, creates several socio-economic and
environmental problems:
1. Increasing demands for food and natural resources, such as minerals, forests and water.
2. Inadequate housing and health services
3. Loss of agriculture land and socio-political unrest
5. Environmental pollution
EVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH:

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There is a direct relation ship between environment and human health. On a world wise scale, the
pollution of water supplies is probably responsible for more human illness than any other environment
influence. The disease so transmitted are chiefly due to microorganisms and parasites. One example will
illustrate the dimensions of the bacterium Vibrato cholera, is characterized by intense diarrhea, which
results rapidly in massive fluid depletion and death in a very large percentage of untreated patients.
Though its distribution in the past was virtually worldwide, it has been largely restricted during the
twentieth century to Asia, particularly the area of the Ganges River in India. During the nine years from
1898 to 1907, about 370,000 people died from this disease and thousands of Indians continue to die each
year even at present.

Water is recognized as an important factor in transmission of many diseases (water transmitted diseases)
It is ,therefore, of great importance to remove from drinking or polluted water all the pathogenic
organisms or parasites it may contain: this is called disinfection.

The polluted waters may create a variety of dreaded types of diseases besides diseases caused due to
poor water supply and sanitation. Most of the disease causing bacteria enter the body of animal and
those of human beings through water and develop serious diseases.

Polluted water, especially those polluted by domestic sewage and discharges from hospitals and
slaughterhouses etc; are potent source of infections disease. They carry variety of pathogen in the form
of protozoan Bacteria and viruses and parasites like flukes, tapeworm and roundworms. The 19 th
century cholera epidemic in London was caused by cholera germs originated from a single sewage
contaminated well.

About 4 million children die every year from water-born disease India. According to a report of Indian
Toxicology Research Centre about 8,000 cases of cholera, 1 million cases of gastroenteritis and 7
million cases of dysentery were reported annually. The principal water-born bacterial, viral, and
parasitic diseases responsible for the high infant and child mortality rate were cholera, dysentery,
gastroenteritis, diarrhea, jaundice, typhoid, hepatitis polio, amoebic dysentery, and guinea-worm
disease, the report said.

Waste from factories of plastic, caustic soda and chlorine are rich in a heavy metal, mercury. Mercury
enters the food web through bacteria, algae, and fish marine. Mercury compound are sometimes used as
fungicides and pesticides. It cause Mina Mata disease that weakens muscles, impair vision, lead to
mental retardation, occasionally results in paralysis and death of suffers specially in coastal area. Health
harzards of cadmium are also well documented, following an epidemic of bone-softening disease called
Itai-Itai in Japanese. Several molluses in streams are found to accumulate considerable amount of copper
and zinc which affect a number of processes in molluses. Similarly, chromium is also present in streams
and is toxic to marine animals having lethal effects.
Nitrates in drinking water can cause a disease in infants that sometimes results in death.
Water is also naturally polluted, for instance places nitrate and fluorides are found in natural water in a
concentration not safe for human use. There are many pockets in India especially in western Rajasthan,
Haryana, Punjab, TamilNadu and Andhara Predesh, where the water has high fluoride content. People
who use these waters with the water has a high fluoride content. People who use this water with more
than 1.5 ppm fluoride for drinking may suffer from fluorosis.Under conditions of poor sanitation;
carriers of enteric disease can contaminate rivers, springs, wells and other sources of drinking water.
There fore, it is essential to have good town planning.

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Table.8 : Disease caused by water pollution.
Category Examples Relevant water improvement
1. Water born infections
a. Classical
b. Non-classical
Typhoid, cholera Microbiological sterility
Infective hepatitis Microbiological improvement
2.Water-washed infections
a. Skin and eyes
b.Diarrhoeal disease
Scabies, trachoma Greater volume available
Bacillary dysentery Greater volume available
3.Water-based infections
a. Penetrating skin
b. Ingested
Schistosomiasis Protection of user
Guinea worm Protection of user
4.Infections with water-
related vectors
a .Biting near water
b. Breeding in water
Sleeping sickness Water piped from source
Yellow fever Water piped to site of use
5.Infection primarily of
defective sanitation
Hook worm
Sanitary faecal

Effect of Air pollution on Health

Carbon Monoxide:
CO(g) is a poisonous gas on account of having an affinity of hemoglobin, the red pigment that carries
oxygen in blood, some 250 times greater than oxygen it self. The combination, carboxyhaemoglobin, is
not release and prevents oxygen from combining with it. Continued inhalation leads to death as all
hemoglobin become attached to CO (g) which the condition known as asphyxia. About 120 ppm for 1
hour or as little as 30 ppm for 8 hours may be a serious risk to people sensitive to CO.

The birth weights of babies whose mothers smoke cigarettes are lower than those of non-smoking
mothers. Cigarette smokers were also found to have an increased hematocrit (per cent volume of red
blood cells in whole blood). Within minutes of smoking heavy smokers can reduce the effect when they
stop smoking, but there is theoretically an increased possibility of clot growth with increased hematocrit,
which may explain the high cardiovascular mortality of cigarette smokers. On the other hand Parkinson
disease, affecting nervous system and characterized by tremors, muscular rigidity and emaciation.
No- smokers, who work or live in company of a smoker, run a substantial risk of having heart attack or
developing cancer. In small concentrations it may cause dizziness, headache. The concentration rarely
exceeds 4 percent, and it never accumulates. Cigarette smokers often have their concentration of CO(g)
in blood up to 10 per cent.
Sulphur dioxide:

85
 Sulphur dioxide causes irritation of the respiratory system. It affects mainly the upper respiratory tract.
Respiration: It is highly soluble and consequently is absorbed in the moist passage of the upper
respiratory system, leading to airway resistance(swelling) and stimulated mucus secretion. Exposure to
SO2 levels of the order of 1 ppm leades to constriction of the airways in the respiratory tract. SO2 causes
significant bronco-constriction in asthmatics at relatively low concentrations (0.25 to 0.50 ppm).
Nitrogen dioxide:
Nitrogen dioxide is much less soluble than sulphur dioxide. Nitrogen dioxide is a major component of
photochemical smog. Photochemical smog cause headaches, eye ,nose and throat irritation, impaired
lung function, coughing and wheezing.
Hydrocarbons:
Certain hydrocarbons are carcinogenic. Prolonged exposure to such solvents can cause cancer.
Particulate Matter:
Smaller particulates penetrate into small airway and lung bypassing the muscocilliry defense and
causing damage to the delicate epithelial linings. Toxicity depend on the concentration accumulated and
linked to the increased risks of respiratory and cardiovascular illness and death. Cancer may also be
induced.

Copper:
Copper toxicity results into an allergic contract dermatitis. Another toxic reaction is the greenish black
discoloration of hair. The most common complaint of workers exposed to excessive concentration of
copper fumes is related to respiratory tract.
Agate dust: Epidemiological survey of workers is agate industry where stones are produced for making
ornaments, has shown the presence of various categories of pneumoconiosis in workers. The incidence
of pulmonary infection, including tuberculosis, in these workers was marked high. Experimental study
on animal exposed to agate dust has shown that the exposed animal become more susceptible to E. coli.
Aldehydes: Aldehydes are usually emitted by auto exhaust, waste incineration, fuel combustion and
photo-chemical reaction .Generally, aldehydes present in air cause eye, skin and respiratory irritation in
addition to the odour pollution.
Arsenic: Arsenic is emitted from metal smelters, arsenical pesticides and herbicides. Arsenic, when
present in air causes irritation to eye , skin, and respiratory system. Arsenic trioxide causes chronic
poisoning in horses, cattle and sheep.
Asbestos: Asbestos is released from factory, mines, or construction sites. The inhalation of asbestos
may result in lung fibrosis, bronchial carcinoma, mesothelioma of pleura.
Barium: The sources of barium are industries, mining, refining or producing barium and barium based
chemicals. Barium affects heart muscles, central nervous system and respiratory tract.
Beryllium: Beryllium is evolved from industrial usage, production of fluorescent lamps and rocket
motor fuels. Berylliosis is reported to be an autoimmune disease. Bery llium present in excess of ppm
in soil is proved to toxic.
Boron: Boron is evolved from industries producing boron and petroleum fuel additives. Boron and its
compound are considered moderately to highly toxic to man when injected to inhale. Boron hydrides can
cause damage to central nervous system and death.
Cadmiun: Cadmium is emitted from metal industries engaged in extraction, refining machining,
electroplating and welding. Cadmium plants result in fuming of cadmium increasing the mortality in
workers. Pulmonary edema , acute inflammatory changes in kidney, lung neurosis and fatty
degeneration liver were the causes for mortality after inhaling cadmium vapours.Chlorine: Generally ,
process industries using chlorine emit chlorine. Chlorine is a strong oxidizing agent and able to mix both

86
organic and inorganic matter. This makes it dangerous to human, animal, plants .Chlorine is irritating to
eye, nose and throat.
Chlorine Accident:
At petrochemical plant, Chembur, Bombay 2 tone of the chlorine spilled in August 1985. This resulted
in one fatality and injuries to about 200 people.
Chromium: Chromium is emitted from metallurgical and chemical industries. Products employing
chromate compounds, cement and asbestos evolve chromium. The prolonged exposure to and
inhalation of chromium and its salt often results in perforation of nasal septum termed as “chrome
holes”. It is now well established that prolonged inhalation of trivalent and hexa valent chromium
compounds result in the development of lesions in lungs respiratory passage and characteristic chronic “
Chromate lung”.
Ethylene: Ethylene is found in the emissions of motor vehicles , chemical industries, incineration of
agricultural wastes and is emitted by growing plants. Ethylene contributes to photochemical air pollution
and when it combines with nitrogen oxide and ozone the reaction causes eye irritation.
Hydrochloric Acid: Burning of coal and burning of chlorinated plastic and paper results in the emission
of hydro-chloric acid. When gasoline containing ethylene chloride undergoes combustion, hydrochloric
acid is evolved. Hydrochloric acid causes coughing and choking from inhalation. The upper tract is
inflammated by hydrochloric acid.
Hydrogen Sulfide: Hydrogen sulfide is evolved due to biological decay of protein in stagnant water,
kraft paper mills, industrial waste disposal ponds, sewage treatment plants, refineries and coke ovens.
Even at low concentration hydrogen sulfide causes headaches, conjunctivitis, sleeplessness and pain in
the eyes. High concentrations can lead to blockage of O2 transfer, act as cell and enzyme poison and
damage never tissues.

Iron: Iron is emitted from iron and steel plants, fly ash from combustion of coal and fuel oil and
municipal waster incinerators. Iron and its compounds present as pollutants in the atmosphere can cause
iron pigmentation of lungs is well known problem. Iron oxide acts as a vehicle for transporting
carcinogens and sulfur dioxide deep into lungs.
Air pollution Episode of the World
Kaoline: Kaoline is known as china clay. Kaoline is used mostly in textile industry kaoline dust on
prolonged inhalation can produce pneumoconiosis Exposure to kaoline also may cause silicosis.
Lead: Lead is emitted into air through automobile emission using leaded gasoline, lead smelters,
combustion of coal and fuel oil and lead arsenate pesticides.
Adverse effect: 1.Digestive problems. e.g. intestinal colic 2 Impairing the functioning of the kidney 3.
Anemia 4 Nervous problems, convulsion 5. Brain damage and mental retardation in children

Manganese: Manganese is emitted from blast furnace producing ferromanganese compounds, organic
manganese fuel additives, use of welding rods.
Manganese and its compounds when inhaled may produce chronic manganese poisoning ormanganic
pneumonias, which has a mortality rate four times that for normal pneumonia.

Mercury: Mining and refining of mercury cause emission of mercury into air.
Use of mercury in laboratories and pesticides containing mercury also emit mercury.
The workers exposed to mercury dusts and inorganic salts showed profuse diarrhea, kidney lessons,
disorders of cardiac function and neurological function. Russian experiments on animal indicate that
continuous exposure to mercury vapour above 0.3 micro gram/ m3 of air may present a health hazard.
Plastic:

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Because plastics are relatively insert the final products do not normally present health hazards to the
maker or user, However, some monomers used in the manufacture of plastics have been shown to cause
cancer. Similarly, benzene, which is a important raw material for the synthesis of nylon, is a carcinogen.
The problems involved in the manufacture of plastics parallel those of the chemical industry in general.
Most synthetic plastics are not environmentally degradable: unlike wood, paper, natural fibers, or even
metal and glass, they do not rot or otherwise break down over time.( some degradable plastics have been
developed but none has proved compatible with the conditions required for most waste landfills.)Thus
there is an environmental problem associated with the disposal of plastics. Recycling has emerged as the
most practical method to deal with this problem, especially with products such as the polythene
terephalate bottles used for carbonated drinks, where the process of recycling is fairly straightforward.

AIR POLLUTION EPISODES OF THE WORLD:

Bhopal MIC Gas Tragedy: This was the worst industrial disaster in the history of mankind, which
occurred on December 3,1984 in Bhopal, India. Forty five tones of MIC gas along with traces of
phosgene leaked from three storage tanks of the Union Carbide Factory exposed several thousands of
inhabitants. MIC gas is used in the manufacturing of carbamate type of pesticides. It was produced from
the reaction between phosgene and methylamine. Inhalation of MIC causes burning sensation in the
eyes, removes oxygen from the lungs and death due to choking. The threshold limiting value for MIC
for man is 0.02ppm and a concentration of 2ppm in air is a lethal dose for him.
The Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan and the Zehrili Das-Kand Sangharsh Morcha, the two
organizations, however, claim that more than 12,000 persons have so far died and an average of 5 gas
victim continue to die every week. Out of every 3 Children born to women who were pregnant on the
night of accident, only one survived. Out of 1,350 new born babies,16 were physically deformed and 60
premature birth. Deformities among children included congenital heart ailments, hole in arms and
impaired eyesight. According to an an official estimate, there are around six lakh gas victims in 36
wards of Bhopal. The figure includes more than 10,000 severely affected persons and 70,000 less
severely affected persons.
Donora Smog Incident: An air pollution episode occurred in Donora, Pennysylvania in October, 1948.
Donora is situated in the valley of the Rive, Monogahela. About 48 km south of Pittsburg, U.S.A. Heavy
industries in the valley included many steel and blast furnaces, steel mills, smelting works, sulphuric
acid plants; etc soft coal had been the primary fuel.

Population Explosion and Family welfare Programme:

Rapidly growing population require s large investment for provisions of social infrastructure and takes
always resources directly from productive assets. Due to scarcity of resources it is very difficulties to
provide education, health, transport and housing facilities to the entire population. High rate of
population growth results in over crowding and hence the quality of these services goes down.

Population Explosion:
The subject of population has been the main issues of debate right from the ancient time all over
the world. T.R Malthus a distinguished English scholar and philosopher wrote his famous essays on the
principles of population. This triggered the population debate later and became a starting point to
understand the problem of population growth in the world. Malthus believed in dictum that “Mans
ability to reproduces is greater than his ability to produce”. He argued that some powerful checks are

88
required to keep the population from going beyond the means of subsistence or else it will lead to misery
and vice.
The check of controlling the human population are of two kinds, i.e. positive and preventive
.Malthus to considered the positive checks be those factors which determine the death rate and were
destroyed life. The second kind of checks is to reduce birth rate .As means to control the rate of growth
of Indians population, the Government of India officially announced the Family Planning Programme in
the year1952 along with first five year plan A historical international conference on population and
development in Cairo,in 1994 was about a paradigm shift in population related policies. The conference
focuses the attention of governments on making programme more clients oriented with an emphasis on
quality of service and care.
In keeping the democratic tradition of the country ,the family planning / welfare program seeks
to promote responsible and planned parenthood through voluntary and free choice of family welfare
methods best-suited to the individual acceptors. Imaginative use of mass media and interpersonal
communication is made for highlighting the benefits of the removal of socio0cultural barrier for
adoption of family programme.
Human Rights:
Human rights are those basic rights, which every human being should enjoy by virtue of his
being human .These are those fundamental rights aim at ensuring dignity and worth of the human person
.Rights like right to live, liberty and security of a person, freedom of speech, right to have judicial
remedy, freedom to movement, equality before law and equal protection of law without any
discrimination right to work, right to have good standard of living. Equal pay for equal work etc; form
the core of human rights. In short human rights are those rights which ensure life with dignity and
honour to every human being in every country.
The concept of human right is relatively new idea. The destruction for men and material and the
consequent trauma that humankind witnessed the World War II provided the backdrop for the universal
declaration of human rights. The universal declaration adopted on 20th December, 1948, accepted
divinity and self-respect of human beings as an article of faith.
Value Education:
A thing of value, if it is of use, Value is in proportion to utility. Greater the utility, the higher is the
value. Utility is sought by mankind at various levels_ physical, emotional, intellection and spiritual.
Education to be of value should be use to people at every level of right expectation. At the spiritual level
education should be in a position to provide peace and tranquility. Man equanimity enjoys peace, which
is most precious.
Education is of no use, if it fails to provide wisdom and the resultant peace. Spiritual is most
precious for it paves the way to perfection. It leads to equanimity of mind at all times and in all places.
Environmental education provides us the knowledge about the precious information about environment
but also to acquire attitudes and values conductive to environment ,protection and understanding of
interdependence of nature and people.

Population Explosion and Family welfare Programme:

Rapidly growing population require s large investment for provisions of social infrastructure and takes
always resources directly from productive assets. Due to scarcity of resources it is very difficulties to
provide education, health, transport and housing facilities to the entire population. High rate of
population growth results in over crowding and hence the quality of these services goes down.

Population Explosion:

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 The subject of population has been the main issues of debate right from the ancient time all over
the world. T.R Malthus a distinguished English scholar and philosopher wrote his famous essays on the
principles of population. This triggered the population debate later and became a starting point to
understand the problem of population growth in the world. Malthus believed in dictum that “Mans
ability to reproduces is greater than his ability to produce”. He argued that some powerful checks are
required to keep the population from going beyond the means of subsistence or else it will lead to misery
and vice.
The check of controlling the human population are of two kinds, i.e. positive and preventive
.Malthus to considered the positive checks be those factors which determine the death rate and were
destroyed life. The second kind of checks is to reduce birth rate .As means to control the rate of growth
of Indians population, the Government of India officially announced the Family Planning Programme in
the year1952 along with first five year plan A historical international conference on population and
development in Cairo,in 1994 was about a paradigm shift in population related policies. The conference
focuses the attention of governments on making programme more clients oriented with an emphasis on
quality of service and care.
In keeping the democratic tradition of the country ,the family planning / welfare program seeks
to promote responsible and planned parenthood through voluntary and free choice of family welfare
methods best-suited to the individual acceptors. Imaginative use of mass media and interpersonal
communication is made for highlighting the benefits of the removal of socio0cultural barrier for
adoption of family programme.
Human Rights:
Human rights are those basic rights, which every human being should enjoy by virtue of his
being human .These are those fundamental rights aim at ensuring dignity and worth of the human person
.Rights like right to live, liberty and security of a person, freedom of speech, right to have judicial
remedy, freedom to movement, equality before law and equal protection of law without any
discrimination right to work, right to have good standard of living. Equal pay for equal work etc; form
the core of human rights. In short human rights are those rights which ensure life with dignity and
honour to every human being in every country.
The concept of human right is relatively new idea. The destruction for men and material and the
consequent trauma that humankind witnessed the World War II provided the backdrop for the universal
declaration of human rights. The universal declaration adopted on 20th December, 1948, accepted
divinity and self-respect of human beings as an article of faith.
Value Education:
A thing of value, if it is of use, Value is in proportion to utility. Greater the utility, the higher is the
value. Utility is sought by mankind at various levels_ physical, emotional, intellection and spiritual.
Education to be of value should be use to people at every level of right expectation. At the spiritual level
education should be in a position to provide peace and tranquility. Man equanimity enjoys peace, which
is most precious.
Education is of no use, if it fails to provide wisdom and the resultant peace. Spiritual is most
precious for it paves the way to perfection. It leads to equanimity of mind at all times and in all places.
Environmental education provides us the knowledge about the precious information about environment
but also to acquire attitudes and values conductive to environment ,protection and understanding of
interdependence of nature and people.
Environmental education provides the following:
1. A comprehensive knowledge with working of nature and environment.
2. An experience in valuing environment quality.
3. An understanding of the impact of personal choices of actions on environmental quality.
A source of guidance to the people to act as more responsible citizens with an increased civic sense.

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4. A comprehensive knowledge with working of nature and environment.
5. An experience in valuing environment quality.
6. An understanding of the impact of personal choices of actions on environmental quality.
7. A source of guidance to the people to act as more responsible citizens with an increased civic sense.

The chief objective of environmental education is that individuals and social groups should acquire
awareness and knowledge. Develop attitude and skill and abilities and participates in solving real life
problem with a practical bias for developing a healthy environment around. The perspective should be
integrated and interdisciplinary in character.

Environmental education includes awareness, real-life situations conservation and sustainable

development. This has to be matched with the needs of primary, lower secondary, higher secondary and
higher and adult education. Awareness includes making the individual conscious about physical, social
and aesthetic of environment.

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) :

Acquired immune deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a killer disease caused by Human
Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) . This disease was first reported in early 1981.At present US has the
largest number of victim of AIDS. The World Health Organization (WHO) great concern during the
decade is to combat the spread of this fatal incurable disease. AIDS is transmitted by a virus known as
HTLV-III which disrupts the entire immune system of the human body.
When AIDS was first detected it was thought to be a sexually transmitted disease, found in
homosexuals only. However, later investigation revealed that the principal mode of its transmission was
through blood by way of the following:
1. Shared needles for injecting drugs.
2. Transfusion of contaminated food.
3. Anal sex, which often damage blood vessels making entry of the virus
easy.
4. Sexual relation with an infected person.

AIDS is called Acquired because it is contacted, immune-Deficiency because the virus destroy the
body s protective mechanism (immune system) that fight against disease and syndrome because this
illness has variety of signs and systems. It is dreadful, communicable disease, leaving the victim
vulnerable to a host of infectious neurological
disorders. AIDS refers to final stage infection.
Symptoms:
Major symptoms:
1. Weight loss at least 10 % body weight
2. Chronic diarrhea, for more than one month.
3. Prolonged fever, for more than one month.
4. Night sweats

Minor systems:
1. Persistence cough for more than one month
2. General skin disease /infection (Viral infection)
3. Tuberculosis
4. Nervous system damage, etc.

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Factors not influencing AIDS:
Scientific evidence shows, unlike many other viruses, HIV does no spread through social
contact such as touching, kissing (except mouth to mouth) worming together, talking, embracing, by
sharing equipment like telephone, books, type writers toilets or by air (Coughing or sneezing ) and
mosquitoes.
Diagnosis of AIDS:
Even through there is wide range of screening tests to ensure accuracy at present two different tests are
commonly applied .The tests are as follow:
ELISA test (Enzymes Linked Immunosorbent Assay):
It is sensitive blood test, which is used to detect the HIV-antibodies.
Western blot:
This is confirmatory test and is used to weed out any false positive result. It is highly specific.
Control and Prevention Measures:
He/she remains infected for life. There is neither a cure for AIDS nor a vaccine, but can be prevented.
Women and Child Welfare:
India is a welfare state, committed to the welfare and development of its people in general and of
vulnerable esections, in particular. The preamble, directive principles of state policy, fundamental rights
and specific sectors, namely , Articles 38,39 and 46 in the constitution of India, stand testimony to the
commitment of the state to its people.
Welfare is not a matter of charity. Welfare programmes in the beginning were directed to
provide a few basic curative and rehabilitative services. Over the years, a developmental orientation in
contrast to curative and custodial approach was given to welfare programmes. At present these are
oriented towards providing social jusice and empowerment to the disadvantage and marginalized
sections of the society viz. scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, minorities,
disabled aged persons, and street children women and victims of drugs abuse etc.
Women and children constitute roughly two-third of Indian’s total population of millions as per
Census. The Department of Women and Child Development was created in 1985 in the ministry of
Human Resource Development with a view to giving the much needed impetus to the all-round
development of women and children. The department in its nodal capacity formulates plans, policies and
programmes and non –governmental organization working to improve the lot of women and children in
the country.
The activities of the Department are carried out through bureau the Bureau of Nutrition and
children Development, the Bureau of child Welfare, the Bureau of Women’s Development and the
Bureau of Micro credit Development. The department has under its control three organizations , viz. the
National Institute of Public Corporation and Child Development (NIPCCD) ,Rashtriya Mahila Kosh
(RMK) and Cetral Social Welfare Board (CSWB) .these organizations are fully funded by the
Government of India and they assist the department in this functions including implementation of some
programmes/ schemes The National Commission of Women (NCW) was constituted as National Apex
Statutory body ,in 1992 to investigate and examine the constitutions and legal safeguards for women and
their effective implementation . Government of India has introduced number of programmes for welfare
of women and children.
Intellectual property Right (IPRs) and community Biodiversity Registers (CBRs):

Traditional people, especially tribal living in forests, have used local plants and animals for generations.
This storehouse of knowledge leads to many new “discoveries for modern pharmaceutical products.
The revenue generation from such ‘finds ‘ goes to the pharmaceutical industries that has done the
research and patented the product .This leaves the original tribal user with nothing, while the industry a

92
earn billions of rupees. To protect the right of indigenous people who have used this products, a possible
tools is to create a CBR of local products and there uses so that their exploitation by the pharmaceutical
industry would result in a royalty to the local community. This, however, has still not been generally
accepted. Mechanisms have to be worked out so that the local traditional user’s rights are protected.
Traditional Medicine: Traditional medicine refers to health practices, appropriate knowledge and
beliefs that incorporated plants, animal and mineral –based medicine, frequently of local or regional
origin. It may be linked to spiritual therapies, manual techniques and exercise. This may be used singly
or in combination to treat, diagnose and prevent illness or maintain well being. Traditional medicine is
often handed down through the generation or may be known to a special castes or tribal group.
Traditional medicine has maintained its popularity in all region of the developing world and its
use is rapidly spreading in industrialization countries. In India, some of our primary health –care needs
are taken care of entirely by traditional medicine, while in Africa up too 80% of the population uses it
for primary health care. In industrialized countries, adaptation of traditional medicine is termed as
“Complementary or Alternative Medicine (CAM).
While there are advantages to traditional medicine as its cheap and locally available, there are
also diseases which it cannot treat effectively. This is a risk ,as patients who use these alternative
medicine and effective treatment of a treatable condition There is need to carefully research the claims
of traditional practice to reinsure that they are effective.
There are tried and tested scientific methods and products that have their origin in different
traditional medicine methods; In fact, 25 % of modern medicines are made from plants first used
traditionally. Yoga is known to reduce asthma attacks. Traditional medicine has been found to be
effective against several infectious diseases.
Over one third of the population in developing countries lack access to essential allopathic medicines.
The provision of safe and effective TM/CAM therapies could become a tool to increase access to health
care

Case study: 17

A Us company was granted a patient for discovering that extracts of Arhar (Pigeon pea or
Cajuns Cajon) could be used in the treatment of diabetes ,hypoglycemia obesity and blockage of
arteries. The use of pigeon pea extract in India is well known .CSIR has challenged this patent as it
infringes on India’s traditional knowledge, although challenging the patient is difficult as India’s
scientific documentation or its traditional knowledge is quit poor.

Role of information technology in Environment and human Health:

The understanding of environment concerns and issues related to human health has exploded during the
last few years due to the sudden growth of information technology. The computer age has turned the
world around to the incredible rapidity with which it spreads knowledge. It can do several tasks
extremely rapidly, accurately and spread the information through the world’s networks of millions of
computer systems. A few example of the use of computer technology that aid environment studies
include soft ware such as using Geographical Information System (GIS) .GIS is a tool to map land use
patterns and document change by studying digitized top sheets and ?or satellite imagery . Once this is
done, experts can ask a variety of questions which the software can by producing maps which helps in
land use planning.

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 The intern ate with its thousands of websites has made it very simple to get the appropriate
environment information for any study or environmental management planning. This not only assists
scientist and students but is a powerful tool to help increase public awareness about environmental
issues.
Specialized software can analyze data for epidemiological studies, population dynamics and a variety of
key environment concerns .The relationship between the environment and health has been established
due to growing utilization of computer technology. This looks at infection rates morbidity or mortality
and the etiology (causing factor) of a disease. As our knowledge expands computers will become
increasing efficient.

Case study:18
Karnataka’s GIS scheme, Bhoomi, has revolutionized the way farmers access their land records Farmers
can now get a copy of the records of rights, tenancy and crops from a computerized 20 million records
of land ownership of 6.7 million farmers in the state.

Technology, which serves the goal of development, is defined as Appropriate Technology.

Appropriate Technology springs from indigenous creativity, in response to local needs and possibilities.
It is relevant and ready for use by common people, and aims directly to improve the quality of their
lives. It derives maximum leverage from the local cultural environment by drawing upon the existing
managerial and technical skills and providing the basis for extending them. It uses the physical potential
of an area, and man’s harmony with nature.
Mass diffusion of Appropriate Technology requires the following:
1. Economic viability, in production, marketing and use ,as the prime
Criteria of appropriateness for technology.
2. Strong linkage between the process of innovation, production and
Marketing.
3. Active participation of the people affected by the design of technologies, to take full account of local
needs, resources and constraints and to obtain maximum advantage from traditional knowledge.
4. Maximizing its positive social and environmental spin –offs by appropriate design and without loss of
product marketability.
5. Systems science for inclusion of the variety of factors relevant to the design of successful institutions and
technologies.
6. A critical mass effort, providing economies of scale in innovation, manufacturing and marketing, to bring
or environmental contentions to a new take-off, beyond an existing threshold.

The goals of improved equity, eradication poverty and environmental sustainability, which must form
the basis of development in the Third world countries .The environmental impacts of conventional
technology, are relatively well –known today. Air pollution ,acid rain, industrial waste disposal toxic
effluent, noise and vibrations crowing and congestion and many other side effects of urban and
industrial activity are now widely recognized as the costly by products of activities which otherwise
produce useful outputs.
More recently there is also a growing concern about global issues, such as climatic changes, global
warming, sea level rise and stratospheric ozone depletion. All these coasts will be increasingly seen as

94
unacceptable and either technology will have to be redesigned or the products will have to a scarified.
The promise of science and technology can only be fulfilled through the introduction of the fruits of the
scientific enterprise into the lives of the widest possible number of people.

Institutions in environment:
There have been several Government and non government organization (NGOs) that are working
towards 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 India s culture have, however , gradually disappear public awareness is thus critical
need to further environmental protection. Among the large number of intuition that deals with
environmental protection. and conservation, few well known organization include government
organization like the BSI and ZSI , and NGOs like the BNHS,WWF-I ,etc.
The Bombay Natural history society (BNHS) , Mumbai : The BNHS beiges as small society of six
member in 1883. It grew from a group of shikaris and people from all walks of life into an important
research organization that substance sharing influences conservation policy in the country. its influence
on wild life policy building, research , popular publication and peoples ‘ action has been unique future
of the multifaceted society. Undoubtedly it s measure contribution has being in the field of wild life
research. It is India’s oldest conservation research based NGOs and one that has been at the fore front of
the battle for preservation of species and ecosystems. The BNHS publishes a popular magazine called
the horn bill and also an inter nationally well known journal on natural history. It s other publication
include Salim Alis hand book on birds, JC Deniel s book of Indian reptile , SH Pretor book of Indians
mammals and PV Boles book of Indian trees. One of its greatest scientist was doctor Salim Ali , whose
ornithological work on the bird of the Indian sub continent is word famous. The BNHS has over the year
helped the Government to Frame wild life related laws and has taken up battles such as the save the
silent valley, Campaign.
World wide fund for nature –India (WWF-I), New Delhi: The WWF-I was initiated in 1969 in
Mumbai, after which the head quarter were shifted to Delhi with several branch offices all over India.
The early years focused attention on wild life education and awareness. It runs several programmes,
including the nature clubs of India programmes for school children and works as a things, tank and
lobby force for environmental and developmental issues.
Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi: The activities of this center include
organizing campaigns holding workshop and conferences, and producing environment, related
publication. It has published a major document on the state of India’s environment , the first of its kind
to be produced as a citizens report on the environment .The CSE also publics 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 seminar on
biodiversity- related issues.
Center for Environment Education (CEE), Ahmedabad: The Center for Environment Education,
Ahmedabad was initiated in 1989. It has a wide rang of programs on the environment and produces a
varieties of educational material; CEE’s Training in Environment Education (TEE) program has trained
many environmental educators.
The wild life institute of India (WLII) ,Dehradun : This institution was established in 1982, as a
major training establishment for forest officials and for research in wild life management . Its most
significant publication has been planning a Wild life Protected Area Net work for India ( Rodgers and
Panwar, 1988 ). The organization has over the years added and enormous amount of information on
India’s biological wealth. It has trained a large number of forest department officials and staff as wild
life manager. Its M. Sc. Program has trained excellent wild life scientists. It is also has an environment

95
impact assessment ( EIA) cell. It trains personnel in eco development, Wildlife biology, habitat
management and nature interpretation on.
Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ):The aim of CEQ is to encourage productive and enjoyable
harmony between Man and his environment.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): Independent Federal agency of the Us Government,
established in 1970, that is responcible for dealing with the pollution of air, water and solid wastes,
pesticides, radiation and with nuisances caused by noise.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)It was founded as a specialized agency of UN in 1945 and
has 136 member nations as of January,1980. FAO oppose the destruction or displacement of ecosystem
as a consequence of agriculture expansion.
Earth Scan:
European Economic Community (EEC)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA):IAEA is independent intergovernment organization
within the United Nations System. It came into being on july 29,1957. It has head quarters in Vienna,
Austia.
Main Objective of IAEAs
1.To accelerate and enlarge the contribution of atomic energy into peace, health and prosperity throught
the world.
2.To deal with scientific and commercial utilization of atomic energy or radioisotopes
3. To ensure that as assistance provided by it or as its request or under its supervision or control is not
used for any military pupose.
International Maritime Organization
Natural Conservation Council(NCC):
International Labour Organization(ILO):An UN agency, came into being in 1919 and has 140
member nations as of January,1980. It is primarily concerned with the safety and health of employees in
the occupational environment.

Non- Governmental Organization (NGOs): These are voluntary bodies, community groups, academic
societies and corporate entities, which have served a critical role in identifying damagers of
environmental deterioration and importuning governments and international agencies to action. They
may be accorded official status when they enter into relationship with intergovernmental organizations
in shaping national and international Government policies.
1. International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU)
2. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN)
3. World Resources Institute (WRI)
4. Friends Of Earth
5. Green peace
6. International Environmental Bureau(IEB)
7. United National Development Programme(UNDP)
8. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO):As an international UN
agency ,it came into being in 1945. It has 149 member nations as of January.1,1980. It was founded to
support and complement the efforts of member states to promote education, scientific research and
information and the arts to develop the cultural aspects of world relations. It holds conferences and
seminars, issues publications promote research and exchange of information and provides technical
services. It is financed by its own budget and also draws on funds pledged by member states to UN
Development Programme. Its head quarters are in paris. UNESCOs principle environmental activities
are ;1.Intergovernmental Programme on Man and Biosphere.
2. Ecology and integrated study of natural resource.

96
3. Oceanography and Marine Environment
4. Inter national Geological Correlation Programme
5. International Hydrological Programme
6.Training Personnel for Environmental Management
7. Development of General Environ mental Education.
10. World Bank (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD))
It is the principal single source of international funding for economic development. It is therefore,
an inevitable element in environmental policy. It leads to a larger group of agencies known as the World
Bank Groups including IFC and IDA. Since 1970, the Bank has been taking keen interest in ecologically
sound projects. In 1970 the Bank appointedan environmental adviser to review and evaluate the projects
from the stand point of their impacts on the ecosystem of there and on the environment as a whole. In
1972, It published a staff handbook, entitled Environment Health and Human Ecological Considerations
in Economic Projects and in the following year it established an office of environmental Bulletin: A
Bimonthly News Letter. Nearly 100 Technical papers on various aspects of development including
environmental affairs have been published so far. Also, It has been organizing international conferences
in collaboration with UNEP/UNESCO. World Bank provides loans for environmentally sound projects
taken up by developing countries. From 1971 through 1989, India received from WB confessional
credits totaling some s 3.8 billion for its large public irrigation projects like Narmada River-Velly
project.(H.T.June 30, 1992). Recently, World Bank has sanctioned a s 124 million loan and the
International Development Association a credit of s 31.6 million to promote environmentally sound
industrial development. The loan will be utilized to finance a programme designed to reduce pollution
caused by chemical industries in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu AND Utter Pradesh(H.T,.
June,10,1991).Government of India has launched a S670 crores WB assisted scheme to improve the
technical ,financial and other facilities of state pollution Control Boards to strengthen them to ensure
compliance with environmental laws. World Bank appraises and supervises the development projects
which are sponsored by it. As a part of functions it evaluates the hazard that a development might cause
to the people and the environment .Also, it evaluates the adequacy and effectiveness of measures taken
to control this hazard. World Banks head quarters are in Washinton D.C;U.S.A Lewis .T. Preston is the
President of the Bank.
11. World Commission on Environmental and Development (WCED)
12. World Wide Fund For Nature conservation:
It is one of the world’s largest private international nature conservation organizations. Its mission is to
conserve nature by preserving genetic species and ecosystem diversity by relating global awareness of
threats to nature and raising both moral and financial support.

People in environment: There are several inter nationally -known environmental thinkers . Among
those who have made land mark contributions, the names that are usually mentioned are Charles
Darwin, Ralph, Emerson, Henny Thoreau John Muir, Aldo Leo pold, Rachel Carson and EQ Wilson.
Each of this thinkers looked at the environment from a complementally different perspective. Charles
Darwin wrote the origin of species, which brought to light the close relationship between habitat and
species. It brought about a new way of thinking about men’s relation ship with other species that was
based on evaluation. Affred Wallace to the same conclusion during his work. John Muir is remembered
as having saved the great ancient sequoia trees in California forests. In the 1890s he formed the Sierra
club, which is a major conservation NGO in the USA. Aldo Leo pold, was a forest official in the US in
the 1920s. He designed the early policies on wildness conservation and wildlife management.
There have been a number of individuals who have been instrumental in shaping the environmental
history in our country. Some of the well-known names in the last centuries include environmentalist,
scientists, administrators, legal experts, educationists and journalists. Salim Alis name is synonymous

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with ornithology in India and with Bombay Natural History Society. He also wrote several great books
including the famous book of Indians birds. He was our country leading conservation scientist and
influenced environmental policies in our country for our 50 years.
Indira Gandhi as PM played a very significant role in the preservation of India’s wild life. It was
during her period as Pm ,that the network of protected area (PAs) grew from 65 to 2981. The wild life
protection act was formulated during the period when she was PM and the Indian Board for Wild life
was extremely active as she personally chaired all its meetings.
S.P.Godrej was one of India’s greatest supportes of wild life conservation and nature awareness
program . Between 1975 and 1999, S.P Godrej received 10 awards for his conservation activities; He
was awarded Padma bhusan 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.Swaminath is one of India’s foremost agriculturist scientist and has also been concerned with
various aspects of biodiversity conservation both of cultivars and wild biodiversity. He has founded the
MS Swaminath Research Foundation in Chennai, which does work on the conservation of biological
diversity.
MC Mehta is undoubtedly Indians most famous environmental Lawyers. Since 1984, He has filed
several Public interest Litigation for the supporting cause of environmental conservation. His most
famous and long 0drawn battles supported by the Supreme Court include protecting the Taj Mahal,
cleaning up the Ganges river, banning intensive shrimp farming on the coast, initiative government
implement environmental education in school and colleges , and varieties of other conservation issues.

Anil Agrawal was a journalist who wrote the first report on the state of India’s environment in 1982.he
founded the CES, an active NGO that supports various environmental issues.
Medha patkar, known as one of India’s champions, has supported the cause of downtrodden tribal
people whose environment is being affected by the dams on the Narmada River.
Sundarlal bahuguna’s Chipko movement has become an internationally well known example of a
highly successful conservation action program through the effort 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 was walked over 20 thousands km.

Review question:
1. Population is bothering for a country .Discuss.
2. Examine the world largest population countries in world.
3. Define population explosion.
4. Explain the achievement of family planning programmes in India.
5. What are the adverse effects on environmental degradation?
6. What are the human rights?
7. What do you mean by value education?
8. Write short notes on HIV and AIDS.
9. Explain the concept of women and child welfare in India.
10. State the Role of information technology in Environment and human Health

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8. DISASTER MANAGEMENT

The word ‘Disaster’ derived from Middle French’ desastre ‘ and that from Old Italian disastro,
which in turn comes from the Greek pejorative prefix ‘dus’(bad) + ‘aster ‘ (star).The root of the word
disaster ( “bad star “ in Greek and Latin) comes from an astrological them in which the ancients used
to refer to the destruction or deconstruction of star as a disaster.

Definition:
1. Disaster is an event or series of events, which gives rise to casualties and damage or loss of
properties, infrastructures, environment, essential services or means of live hood on such a scale which
is beyond the normal capacity of the community to cope with . Disaster is also sometimes described as a
“ catastrophic situation in which the normal pattern of life or eco-system has been disrupted and extra-
ordinary emergency intervention are required to save and preserve lives and or the environment”
2. The disaster Management Act,2005 defines disaster as” a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or gave
occurrence in any area , arising from natural or manmade causes, or by accident or negligence which
results in substantial loss or human suffering or damage to and destruction of property, or damage to ,
or degradation of environment and is of a nature or magnitude as to be beyond the capacity of the
community of the affected area”.
3. The united Nations defines disaster as “ the occurrence of sudden or major misfortunes which
disrupts the basic fabric and functioning of the society or community “.
Disaster is a sudden, calamitous event bringing great damage, loss, destruction and devastation to
life and property. The damage caused by disaster is immeasurable and varies with the geographical
location, climate and the type of the earth surface. This influences the mental, socio-economic, political
and cultural state of the affected area. Generally, disaster has the following effects in the concerned
areas,
1. It completely disrupts the normal day to day life

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 2. It negatively influences the emergency systems
3. Normal needs and processes like food, shelter, health, etc. are affected and deteriorate
depending on the intensity and severity of the disaster.
It may also be termed as “a serious disruption of the functioning of society, causing widespread
human, material or environmental losses which exceed the ability of the affected society to cope using
its own resources.”
Types of Disaster
Generally, disasters are of two types – Natural and Manmade. Based on the devastation, these
are further classified into major/minor natural disaster and major/minor manmade disasters. Some of the
disasters are listed below,
Major natural disasters:
• Flood
• Cyclone
• Drought
• Earthquake
Minor natural disasters:
• Cold wave
• Thunderstorms
• Heat waves
• Mud slides
• Storm
Major manmade disaster:
• Setting of fires
• Epidemic
• Deforestation
• Pollution due to prawn cultivation
• Chemical pollution.
• Wars
Minor manmade disaster:
• Road / train accidents, riots
• Food poisoning
• Industrial disaster/ crisis
• Environmental pollution

Disaster Management
There are no standardized rules defining the different phases of the disaster management cycle.
Different agencies use different cycles depending upon their objectives. However, while approaches
vary, it is agreed that disaster management activities should be carried out in a cycle.

Disaster Warning
Disaster Reduction identifies several key parties that play major roles in the disaster management
process, especially in disaster warning are:

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  Communities:For example, coastal communities need to be educated and prepared for the
possibility of a tsunami, while a mountain community can be educated to respond to an early
warning system for landslides.
 Local Governments: They must be actively involved in the design and maintenance of early
warning systems, and understand information received to be able to advise, instruct or engage the
local population in a manner that increases their safety and reduces the potential loss of resources
on which the community depends.
 National governments: They should ensure that warnings and related responses are directed
towards the most vulnerable populations through the design of holistic disaster response and
early warning frameworks that address the specific needs of the related micro- and macro-level
actors.
 Regional institutions and organizations: Regional organizations are crucial to linking
international capabilities to the particular needs of individual countries and in facilitating
effective early warning practices among adjacent countries.
 International bodies should provide support for national early warning activities and foster the
exchange of data and knowledge between individual countries.
 Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Play a critical role in raising awareness among
individuals and organizations involved in early warning and in the implementation of early
warning systems, particularly at the community level.
 The private sector has a diverse role to play in early warning, including developing early
warning capabilities in their own organizations.
 The media plays an important role in improving the disaster consciousness of the general
population and in disseminating early warnings. The media can be the critical link between the
agency providing the warning and the general public.
 The scientific community has a critical role in providing specialized scientific and technical
input to assist governments and communities in developing early warning systems.
Channels Used for Disaster Warning:
Radio and Television
Telephone (Fixed and Mobile)
Short Message Service
Satellite Radio
Internet/Email
GIS and Remote Sensing in Disaster Management

Disaster response
The most difficult period of a disaster is the immediate aftermath. This period calls for prompt
action within an exceptionally short period of time. In the aftermath of any disaster, a significant number
of individuals will be injured and/or displaced. Many of them may still be living with the trauma they
have encountered, including loss of loved ones. Affected individuals may also be without food or other
essential items. They might be waiting in temporary shelters, with no idea what to do next. Some might

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need immediate medical attention, while the disaster aftermath environment also creates ideal breeding
grounds for possible epidemics.
• Tracing Missing Persons
• Coordinating Donor Groups
• Recording the Locations of Temporary Camps and Shelters

Disaster management in India

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister of
India, is the Apex Body for Disaster Management in India. The setting up of the NDMA and the creation
of an enabling environment for institutional mechanisms at the State and District levels is mandated by
the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
Evolution of NDMA
Emergence of an organization is always an evolutionary process. Establishment of NDMA has
also gone through the same processes. Towards this aim, the Government of India (GOI), in recognition
of the importance of Disaster Management as a national priority, has set up a High-Powered Committee
(HPC) in August 1999 and also a nation committee after the 2001 Gujarat earthquake, for making
recommendations on the preparation of Disaster Management plans and suggestion effective mitigation
mechanisms. On 23 December 2005, the Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act,
which envisaged the creation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the
Prime Minister of India, and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective
Chief Ministers of the States, to spearhead and implement a holistic and integrated approach to Disaster
Management in India.

Floods: A flood is an expanse of water submerging land. A flood is caused by excess water in a
location, usually due to rain from a storm or thunderstorm or the rapid melting of snow. A flood happens
when an area of land, usually low-lying, is covered with water. The worst floods usually occur when a
river overflows its banks. The flood is constituted not only of the overflowing water but also of all other
waters that are unable to drainoff into water channels.
Causes of floods
1) When snow on a mountain melts or when a river or a lake of some sort overflows
2) Flooding from water displacement, such as in a landslide,
3) The failure of a dam,
4) An earthquake induced tsunami,
5) A hurricane’s storm surge or melt water from volcanic activity.
6) Flooding of Coastal areas by high tides or by tsunami waves caused by undersea earthquakes.
7) A flood that rises and falls rapidly with little or no advance warning is called a flash flood. Flash
floods usually result from intence rainfall over a relatively small area.
Elements at risk
1) Buildings built of earth (mud),weak foundation and water soluble material.
2) Basement of buildings.
3) Utilities such as sewerage, water supply.
4) Agricultural equipment and crops, vehicles, fishing boats etc.

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Effects of flood
 Physical damage- structures such as buildings get damaged due to flood water. Landslides can
also take place. Top soil gets washed away.
 Causalities - people and livestock die due to drowning. It can also lead to epidemics and
diseases.
 Water supplies- Contamination of water. Clean drinking water becomes scarce.
 Crops and food supplies- shortage of food crops can be caused due to loss of entire harvest.
Flood management
Flood management involves the following activities:
1) Mapping- of the flood prone area.
2) Land use control- no major development should be permitted in the areas subjected to
flooding.
3) Construction of engineered structures- strong structures to withstand flood forces. Moreover
the buildings should be constructed on an elevated area and if necessary should be build on
stits.
4) Flood control- it aims to reduce flood damage. It includes:
a) Flood reduction
b) Flood diversion
c) Flood proofing

Cyclone: The name cyclone was first coined by Captain Henry Piddington, Chairman of Marine Court,
Calcutta in 1848. It is derived from Greek word means coil of a snake. Cyclone is an meteorological
phenomena in which an area of low pressure characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate counter
clockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere of the earth.
Types of cyclones:
Polar cyclone: A polar cyclone is a low pressure weather system usually spanning 1,000-2000
kilometers per hour, in which the air circulates in a counterclockwise fashion in the northern
hemisphere.
Polar low: A polar low is a small-scale, short-lived atmosphere system (depression) that is found over
the ocean areas in both the Northern and southern hemispheres. Polar lows have been referred to by
many other terms, such as comma cloud, mesocyclone, polar meso scale vortex, Arctic hurricane, Arctic
low and depression.
Extra-tropical: An extra tropical cyclone sometimes inaccurately called a cyclone is a synoptic scale
low pressure weather system that has neither tropical nor polar characteristics. The “extra-tropical”
refers to the fact that this type of cyclone generally occurs outside of the tropics, in the middle latitudes
of the planet. These systems may also be described as “mid-latitude cyclones” or “post-tropical
cyclones.
Sub-tropical: A sub-tropical cyclone is a weather system that has some characteristics of an extra-
tropical cyclone. It can in a wide band of latitude, from the equator to 50°C. ZIYAD is a very dangerous
cyclone now affecting Mauritius.

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Tropical: A tropical cyclone is a low-pressure cyclonic storm system. It is caused by evaporated water
which comes off the ocean and becomes a storm. Typical cyclones are the worst natural hazards in the
tropics. They are large revolving vortices in the atmosphere extending horizontally from 150-1000 km
and vertically from the surface from 12-14 km.

Earthquakes and Mitigation Measures: Earthquake is those movements of the earth crust which make
the ground vibrate and shake backward and forward. The shaking of earth crust proceeds in the form of
waves from the centre of disturbance. Longitudinal waves, transverse waves and surface waves are the 3
types of waves. Earthquake may be caused by two types of forces.
1) Techtonic occurrence: techtonic occurrence like faulting, breaking of rocks, raising or sinking of
layers of the earth, folding of the strata or vapour seeking to escape from the earth.
2) Volcanic activity: violent eruptions and intrusion of igneous magma from below the earth.

Types of earthquake:
Volcanic earthquake: are associated with the flow of hot magma interrupting volcanoes. These happen
to be localized and seldom cause any extensive damage.
Techtonic earthquake: are those which result from structural and justments inside the earth.
Plutonic earthquake: are those which have their origin at greater depths. They may also be generated
in the same manner as the techtonic earthquake far belw the surface of the earth.
Effects of earthquake:
• Collapse of manmade structure like building, bridges, towers etc.
• Roads get affected due to subsidence of the ground and enormous fissures appear on land.
• Extensive landslides in hilly regions and rocky depris come down to block the path of streams.
• When earthquake are accompanied by volcanic activity, the destruction is very enormous.

Mitigation measures:
• Damage to structure can be avoided by prohibiting restriction on such earthquake prone zones.
• Power lines and pipelines can be built with extra slack where they cross such earthquake prone
zones.
• New buildings should be constructed with proper earthquake resistant measures.
• Vulnerable older building located in high risk areas might be rebuilt to withstand anticipated earth
quake.

Land Slides and Mitigation Measures:

Landslides refer to the downward sliding of huge quantities of land masses. Sliding occurs along steep
slopes of hills of mountains. The rate of movement of such a mass is never constant. Landslides occur as
a result of changes on a slope, sudden or gradual, either in its composition, structure, hydrology or
vegetation. The changes can be due to geology, climate, weathering, changing land use and earthquakes.
The causes of landslides may be grouped into two types:
• Inherent or internal causes.
• Immediate causes.

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 Effect of landslides:
 A significant reduction in hazards caused by landslides can be achieved by prevention of the
exposure of population and facilitates by physically controlling the landslides.
 Development programs that involve modification of the topography, exploitation of natural
resources and change in the balance load on the ground should not be permitted.
 Some critical measures that could be undertaken to prevent further landslides are drainage
measures, erosion control measures such bamboo check-dams, terracing, jute and coir netting
and rock control measures such as grass plantation, vegetated dry masonry walls, retaining walls
and, most importantly, preventing deforestation and improving aforestation.

Disasters cannot be totally prevented. However, early warning systems, careful planning and
preparedness on part of the vulnerable community would help in minimizing the loss of life and property
due to these disasters.

Role and Responsibility of Central and state Government:

Ministry of Home Affairs is the nodal Ministry of management of natural disasters (other than drought,
hailstorms and attack of pest which are handled by ministry of Agriculture) on the behalf of the
Government of India. Disaster Management (DM division) perform)on the behalf of the Government of
India. Disaster Management Division (DM division perform the function in the Ministry of Home
Affairs.
The Central and State Governments are jointly responsible for undertaking relief,
rehabilitation , preparation, mitigation and response measures. The basic responsibility for undertaking
these measures in the events of adisaster rests with the concerned State Government.

GLOSSARY:
Abiotic factor: A non-organic variable within the ecosystem, affecting the life of organism. Examples
include temperature, light and soil structure.
Acid rain: Acidic deposition caused principally by the pollutant gases sulphure dioxide (SO2) and the
nitrogen oxides. Sulphure dioxide is formed by the burning of fossil fuels, such as Coal, that contain
high quantities of sulphur, nitrogen oxides are
Contributed from various industrial activities and from car exhaust fumes.
Acid : Compound that in solution in an ionizing solvent gives rise to hydrogen ions(H+).
Afforestation: The process or act of changing land into forest by planting trees, seeding etc. on land
formerly used for something other than forestry. This can obviously be contrasted with deforestation.
Agri. business. Commercial arming on an industrial scale, often finaced by companies whose main
interests lie outside agriculture; for example, multinational corporations. Agribusiness farms are

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mechanized large in size, highly structured, reliant on chemicals and are sometimes described as “food
factories”.
Air pollution: Contamination of the atmosphere caused by the discharge, accidental or deliberate, of a
wide range of toxic air born substances.
Air quality Assessment: A prescribed level of atmospheric pollution allowed for a certain compound
during a specific geographical area. Some regulating body, office or agency sets standard.
Arid region: Arid region is usually defined as one that receive less than 250 mm/10 in . of rainfall each
year.
Atmosphere: The protective envelope of gases that surrounds the earth, prevented from escaping by the
pull of the Earth’s gravity.

Autotroph: Any living organisms that synthesizes organic substances from inorganic molecules by
using light or chemical energy.
Biodegradable: Capable of being broken down by living organisms, principally bacteria and fungi.
Biodiversity: It measure of the variety of the Earths animal, plant and microbial species.
Biosphere: A volume including the lower part of the troposphere and the surface of the earth including
the oceans.
Climate: Determined by the daily weather interactions over many years. Climatologists describe climate
in term of average temperature and precipitation. Characteristics used in determining climate are
temperature, precipitation, humidity, sunshine, cloudiness, wind and air pressure.
Deforestation: The cutting down of forest without planting new trees to replace those lost or allowing
the forest to regenerate itself naturally.
Decomposer: Organism that break down dead matter.
Desert: An arid area without sufficient rainfall and consequently, vegetation to support human life.
Desertification: Creation of deserts by changes in climate or by human-aided processes.
Ecology: Study of the relationship of organisms to each other to the environment in which they live.
Ecosystem: In ecology, an integrated unit consisting of the community of living organisms and the non-
living, or physical environment in a particular area.
Fog : The state in which particles of very small water droplets are in contact or close to the earths
surface.
Fossil fuel: A fuel, such as coal, oil and natural gas formed from the fossilized remains of plants that
lived hundred of millions of years ago.
Greenhouse effect: It is the phenomenon of the Earths atmosphere by which the energy of solar
radiation, absorbed by the ground and reemitted as infrared energy, is prevented from escaping by
various gases in the air.
Greenhouse Gases: Those atmospheric components that absorb strongly in the infrared region of the
spectrum.
Herbivore: Animal whose diet is made up exclusively of plant material? From Latin, herba,
“Vegetation” and vorare,” to swallow”
Mineral: Any inorganic or fossilized organic material having a definite chemical composition and
structure found in a mature state.
Noise: It is a unwanted sound.
Nuclear energy: It is released from the nucleus of the atom.
Nuclear fusion: It is a process whereby two atomic nuclei are fused, with the release of a large amount
of energy.
Ozone: O3 highly reactive pale-blue gas with a penetrating odour. Ozone is an allotrope of Oxygen,
made up of three atoms of oxygen.
Pesticide: Any chemical used to combat pest.

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Photosynthesis: A processes by which green plants, trap light energy and use to drive a series of
chemical reactions, leading to the formation of carbohydrates.

Plastic: Any of the state synthetic material that the fluid at some stage in their manufacture, when they
can be shaped and that later set to rigid or semi-rigid solids.
Pollutant: A contaminant at a concentration high enough to endanger te aquatic environment or the
public health.
Pyramid of number: A diagram that shows how many plants and animals there tare at different levels
in a food chain.
Smog: It is a actual fog containing (un burned carbon, sulphur dioxide) impurities from domestic fires,
industrial furnace certain power stations and internal-combustion engines (petrol or diesel).
Waste: Material that are no longer needed and are discarded.
Water cycle or hydrological cycle: In ecology, the natural circulation of water through the biosphere.
Water is lost from the Earths surface to the atmosphere either by evaporation from the surface of lakes,
rivers, and oceans or through the transpiration of plants. This atmospheric water forms clouds that
condense to deposit moisture on the land and sea as rain or snow. The water that collected on land
flows to the ocean in streams and rivers.
Water: H2O liquid without colour, taste or odour.
Water born disease: Disease associated with poor water supply
.Water pollution: Any addition to fresh or sea water that disrupt biological processes or causes a health
hazard. Common pollutant include nitrate, pesticide, sewage, and though.

TABLE- DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENT RELATED DAYS

SR.NO DATE DAY

2,FEBRUARY WORLD WETLAND DAY
1 8,MARCH INTERNATIONAL WOMEN DAY
2 22,MARCH WORLD FORESTRY DAY
3 22,MARCH WORLD WATER DAY
4 23,MARCH WORLD METEOROLOGICAL DAY
5 7,APRIL WORLD HEALHT DAY
6 9,APRIL INTERANTIONL YOUTH DAY
7 18,APRIL WORLD HERITAGE DAY

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 8 22,APRIL EARTH DAY
9 5,JUNE WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
10 11,JUNE WORLD POPULATION DAY
11 6,AUGUST HIROSHIMA DAY
12 1,SEPTEMBER NATIONAL NUTRITION DAY
13 16, SEPTEMBER WORLD OZONE DAY
14 28, SEPTEMBER GREEN CONSUMER DAY
15 1,OCTOBER- WILD LIFE WEEK
7OCTOBER
16 4,OCTOBER WORLD ANIMAL DAY
17 16,OCTOBER WORLD FOOD DAY
18 17,NOVEMBER WORLD SANITATION DAY
19 1,DECEMBER WORLD AIDS DAY
20 10,DECEMBER HUMAN RIGHT DAY
21 12,DECEMBER WORLD ENERGY DAY
22 14,DECEMBER NATIONAL ENRGY CONSERVATION
DAY
23 29,DECEMBER INTERANATIONAL DAY FOR
BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY

PRACTICAL

FIELD WORK

1. Visit to local area to document environmental assets:

2. Visit to a local polluted site
3. Study of common plants, insect, birds
4. Study of simple ecosystem

1. Visit to local area to document environmental assets:

Guideline for the study of environment assets:

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There are two parts of this study:
1. Documenting what you see.
2. Documenting the findings of what you ask local user groups
There are several key questions that one should attempt to answer in a study of any ecosystem's natural
resources:
1. What are the ecosystem's natural resources?
2. Who uses these and, how?
3. Is the ecosystem degraded? If so, how?
4. How it can be conserved?

You should begin you field study by observing the biotic and a biotic aspects of the ecosystem and
documenting what you see. Ask question to local user groups about their environment .Is their
utilization sustainable? Look for and document signs of degradation. Finally, study aspects that can
lead to its conservation. Describe the ecosystem as you see. Its structural nature, its quality and the
difference one can

PROFORMA FOR FIELD WORKS ON DOCUMENTING ENVIRONMENTAL ASSERS OF

EACH ECOSTEM:
Use the format below as guideline for your field analysis the points provided in the guideline can be
used to fill in the answers to the various issues for each ecosystem:
The field work should be recorded in your journal as:
1. Aims and objectives: To identify and document:
 What are the ecosystem goods and services
 Who uses them and now
 Is the utilization sustainable or unsustainable?
 How can the ecosystem be used sustain ably?
2. Methodology:
a. Observation of the ecosystem.
b. Questing the local people on the use of resources and sustainability.
c .Discussion : Observation on levels of resources use found the field work.
d. Findings: Specific concerns relevant to the study sites sustainable utilization as
Discussed with local people.

3. Result and Conclusion:

2. Visit to local polluted site:

Performa for field work:

1. Aims and objectives: To study the cause and effect of pollution at the site
2. Methodology : Certain key question related to the polluted site are given
below explore the site to answer the questions about the area you have
visited.

What is the site?

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 Rural –agricultural area, polluted water body, polluted industrial area
Urban- solid waste management site polluted industrial area.

What do you observe the polluted site?

Solid waste- garbage dump, polluted water at a rive or lake, gaseous effluent or smoke coming out of
an industry area etc.

Explore the reason for pollution .Observe and document the component in the garbage/ the polluted
water body ? Industrial chimneys.
Observe the area and list the waste that is seen in the garbage dumping site.
categories the waste into the three types:
b. Degradable wastes are those which are easily decomposed by microorganisms. These include
food waste, plant material, animal carcasses, etc.
c. Non-degradable wastes are those which are not easily decomposed. e.g. plastic/ glass.
d. Toxic wastes are those that are poisonous and cause long term effects e.g. several chemicals,
paints, sprays etc.
3. Finding :
What are the effects of the pollutant?
What actions can you take to get the pollution reduced?

3. Study of common plants, insect, birds

Plants:

1. Identify and list common plant species at the study site (at least 20, 10 tree,5
Shrubs, 5 herbs).
2. Identify if there are rare species by using a field guide or asking a botanist.
3. Describe five plant species. Document the characteristics features that help in the identification of the
selected species.
Describe the specific characteristics of the leaves / flowers /fruit/seeds.
Describe the plants role in the ecosystem.
How is it used and by whom?
Is it collected sustainable or over –harvested?
Is it common or rare, why?

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Is it a key stone species? if So, why? .

Animals:

1. Identify and list common animal species at the study site

2. What are the major field identification features of the common animals and birds that you observe?
Document the characteristics feature for each of the ten species and record the following:
a. Role of the species in the ecosystem: What role does the species play in nature –producer,
herbivores, carnivore, decomposer, pollinator, see dispersal agent, pest, etc.
b. The level of abundance at the site –classify as abundant/ common/ rare /very rare
Observe the habit s of each of selected species, such as feeding behavior, nesting (for birds) breeding
,territorial behavior etc.
Is it used by people? For what purpose?
How can it be protected?

Study of dump site:

1. What is the location of the site and where does the garbage comes from?
2. How it is collected, by whom, and with what frequency?
3. How the waste is managed?
4. What are the different types of garbage?
5. What proportion of its is non –degradable and what is degradable?
6. What can we do to reduce the quantity of garbage?

Guideline for a write up on a River ecosystem:

1. Describe the aquatic ecosystem of the bed of the river and terrestrial ecosystem
on the river bank.
2. Describe the characteristics of the bed of the river, the depth of the river and the flow rate in the
different sectors-rapid/ slow/ stagnant.
3. Describe the various habitants of different species of flora and fauna in and around the river.
4. Document what you see in water under microscope.
5. Document how different species use the water and the bank of the river.

Interview some rage pickers:

Prepare a survey sheet and ask them:
1. What is the area covered in a day?
2. How many hours are spent in collecting the waste?
3. What are the types of waste collected?
4. What are the problems faced while collecting waste?
5. What do they prefer to collect and why?
6. What is done with waste collected?
7. If it is sold where?
8. Would it be better to collect waste from homes rather than roadsides bins?
9. Do they feel that segregation of waste would help them?
*********

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 Unit:8
Disaster Nanagement

Introduction
India’s geo-climatic conditions as well as its high degree of socio-economic vulnerability,
Makes it one of the most disaster prone country in the world. A disaster is an extreme disruption
of the functioning of a society that causes widespread human, material, or environmental losses
that exceed the ability of the affected society to cope with its own resources. Disasters are
sometimes classified according to whether they are “natural” disasters, or “human-made” disasters.
For example, disasters caused by floods, droughts, tidal waves and earth tremors are generally
considered “natural disasters.” Disasters caused by chemical or industrial accidents, environmental
pollution, transport accidents and political unrest are classified as “human-made” or “humaninduced”
disasters since they are the direct result of human action.
iiA more modern and social understanding of disasters, however, views this distinction as
artificial since most disasters result from the action or inaction of people and their social and
economic structures. This happens by people living in ways that degrade their environment,
developing and over populating urban centres, or creating and perpetuating social and
economic systems. Communities and population settled in areas susceptible to the impact of
a raging river or the violent tremors of the earth are placed in situations of high vulnerability
because of their socio-economic conditions. This is compounded by every aspect of nature
being subject to seasonal, annual and sudden fluctuations and also due to the unpredictability
of the timing, frequency and magnitude of occurrence of the disasters.
Etymology
The word ‘Disaster’ derives from Middle French desastre1 and that from Old Italian disastro, which
in turn comes from the Greek pejorative prefix δυσ-, (dus-) “bad”+ αστήρ (aster), “star”. The root of
the word disaster2 (“bad star” in Greek and Latin) comes from an astrological theme in which the

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ancients used to refer to the destruction or deconstruction of a star as a disaster.
Definition
1. Disaster is an event or series of events, which gives rise to casualties and damage or loss of
properties, infrastructures, environment, essential services or means of livelihood on such a scale
which is beyond the normal capacity of the affected community to cope with. Disaster is also
sometimes described as a “catastrophic situation in which the normal pattern of life or eco-system
has been disrupted and extra-ordinary emergency interventions are required to save and preserve
lives and or the environment”.
2. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 defines disaster as “a catastrophe, mishap, calamity or
grave occurrence in any area, arising from natural or man made causes, or by accident or negligence
which results in substantial loss of life or human suffering or damage to, and destruction of, property,
or damage to, or degradation of, environment, and is of such a nature or magnitude as to be beyond
the coping capacity of the community of the affected area”.
3. The United Nations defines disaster as “the occurrence of sudden or major misfortune which
disrupts the basic fabric and normal functioning of the society or community”.

Disaster Management in India

.
The High Power Committee on Disaster Management, constituted in 1999, has identified 31
various disasters categorized into five major sub-groups which are given in bellow
Box 1.1: List of various Disasters

i. Water and climate related disasters

a) Floods and drainage management
b) Cyclones
c) Tornadoes and hurricanes
d) Hailstorm
e) Cloud burst
f ) Heat wave and cold wave
g) Snow avalanches
h) Droughts
i) Sea erosion
j) Thunder and lightening
k) Tsunami
ii. Geological related disasters a) Landslides and mudflows
b) Earthquakes
c) Dam failures/ Dam bursts
d) Minor fires
iii. Chemical, industrial and nuclearrelated disasters
a) Chemical and industrial disasters
b) Nuclear disasters
iv. Accident related disasters a) Forest fires
b) Urban fires
c) Mine flooding
d) Oil spills
e) Major building collapse

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f ) Serial bomb blasts
g) Festival related disasters
h) Electrical disasters and fires
i) Air, road and rail accidents
j) Boat capsizing
k) Village fire
v. Biological related disasters a) Biological disasters and epidemics
b) Pest attacks
c) Cattle epidemics
d) Food poisoning
Source: High Powered Committee Report-1999
Note: After 2004, Tsunami has also been included in the list of disasters.

Disasters – Global Scenario4

Disasters - natural or human-made are common throughout the world. Disasters continue
to occur without warning and are perceived to be on an increase in their magnitude, complexity,
frequency and economic impact. Hazards pose threats to people and assume serious proportions
in the under developed countries with dense population. During the second half of the 20th
century, more than 200 worst natural disasters occurred in the different parts of the world
and claimed lives of around 1.4 million people. Losses due to natural disasters are 20 times
greater (as % of GDP) in the developing countries than in industrialized one. Asia tops the list
of casualties due to natural disasters. Figure 1.1 shows the Regional distribution of disasters by
type, as prepared by Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disaster.
There have been several natural, as well as, man-made disasters. Records of natural disasters
can be traced way back to 430 B.C. when the Typhus epidemic was reported in Athens. Ten
deadliest natural disasters recorded in the world are dated back to 1556 when an earthquake in
Shaanxi province of China occurred on 23rd January, 1556 and 8,30,000 casualties were recorded.
List of ten deadliest disasters which have occurred across the world and in India in the known
history and in the last century may be seen from the Tables.

Table :World’s Deadliest Disasters.ame of Event Year Country and Region Fatalities
In the Known History
1. Earthquake 1556 China, Shaanxi 830000
2. Earthquake 1731 China 100,000
3. Cyclone 1737 India, Calcutta 300000
4. Yellow River flood 1887 China 900,000–2,000,000
5. Messina Earthquake 1908 Italy 123000
6. Earthquake 1920 China, Gansu 235000
7. Great Kanto Earthquake 1923 Japan 142,000
8. Great Chinese Famine 1958-1961 China 15,000,000–43,000,000
9. Bhola Cyclone 1970 West Bengal, India & East Pakistan (nowBangladesh)500,000
10. Tangshan Earthquake 1976 China 242,419In the Last Century
1. China Floods, 1931 China 1,000,000–2,500,000
2. Floods 1954 China 40,000
3. Cyclone 1970 Bangladesh, Chittagong,Khulna300,000
4. Bangladesh Cyclone, 1991 Bangladesh 139,000
5. Earthquake 1999 Turkey 17,000
6. Tsunami 2004 Indonesia, Sri Lanka,

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India, Malaysia, Somalia,Bangladesh, Thailand230,210e of Event Year Country and Region
Fatalities
7. Hurricane Katrina 2005 United States of America 1,836
8. Sichuan Earthquake 2008 China 87476 deaths including missing
9. Cyclone Nargis 2008 Myanmar More than 138,000 deaths
10. Haiti Earthquake 2010 Haiti 316,000
Topics 2000, Natural Catastrophes-the current position, Special Millennium Issue, Munich Re Group,
1999
 Centre for Research on Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) EM-DAT, Belgium

Indian Scenario: India due to its geo-climatic and socio-economic condition is prone to
various disasters. During the last thirty years time span the country has been hit by 431 major
disasters resulting into enormous loss to life and property. According to the Prevention Web
statistics, 143039 people were killed and about 150 crore were affected by various disasters in
the country during these three decades. The disasters caused huge loss to property and other
infrastructures costing more than US $ 4800 crore.

Table : India’s Deadliest DisasterslName of Event Year State & Area Fatalities
In the Known History
1. Earthquake 1618 Mumbai, Maharashtra2,000 deaths
2. Bengal Earthquake 1737 Bengal 300, 000 deaths
3. Cyclone 1864 Kolkata, WestBengal60,000 deaths
4. The Great Famine 1876-1878Southern India 58.5 million people affected5.5 million deaths
due to starvation
5. Cyclone 1882 Bombay, Maharashtra100,000 deaths
6. The Indian famine 1896-1897
Whole India 1.25 million to 10 million deaths
7 Earthquake 1934 Bihar 6,000 deaths
8 Bhola Cyclone 1970 West Bengal 500,000 deaths (including Hindu Kush Himalayas and
surrounding areas)
9 Drought 1972 Large part of thecountry200 million people affected
10 Drought 1987 Haryana 300 million people affected
In the Last Century
11 Earthquake 1905 Kangra, HimachalPradesh20,000 deaths
12 Cyclone 1977 Andhra Pradesh 10,000 deathshundreds of thousands homeless
40,000 cattle deaths. Destroyed 40%of India’s food grains.
13 Latur Earthquake 1993 Latur, Marthawada,region of theMaharashtra
7,928 people died and another 30,000were injured.
14 Orissa Super Cyclone 1999 Orissa 10,000 deaths
15 Gujarat Earthquake 2001 Bhuj, Bachau, Anjar,Ahmedabad, and Surat in GujaratState

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 25,000 deaths 6.3 million people affected

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Disaster Management- Terminology
Acceptable risk: The level of potential losses that a society or community considers acceptable given
existing social, economic, political, cultural, technical and environmental conditions.

Capacity: The combination of all the strengths, attributes and resources available within a community,
society or organization that can be used to achieve agreed goals.
Capacity development: The process by which people, organizations and society systematically stimulate
and develop their capacities over time to achieve social and economic goals, including through improvement
of knowledge, skills, systems, and institutions.
Climate change: (a) The Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines climate change as:
“a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g., by using statistical tests) by changes in the
mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or
longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcings, or to persistent
anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use”. (b) The United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) defines climate change as “a change of climate
which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global
atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods”
. Contingency planning: A management process that analyses specific potential events or emerging
situations that might threaten society or the environment and establishes arrangements in advance to enable
timely, effective and appropriate responses to such events and situations.
Coping capacity: The ability of people, organizations and systems, using available skills and resources, to
face and manage adverse conditions, emergencies or disasters.
Critical facilities: The primary physical structures, technical facilities and systems which are socially,
economically or operationally essential to the functioning of a society or community, both in routine
circumstances and in the extreme circumstances of an emergency.
Disaster risk: The potential disaster losses, in lives, health status, livelihoods, assets and services, which
could occur to a particular community or a society over some specified future time period. Disaster risk
management: The systematic process of using administrative directives, organizations, and operational skills
and capacities to implement strategies, policies and improved coping capacities in order to lessen the adverse
impacts of hazards and the possibility of disaster.
Disaster risk reduction: The concept and practice of reducing disaster risks through systematic efforts, to
analyse and manage the causal factors of disasters, including through reduced exposure to hazards, lessened
vulnerability of people and property, wise management of land and the environment, and improved
preparedness for adverse events. Early warning system: The set of capacities needed to generate and
disseminate timely and meaningful warning information to enable individuals, communities and
organizations threatened by a hazard to prepare and to act appropriately and in sufficient time to reduce the
possibility of harm or loss. Emergency management: The organization and management of resources and
responsibilities for addressing all aspects of emergencies, in particular preparedness, response and initial
recovery steps.

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Emergency services: The set of specialized agencies that have specific responsibilities and objectives in
serving and protecting people and property in emergency situations.

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Environmental degradation: The reduction of the capacity of the environment to meet social and
ecological objectives and needs. Environmental impact assessment: Process by which the environmental
consequences of a proposed project or programme are evaluated, undertaken as an integral part of planning
and decision-making processes with a view to limiting or reducing the adverse impacts of the project or
programme. Forecast: Definite statement or statistical estimate of the likely occurrence of a future event or
conditions for a specific area. Hazard: A dangerous phenomenon, substance, human activity or condition
that may cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services,
social and economic disruption, or environmental damage. Mitigation: The lessening or limitation of the
adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. Natural hazard: Natural process or phenomenon that may
cause loss of life, injury or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and
economic disruption, or environmental damage. Preparedness: The knowledge and capacities developed by
governments, professional response and recovery organizations, communities and individuals to effectively
anticipate, respond to, and recover from, the impacts of likely, imminent or current hazard events or
conditions. Prevention: The outright avoidance of adverse impacts of hazards and related disasters. Public
awareness: The extent of common knowledge about disaster risks, the factors that lead to disasters and the
actions that can be taken individually and collectively to reduce exposure and vulnerability to hazards.
Recovery: The restoration, and improvement where appropriate, of facilities, livelihoods and living
conditions of disaster-affected communities, including efforts to reduce disaster risk factors.
Response: The provision of emergency services and public assistance during or immediately

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