Society, government and Environment

SDJ International CollegeVaghela Nayan K

Sustainable development• Meaning: Until two decades ago, the world looked at economic status alone at a

measure of human development. Thus, countries that were economically well-developed and where people were relatively richer were called Advanced countries while the rest where poverty was widespread and were economically backward were called Developing countries.

• By the 1970’s most development specialists began to appreciate the fact that economic growth alone could not bring about a better ay of life for people unless environmental conditions were improved.

• Development strategies in which only economic considerations were used, had begun to suffer from serious environmental problems due to air and water pollution, waste management, deforestation and a variety of other ill effects that seriously affected people’s well being and health.

• The disparity in the life style between the rich and the poor was made worse by unsustainable development strategies.

• Sustainable development is such a pragmatic attempt to resolve the conflict between capitalists and environmentalists or between development and preservation or between man and nature. Sustainable development is defined as a development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to meet their own need.

• It also considers equity between countries and continents , races and classes, gender and ages. It include social development and economic opportunity on one hand and requirement of the environment on the other hand.

• It is based on improving the quality of life for all, especially for poor and deprived within the carrying capacity of the supportive ecosystem.

• It is a process which leads to a better quality of life, while reducing the impact on the environment.

• Development is a process which cannot be stopped and should not be stopped. The qualitative and quantitative development of the human activities with the advent of science and technology have been giving positive benefits of late resource depletion of an ecological degradation are mounting up and an unwanted by product of man’s developments, thereby projecting gloomy prospects of the future of man.

• Principles of Sustainable Development:1. Natural resources should be optimally utilized and maintained.2. To take steps for environmental protection.3. To impellent precautionary measures and principles.4. Pollution creators should pay.

• Objectives of Sustainable Development:1. It should prevent soil erosion.2. It should increase forest cover.3. It should reduce waste generation.4. It should protect our bio diversity.5. It should slow down the population growth.6. It should cut off the emission of CO2, Nox, SOx and CFCs7. It should eliminate poverty and slums.8. It should prove beneficial to all.

Bearing capacity of resources:• The development of the country is solely based on the availability of natural resources. We

know that there are three factors which are considered to be unavoidable for economic development of a country. They are:i. Man power.ii. Natural Resources and iii. Capital

• Generally the unused physical natural gifts which are useful to the humans are called natural resources. Hence the main condition for the prosperity and development of the country is the protection of its natural resources.

• The misuse of the natural resource creates and environmental imbalance which cannot be settled by any means. India is having a huge amount of Natural Resources, but it has not been properly utilized.

• The prominent economist Ragner Nuckers has remarked that ‘India is a prosperous country where the poor reside.’

• For economic development important, fundamental and basic factor is considered to be the natural resources. We have to be cautious on utilizing the natural resources for the economic development in such a way that the quality of the resources remainreserved.

• Conservation of Natural Resources:1. It should be utilized in proper manner.2. We should utilize the natural resources with amalgamation of modern

technology to protect the quality.3. Unnecessary utilization of resources like water and land should be avoided

so that there is less or no environmental degradation.4. Use of natural resources should be made by keeping in view the various

benefits of the country.5. Frequent use of natural resources results in adverse effect on its quality, as if

single type of crop taken from land fro different years may result in decreased soil fertility.

• Problems of development:1. The problem of unemployment has arisen due to mechanization. Being

unemployed a man experiences frustration, psychic tension, and he may become addicted to narcotics.

2. Huge production of luxury items and creation of artificial demand may encourage profiteering and criminalities.

3. Increased use of machines will damage the environmental components like air, water and soil.

4. Man has become the slave to machines.5. Noise pollution has evolved due to increased use of auto-mobiles and use of

loud speakers adds to the problem.6. Every machine which reduces the human effort has higher demand and it

makes use depended and weak.

migration• Meaning: Migration means the process of changing the residential place or it

is the process of changing the residence permanently from own territory to other.• Causes:1. Polluted environment2. Geographical causes3. Social problems4. Religious reasons5. Political reasons6. Industrialization7. Natural causes

Environmental ethics (issues and possible solutions)• Meaning: Environmental ethics deals with issues that are related to how we

utilize and distribute resources. In environmental ethics a person is banned to cut the trees. From this we can say that a person who makes efforts for keeping the environment clean and stainless can only be considered as a person of environmental ethics.• It is quite clear that man misuses and destroys the natural resources and

pollutes the environment more lavishly then any other living organism.• For controlling the environmental pollution we must have some rules and

regulations which are known as rules for Environmental Protection.

• Instructions for controlling environmental pollution:1. Utilizing natural resources with proper understanding and technologies are

to be used with proper ethics so that environment may not get polluted.2. Recycling process should be adopted wherever applicable and possible to

avoid the wastage of raw materials.3. Surveying of environmental impact should be done, based on actions of

human with true experience of the men.4. Protect forest, wild animals and other tamed animals.5. Keep the environment clean by avoiding unnecessary use of air, water and

land.6. Industries should be established at distant place and the greeneries should

be developed in between the industries and residential colonies.

Different laws and legislations related to environment:A. The Environmental (Protection) Act.:• The environmental protection Act, 1986 is not only has important

constitutional implications but also an international background. The spirit of the proclamation adopted by the United Nations Conference on Human Environment, held in Stockholm in June 1972, was implemented by the Government of India creating this Act.• Although there were several existing laws that dealt directly or indirectly with

environmental issues it was necessary to have a general legislation for environmental protection because the existing laws focused on very specific type of pollution, or specific categories of hazardous substances, or were indirectly related to environment through laws that control land use, protect our national parks, sanctuaries and wild life.

• There were no over arching legislation and certain areas of environmental hazard were not covered. There were also gap inm areas that are potential environmental hazard and there were several inadequate links in handling matters of industrial and environmental safety.

• Thus there was a need for an authority to study, plan and implement the long term requirements of environmental safety, and direct and coordinate a system of appropriate response to emergencies threatening the environment.

• This Act was thus passed to protect the environment, as there was a growing concern over the deteriorating state of the environment. As impacts grew considerably environmental protection became a national priority in 1970s. While the wider general legislation to protect our environment is now in place, it has become increasingly evident that our environmental situation is to be protected.

• Public concern and support is crucial for implementing the EPA. This must be supported by an enlightened media, good administrators, highly aware policy makers, informed judiciary and trained technocrats who together can influence and prevent further degradation of our environment. Each of us has a responsiilty to make this happen.

B. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act:

• The government passed this act in 1981 to clean up our air by controlling pollution. It states that sources of air pollution such as industry, vehicles, power plants, etc. are not permitted to release particulate matter, lead, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide or other toxic substances beyond a prescribed level. To ensure this, Pollution Control Boards have been set up by Gujarat to measure pollution levels in the atmosphere and at certain sources by testing the air. the particulate matters and gases that are released by industry and by cars, buses and two wheelers is measured by using air sampling equipment. However the most important aspect is for people them selves to appreciate the danger of air pollution and reduce their own potential as polluters by seeing that their own vehicles or industry they work in reduces level of emissions.

• This act is created to take appropriate steps for the preservation of natural resources of the earth which among other things includes the preservation of high quality air and ensure controlling the level of air pollution. The main objectives of this act are:

1. To provide for the protection, control and abatement of air pollution.2. To provide for the establishment of Central and State Boards with a view to

implement the Act.3. To confer on the boards the power to implement the provisions of the Act

and assign to the Boards functions relating to pollution.Air pollution is more acute in heavily industrialized and urbanized areas, which are also densely populated. The presence of pollution beyond certain limits due to various pollutants discharged through industrial emission is monitored by PCBs set up in every state..

• Powers and functions of the Boards:• Central Board: • To implement legislations created to improve the quality of air and to

prevent and control air pollution in the country.• The board advises the central government on matters concerning the

improvement of air quality and also coordinates activities, provides technical assistance and guidance to state boards and lays down standards for the quality of air.• It collects and disseminates information in respect of matters relating to

pollution and performs function as prescribed in the Act.

• State Pollution Control Board:• State boards have the power to advise the state government on any matter

concerning the prevention and control of air pollution.• They have right to inspect at all reasonable times and control equipment,

industrial plant or manufacturing process and give orders to take necessary steps to control pollution.

• They are expected to inspect air pollution control areas at intervals or whenever necessary.

• They are empowered to provide standards for emissions to be laid down for different industrial plants with regard to quantity and composition of emission of air pollutants into the atmosphere.

• A state board may establish or recognize a laboratory to perform this function.

• Penalties:• The person managing industry are to be penalized if they produce emissions of

air pollutants in excess of the standards laid down by the state board.• The board also makes applications to the court for restraining person causing

air pollution. • Whoever contravenes any of the provision of the Act or any order or direction

issued is punishable with imprisonment of a term which may extend to three months or with affine of Rs. 10000 or both and in case of continuing offence with an additional fine of Rs. 5000 every day.

C. The water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act:

• The government formulated this Act in 1974 to prevent the pollution of water by industrial agricultural and household wastewater that can contaminate our water resources. Wastewater with high level of pollutants that enter wetlands, rivers, lakes, wells as well as the sea are serious health hazards. Controlling the point source by monitoring levels of different pollutants is one way to prevent pollution, by punishing the polluter.• Individuals can also do several things to reduce water pollution such as using

biodegradable chemicals for household use, reducing the use of pesticides in gardens and identifying polluting sources at workplaces and in industrial units where oil or other petroleum products and heavy metals are used.• The main objectives of the Water Act are to provide for protection, control and

abatement of water pollution and the maintenance and restoration of the wholesomeness of the water. It is designed to assess pollution levels and punish polluters. The Central government and The State government have set up PCBs to monitor water pollution.

• Functions of the Pollution Control Boards:• Central Board:• To implement legislations created to improve the quality of water and to

prevent and control air pollution in the country.• The board advises the central government on matters concerning the

improvement of water quality and also coordinates activities, provides technical assistance and guidance to state boards and lays down standards for the quality of water.• It collects and disseminates information in respect of matters relating to

pollution and performs function as prescribed in the Act.

• State Boards:• State boards have the power to advise the state government on any matter

concerning the prevention and control of water pollution.• They have right to inspect at all reasonable times and control equipment,

industrial plant or manufacturing process and give orders to take necessary steps to control pollution.

• They are expected to inspect water pollution control areas at intervals or whenever necessary.• They are empowered to provide standards for emissions to be laid down for

different industrial plants with regard to quantity and composition of emission of water pollutants into the atmosphere.• A state board may establish or recognize a laboratory to perform this

function.

• Penalties:• The person managing industry are to be penalized if they produce emissions

of water pollutants in excess of the standards laid down by the state board.• The board also makes applications to the court for restraining person causing

water pollution. • Whoever contravenes any of the provision of the Act or any order or direction

issued is punishable with imprisonment of a term which may extend to three months or with a fine of Rs. 10000 or both and in case of continuing offence with an additional fine of Rs. 5000 every day.

D. The wild life Protection Act:

• This Act was passed in 1972, deals with the declaration of the National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries and their notification. It establishes the structure of state’s wildlife management and the post designated for Wildlife Management. It provides for setting up Wildlife Advisory Boards. It prohibits hunting of all animals specified in Schedules I to IV of the Act. These are notified in order of their danger of extinction. Plants that are protected are included in schedule VI.• The Amendment in the Wildlife Protection Act in 2002 is more stringent and

prevents the commercial use of resources by local people. It has brought in new concepts such as the Creation of Community Reserves. It has also altered several definitions; as in animals, fish are now included.

• The new Act still have some serious issues concerned with its implementation. Laws are as good as the ones that can be enforced. The Act is expected to deter people from breaking the Law. However there are serious problems due to poaching. One cannot expect to use the Act to reduce this without increasing forest staff, providing weapons, jeeps, radio equipment, etc. to establish a strong force.

• Penalties:• A person who breaks any of the condition of any license permit granted under

this Act shall be guilty of any offence against this Act.• The offence is punishable with imprisonment for a term up to five years with

a fine of Rs. 25000 or both.• An offence committed in relation to any animal specified in schedule I, or part

II of schedule II, like the use of meat of any such animal, or animal articles like a trophy, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term not less than one year and may extend to six years with a fine of Rs. 25000.

Our Role in Environment Protection• Environmental pollution depends on so many factors like:1. Illicit cutting of trees2. Killing of wild animals 3. Lack of Green Belts4. Flow of dirty water from factories5. Congestion of dirty water6. Creation of Noise7. Pilferage of electricity, etc.Only growing trees does not fulfill the purpose of getting protection against the pollution of the environment. For that we have to prevent the ruin caused by the pollutants. Our first and foremost deed is to stop causing pollution to environment.

1. Illicit cutting of Trees:

• Deforestation is the cutting down of the trees of the forest. The cutting down of the trees may be legal or illegal. The illegal cutting of trees is known as illicit cutting of trees or illegal deforestation. The forests on the earth play an important part in maintaining the natural balance.• The cutting of trees results in the loss of fauna, reduction in rainfall, soil erosion,

increase in temperature, etc. so illicit cutting of trees is very much harmful to a nation.• It has been recorded that the forest region is decreasing day by day in India.

Hence, it is desirable that for getting the timber or fuel wood, etc, the trees should be cut by getting the due permissions and not by illicit cutting. The over limit cutting of trees may cause an imbalance in the nature and it will then affect the bio diversity in the long run.

• Disadvantages of illicit cutting of trees are: • It destroys animal habitats, decreases amount of oxygen in atmosphere, destroys

plants that may be cures for diseases• Trees give us oxygen, it will be like cutting off oxygen supply.. The organisms that

live around it will perish.• It ruins the beauty.• It will take away the shelter they provide for birds and other animals• It will ruin life cycles• Less CO2 would be used up by trees = Less oxygen to be produced = Global

warming speeds up = Many animals lose their homes; thus their lives = Our universe will become meaningless eventually• Without trees, there will be flooding as trees can soak up to 1,000 gallons a day.

Without trees, there will be very little to soak up carbon dioxide and cleanse the air. Without trees all species depending on it would become extinct. Without trees, the climate would heat up faster as there will no natural "air-conditioning."• An animal's habit can be lost and the animal may become extinct.

2. Illicit killing of Wild Animals:• All the organisms which are beyond the scope of cultivation and domestication

are considered as wild life. In these type of wild animals some are cruel and violent animals. These animals are also considered to be of importance in keeping the natural balance.• In the modern age, due to the increase in the necessity of human the forests are

ruined. Hence, the wild animals get themselves displaced or migrated to some other convenient suitable sheltered places. It may happen that the new surroundings may not suit them, some of them extinct due to starvation or due to mutual violence between the species.• While some people hunt the animals simply for their marry making or fondness.

This is also the reason for extinction of wild life.• To stop such a huge extinction of wild animals, the government has announced

“Wild life – Protection Act (1972).” further it has also announced a probation on hunting of wild animals. There is also a ban on hunting of female birds and their young ones.

• Due to destruction of forests the life period of animals has been found decreasing due to the inconvenient situation.• For solving these problems, the government has established sanctuaries and

national parks. There are about 89 national parks and 492 sanctuaries in India.• Protection methods of Wild Life:

1. The laws and acts should be thought of, for putting a ban on killing and hunting of wild animals and birds. Further proper vigilance should be kept to follow the law strictly in its true sense.

2. There exists some acts regarding the forest protection. These acts are to be implemented strictly and if there be any miss in act that should be amended immediately.

3. Efforts should be made to spread forest so as to provide sufficient area for free movement of wild animals.

4. Steps are required to be taken to increase the population of wild species which are decreasing at present.

5. More sanctuaries and national parks should be developed.6. A strict prohibition on sale of wild animals and their parts should be laid down.

3. Green Belt:

• A strip of land provided on the periphery of a town for the special purpose of limiting the growth of a town is known as Green Belt. Promotion of free plantation around industrial establishments can also be known as green belt. The land contained in the green belt can be used for agricultural activities and the construction of building in the green belt is strictly prohibited. The Advantages of Green Belt are:

1. Trees are very useful to human. Eg; trees use the carbon dioxide emitted by human in air and give oxygen, owing to which air does not become poisonous.

2. Trees tolerate heat and give shade.3. Flowers and fruits of tree are used for decoration and food.4. Trees provide wood for construction, furniture and doors-windows making.5. Greenery of the trees give coolness to the eyes.6. Some vegetation are useful for medicines.7. Trees hold the land and prevents soil erosion.8. Trees are helpful to conserve minerals in the soil and they provide fertility to the land.

• Following are some of the areas where Green Belts can add to the beauty and can be of great use.

1. Residential Society: it adds to the beauty of the society and also helps in improvement of the health of the people residing in the society. It purifies the air and also prevents noise to entre the society.

2. Villages: trees on the road sides of the village will add to the cool atmosphere of the village and will be a point of rest for the visitors and vendors.

3. Industrial factories: all the pollutants emitted from industrial areas will be stopped by green belt and prevents that impurities to enter residential areas. It also purifies the air and reduces the level of carbon dioxide by absorbing it and emitting oxygen. It also reduces the level of noise by being an obstacle to it.

4. School, College and Offices: Green belt around the school, college and offices will increase the beauty of the place and makes the atmosphere cool. It will provide shadow to the students in break time. Smoke and gases emitted by vehicles are also being stopped by green belt around these places.

4. Effluent Leakage:• In cities the used water as well as dirty water from bath-rooms and latrines is

flowed through drainage lines. In the pipe lines through which this water flows are containing the organic particles and dirty black filth water. This waste water coming out form industrial plants contain toxic metals, oils, suspended solids, phenols, etc.• In a similar way a sewage flows in gutter may contain organic waste, refuge,

waste of living animals, effluents of human beings, dissolved organic compounds, pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This also includes pesticides. All these materials come under the head of domestic waste water.• The combination of industrial waste water and domestic waste water when

collected in municipal sewers is termed as municipal sewage. When such municipal sewage leaks, it affects the health of that town , city or village.• The disease like cholera, typhoid and amoebic dysentery spreads. So it becomes

the duty of the municipality to repair such a leakage with the top most priority. Not only that, but if there is leakage in a private drainage line then it should be get repaired by the industrialist or citizen if any.

5. Pilferage of Electricity:• For the production and supply of electricity a great amount is required to be

incurred by companies or power plants. For meeting the expenses of such establishment of power station and the running expenses the electric company or electricity board collects the amount from the consumer by issuing the consumption bills.• But the consumers play excellent mischief for paying less against their usage of

electricity. In villages where overhead transmission line of electricity passes, some of the people try to connect illegally their wires with the overhead transmission line and take the direct use of electricity for their use.• This is a social and national crime. A part from this there is a chance of getting a

heavy shock. For this type of pilferage there is a provision of fine and imprisonment. In spite of that people do this type of illegal tricks to serve few coins. In cities also, to do the pilferage of electricity they play mischief with meters.

• Further the factory owners sometime provides a facility of electricity at free cost or concessional rate to its workers, staying in the colony. But the workers misuse this electricity:• Keeping lights on for 24 hours,• Keeping fan on unnecessarily,• Using gizers frequently.

• This will also be treated as wastage of electricity.• It is necessary to plan out some programmes to bring awareness amongst the

people of villages and cities explaining them the consequences of such pilferage of electricity. To stop such type of pilferage there must be a provision of heavy punishment.

WATER TREATMENT AND PURIFICATION• Purification plans:

1. Unit operation: the sequence of operations are carried out in unit operation which is as follows:i. Screeningii. Mixingiii. Flocculationiv. Sedimentationv. Floatation andvi. Filtration

2. Unit processing is of two types:i. Chemical unit processingii. Biological unit processing:

a. Aerobic processing andb. Anaerobic processing

Water treatment plants:A. Conventional Water Treatment Plant (River Water Purification):

• The water is fetched from the river or water resource through a broad pipe line by the pumping station.• This water is poured in to a filtration tank-1 in which the pebbles have been kept

at the bottom though which the water is flowed to the filtration tank-2.• Here small pebbles or sand has been kept. The water passed though these sand

and poured to filtration tankl-3.• Water coming out form tank-3 is quite clean but it may have some impurities like

small insects, germs or bacteria.• This water is passed in the tank which contains chlorine, where the small insects,

germs and bacteria are killed.• This water from the chlorinated tank is clean and healthy and can be considered

as drinkable water.• Now this water is collected in the supply tanks and will be supplied at distant

places with the of pipe lines.

B. The dirty Water Treatment Plant:

• The water of houses and industrial units from a city is collected in a sealed tank or in drain or huge broad gutter.

• From this collection of waste water, the water is poured in to a screening chamber. There is an arrangement of direct network for separating solid waste of different volumes.

• The black water from the screening chamber is poured into the grit chamber where the minute sand, pebbles and small pieces of paper are separated and they are removed. Only the black water is flowed through it and at the bottom the black mud remains.

• Now the water is poured to the primary sedimentation tank. In this tank there remains the mud at the bottom from above the water is made to flow to the secondary sedimentation tank.

• The black mud is known as sludge, which is dried and could be used in manufacturing fertilizer.

• If necessary, the water from the secondary sedimentation tank is poured to third tank where ion exchange, reverse osmosis and absorption processes are carried over.

• The remaining water can be now flown or diverted to the river, sea or lack.

Industrial Waste Reduction and Treatment Plants:

• The waste produced by Industries is called Industrial Waste. It can be of different types.• Classification:A. Industrial Processing Waste:

1. Inorganic (Molasses from sugar industry)2. Organic (chemical contents, bleach and thread from textile and dying industry)

B. Chemical Waste:• Waste from chemical manufacturing industries, acidic or alkaline properties of waste

components from metal producing units, etc.

• Reduction of an Industrial Waste:1. By a change in processing and Raw material.2. By modification in the tools and instruments.3. By balancing or making pattern; water should be flowed in to the water with

less speed.4. Recycling the waste to produce other product or by-product.5. Separating the elements by analyzing the waste and reusing it.

• Methods of disposal of industrial risky waste or poisonous waste:1. Minimize waste: waste should be controlled as much as you can. Prepare a

scheme for utilizing the materials by proper modification in the processing so as to get minimum waste.

2. Reduce solubility of the remaining waste: The material can be regained from the waste and we can reuse it in the processing.

3. Analyzing the waste: The poisonous the poisonous elements or waste is to separated and plan a scheme to reuse the waste repeatedly.

4. Other methods:a) To throw away the waste in Sea: b) Disposal in the big pit filled with waterc) Disposal of plastic wasted) Recycling of waste

NOTE: (Refer from Textbook)• Water borne diseases• Air borne diseases• Food contamination/food Adulteration: (polluted food, food articles and

adulteration)• Case studies on Different natural and man made disasters,

environmental awareness programmes, silent valley project, chipko movement.• Global environment summit.

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