GE2021 EVS-UNIT-4
SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Sustainable society:
Human society must learn to control pollution, population size and develop more efficient technologies which
produce little harmful waste as possible and consume fewer natural resources. A Society based on these ideas
is called as sustainable society.
Development:
It means a set of activities initiated by humans to enhance the quality of life. It should be benefit for both
present and future generation.
Sustainable development: It is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability
of future generations to meet their own needs”
True sustainable development aims at optimum use of natural resources with high degree of reusability,
minimum wastages and least generation of toxic byproducts and maximum productivity.
Concept on sustainable development:
1. Less conception of natural resources
2. Preservation of ecological diversity and stability.
3. Recycling and reusing.
4. Controlling population growth by family planning.
Aspects of Sustainable development:
a. Inter-generation equity:
It states : we should hand over a safe, healthy and resourceful environments to our future generations.
b. Intra generation equity:
It states: Technological development of rich countries should support the poor countries.
URBAN PROBLEMS RELATED TO ENERGY
Urbanisation :
The movement of peoples from rural areas to urban areas for the need of economical growth, education,
communication, health, employment, etc.
Urban sprawl:
Spreading of cities into sub-urban or rural areas too is called Urban sprawl.
Energy demanding activities:
The main issues are :
1. How to utilize the energy from non-renewable sources at their maximum efficiency?
2. How to make use of renewable sources of energy or the alternative energy sources?
The energy demanding activities are:
a. Industrial plants using a big proportion of energy
b. Residential and commercial lightings
c. Control and prevention of water air pollution
d. Modern life style using a large number of electrical gadgets in every day life.
Energy conservation:
Economizing on the use of energy without affecting the economic growth and development in any way.
WATER CONSERVATION:
“Water conservation is the careful use and protection of water resources.”
Need for water conservation:
1. Increasing population.
2. Industrial and agricultural activities require more fresh water.
3. Deforestation.
4. Over exploitation of ground water.
5. The contamination of water due to pollution.
Strategies of Water conservation:
1. Sustainable water utilization:
* Minimize domestic water consumption.
* Recycling of waste products.
* Improved irrigation methods.
2. Rain water harvesting:
* Roof top rain water harvesting.
* Revival of traditional water harvesting structures
* Micro and macro catching water harvesting
* Recharging structures for well and bore wells.
3. Maintain the improve quality of water:
*Collection and treatment of waste water effluents.
* Pollution check.
4. Encourage natural regeneration of vegetation and supplementing with artificial regeneration.
5. Awareness building on water conservation.
METHODS OF RAIN WATER HARVESTING
The important methods:
1. Rain water harvesting
2. Water shed management
RAIN WATER HARVESTING:
“Rain water harvesting is defined as a method for inducing, collecting, storing and conserving local
surface runoff for use later on”
Need for Rain water harvesting:
a. To reduce run off
b. To avoid flood
c. To meet the increasing demands of water
d. To reduce ground water contamination
e. To raise the water table
f. To supplement ground water supplies during lean season.
Concept of Rain water harvesting:
It is the collection of rain as it falls on the roof of houses during rain storms and sends it through PVC or
Aluminum pipe to a natural depression or tanks, ponds, recharge pits.
Methods of Rain water harvesting:
a. Percolation Pit:
* The percolation or absorption pit is a small catchment area depth 4 and 8m depending on the nature of soil
and the diameter is up to 25cm.
*The pit is filled with stone and sand, which serves as a sand filter. Asquare or circular collection chamber
with slit arrester is closed at the top.
b. Percolation well:
*These are constructed using cement rings.
* The depth depends on the nature of the soil and the diameter depends on the number of roof top pipes.
* These wells are covered by RCC slabs of suitable thickness.
* T he rain water is diverted to open well using PVC pipes through a filter chamber.
Advantages of Rain water harvesting:
a. Water consumption during summer period.
b. The ground water is recharged and its quality is improved.
c. Rise in ground water level.
d. Surface water quality is also improved due to diversion of rain water induced run-off. Mitigating the effects
of floods, drought and soil erosion.
e. Reduction in the use of current for pumping water.
f. Future generation is assured of water.
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT
WATERSHED:
It is defined as the land water flows or through on its way to a common stream, river, lake, pond or reservoir
under the influence of gravity.
WATERSHED MANAGEMENT:
The management of rain fall and resultant run off is called watershed management.
Advantages of watershed management:
1. Habitat for fish.
2. Food resources for animals and people.
3. Temporary living areas for migratory birds.
4. Drinking water for people and other animals.
5. Assimilation of water pollutants and raise the ground water level.
6. Purification of air.
7. Prevent soil erosion by run-off.
8. Transportation of goods and people.
Factors Affecting Watershed.
a. Development of land eliminates these resources.
b. Overgrazing, deforestation, mining and construction activities.
c. Droughty climates.
d. Natural vegetation surfaces and soils.
Objectives of Watershed:
1. Watersheds are natural system.
2. Watershed management is continuous and needs a multidisciplinary approach.
3. Watershed management frame work supports patterning; using sound science taking well planned actions,
and achieving results.
4. A flexible approach is always needed.
Concept of Watershed:
Three essential zones are:
1. Water body:
Stream, river, pond, lake, estuary or ocean.
2. Riparian:
Non-cultivated, vegetated area between the water body edge and upland area.
3. Upland zones:
*Land around a higher water mark.
*The relationship between proper management and health including soil productivity , flood safety, water
quality and production and wild life habitat protection if crucial.
*Effective watershed management conserves and enhances the resources needs of people and their ecosystem.
Watershed management practices:
Various measures taken up for management include the following:
a. Water harvesting:
Proper storage of water is done with provision for use in dry seasons in low rainfall areas. It also helps in
moderation of floods.
It plays a very important role. They help to prevent soil erosion and retention of moisture.
Eg. In Dehradun, trees like Eucalyptus and grasses grown along with maize or wheat to achieve the above
objectives.
c. Mechanical measures:
Mechanical measures like terracing, bunding, bench terracing, no-till farming, contour cropping, strip
cropping etc; are used to minimize run-off and soil erosion particularly on the slopes of watershed.
d. Public participation:
*People involvement including the farmers and tribal’s is the key to the success of any watershed management
programme, particularly the soil and water conservation.
*The communities are to be motivated for protecting a freshly planted area and maintaining a water harvesting
structure implemented by government or NGO or by involving the local people.
*Successful watershed management has been done at Sukhomajri Panchkula,Haryana through active
participation of the local people.
RESETTLEMENT AND REHABILITATION ISSUES
Resettlement:
It is defined as relocation or displacement or force to move out of their land. This process does not focus on
their future welfare.
Rehabilitation:
*It involves making the system to work again by allowing the systems to function naturally.
*It involves replacing the lost economic assets, employment, provides safe land for building, restore social
services, repair damaged infrastructures etc.
Compensation:
*The displacement of millions of people from their homes to different areas as refugees.
*The affected people are almost vulnerable to losers as their resources and properties but their culture losses
are almost ignored and the compensation has not received.
*Also their customary rights are not properly recognized.
Causes of displacement of people:
1. Due to dams
*India is one of the countries in the world leading in construction of big dams. In the last 50 years more than
20 million people have been directly or indirectly affected by these dams.
Eg.
a. Hirakud dam has replaced more than 20000 people residing in about 250 villages.
b. Bhakra Nangaldam was constructed during 1950’s and till now it has not been possible to rehabilitate even
half of the displaced persons.
2. Due to mining:
• Mining is another development activity, which causes displacement of the native people.
• Several thousands of hectares of land area is covered in mining operation and the native people are
displaced.
Eg. Jharia coal fields
This coal fields have been posing to the local residents due to under ground fires. The people of Jharia are
being asked to vacate the area, but till now there is no alternative land and rehabilitation package prepared.
3. Due to creation of national park:
• *When a forest area is covered by a National Park it is a welcome step for conservation of the natural
resources.
• A major portion of the forest is declared as covered area, where the entry of local dwellers or tribal’s is
prohibited.
• When these villagers are deprived of their ancestral right or access to the forest, they usually retaliate by
starting destructive activities.
Eg. The Wayanad Wild life sanctuary in Kerala has caused displacement of 53,472 tribal families.
Rehabilitation issues:
The major issues are as follows:
a. Tribal’s are usually the most affected amongst the displaced who are already poor. Displacement further
increases their poverty due to loss of land, home, jobs, loss of access to common property assets, increased
morbidity and mortality and social isolation.
b. The tribal’s are not familiar with the market politics and alienated in the modern economic set up.
c. Break up of families is an important social issue arising due to displacement in which the women are the
worst affected and they are not even given cash or land compensation.
d. Loss of identity and loss of the intimate link between the people and the environment is one of the biggest
losses.
e. Marriages, social, and cultural functions, their folk songs, dances and activities vanish with their
displacement.
Resettlement and Rehabilitation programmes
a. Planning and identification of the population that is to be affected and resettled.
b. The extent of damage and suffering that the proposed project would cause should be studied and ascertained
before starting the project.
c. The people should be rehabilitated on minimum dislocation basis by choosing adjacent areas.
d. Community formation and economic development.
e. The extent of rehabilitation should meet the ends of social justice and balance development.
f. Resettlement programme with sustainable development orientation.
ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS:
*Environment ethics is the human duty towards environment. This is the moral relationship between human
and environment.
*Ethically the sustainable society protects the rights of present generation as well as the rights of future
generations.
* Environment provides food, air, water, medicine and other natural resources to human beings.
* It moderates the climate conditions and disintegrates all the waste materials in the soil.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS:
a. Population growth and urbanization.
b. Deforestation and forest fire.
c. Discharge of effluent from industries.
d. Water scarcity due to inadequate rainfall.
e. Land degradation and soil erosion.
f. Over exploitation of natural resources.
Solutions to Environmental problems:
1. Over exploitation of biodiversity and resources must be reduced.
2. Reduction, reduce and reuse of waste products and energy resources.
3. Pollution free disposal of hazardous waste materials.
4. Any environmental impacts of human activities must be assessed by efficient ecologist.
5. Science and technology used to changing life from unbalanced to balanced state.
6. Sustainable development is essential on conservation of resources.
7. Reduce population growth and increase the economic growth of our country.
Ethical guidelines:
1. We should not harm any natural entity that has an intrinsic worth.
2. We should not try to control, modify, manage or interfere with the functioning ecosystem.
3. We should protect the safe, clean and pollution less environment for the future generations.
4. We should utilize the natural resources are in moderate amounts
CLIMATE CHANGE
* Climate change is the average weather conditions mainly temperature and precipitation in an area’s
temperature, precipitation, wind, humidity and other physical conditions over a short period.
* Sun light strikes the earth and heats the earth.
* The heat is then slowly radiated back as infrared radiation into atmosphere and returns to space.
* Naturally occurring carbon dioxide absorbs infrared radiation escaping from the earths surface, thus helping
to maintain the earths temperature.
Even small changes in climatic conditions may disturb agriculture that would lead to migration of animals
including humans.
Causes of Climatic change:
1. The uneven heating of earth’s surface.
2. The rotation of earth on its axis.
3. The property of air, water and land.
4. Combustion of fossil fuels.
5. Presence of green house gases in the atmosphere.
Effects of Climate change:
a. Climatic change may also disturb the migration of birds, animals including humans.
b. Toxic air pollutants are released into the atmosphere caused damage to plants, animals and humans.
c. Climate change may also disturb the migration of birds, animals including humans.
d. The effect of air pollution is global warming through green house effect, acid rain, ozone layer depletion.
GREEN HOUSE EFFECT
• The energy of sun is emitted as heat radiations.
• Some of the IR rays penetrate the earth’s surface and some of the heat radiations are absorbed and retained
by the earth’s surface.
• Some of this absorbed heat is then re-radiated by the heated earth.
• By not letting the solar rays to escape into the outer space, greenhouse gases add to the heat that is already
present on the earth’s surface.
• This result in an increase in temperature and is commonly known as the “Green House Effect”.
• On the global scale this effect is known as “Global Warming”.
DEFINITION:
“The progressive warming up of the earth’s surface due to blanket of man-made carbon di oxide in the
atmosphere”
Major Green House Gases AND THEIR Sources:
Green House
Human Sources
Average Time
Gas
in the Troposphere
(compared to CO2)
Carbon dioxide
Fossil fuel burning
50-120
(CO2)
especially Coal,
years
deforestation and
plant burning
Methane (CH4)
Rice paddies, guts of 12-18
cattle and termites,
years
land fills, coal
production, and
natural gas leaks
from oil and gas
production.
Relative Warming
potential
1
23
Nitrous (N2O)
Chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCS)
HFCS
Carbon
tetrachloride(CCl4)
Fossil fuel burning,
fertilizer, live stock
wastes
Air conditioners
refrigerators, plastic
foams
Air conditioners
refrigerators plastic
foams
Cleaning solvent
114-120 years
296
9-390 years
470-2000
15-390 years
130-12700
42 years
1400
Green house:
Definition:
Due to anthropogenic activities there is an increase in the concentration of the green house gases in the air that
absorbs IR heat and results in the re-radiation of the outgoing thermal infra red energy, thereby increasing the
average surface temperature beyond 15▫ C. This effect is known as green house effect.
The green house gases present in the troposphere are
a. Carbon dioxide
b. Methane
c. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
d. Ozone and
e. Water vapors
Effects of Enhanced green house effect:
The enhanced green house effect will not cause global warming but also affect various other climate and
natural processes.
1. Global temperature increases: It is estimated that the earth’s mean temperature will rises between 1.5 to
5.5◦C by 2050 if input of gases continues to rise at the present rate.
2. Rise in Sea level: With the increase in global temperature sea water will expand. Heating will melt the
polar ice sheets and glaciers resulting in further rise in sea level. The increase in average global sea level by
0.2 to 1.5 meters over the next 50to 100 years.
3. Effects on Agriculture
There are different views regarding the effect of global warming on agriculture. A rise of 2◦C may be quite
harmful to crops. Soil moisture will increase and evapo-transpiration will increase, which may drastically
affect wheat and maize production.
4. Effects on Human beings:
The global warming will lead to changes in the rainfall pattern in many areas, thereby affecting the
distribution of vector-borne diseases like malaria, filariasis, elephantiasis etc.
Global Warming:
The increased amounts of CO2 and other green house gases like water vapour,sulphur dioixide, nitrous oxide
and methane into the atmosphere due to human activities, increase the average global temperature of the
atmosphere. The green house gases in the troposphere can enhance the green house effect on the earth surface
and lead to global warming.
Control measures of global warming:
1. Cut down the current rate use of CFC’s and fossil fuel.
2. Use energy more efficiently.
3. Shift to renewable energy resources.
4. Shift from coal to natural resources. Trap and use methane as a fuel.
5. Plant more trees.
6. Efficiently remove CO2 from smoke stacks.
ACID RAIN or ACID PRECIPITATION
Definition:
Oxides of nitrogen, sulphur, carbon produced by combustion of coal, petroleum etc; and dissolve in
atmospheric water vapor. They form their corresponding acids like nitric acid, sulphuric acid etc; and reach
the earth surface as Acid rain.
Acid rain formation:
1. The presence of sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere under favorable conditions i.e. during
lighting, combine with nascent oxygen to form sulphurtrioxide and nitric oxide.
2. When sufficient moisture is present in the atmosphere, these oxides dissolves in the water droplets to
become nitric acid and sulphuric axid and reach the earth as acid rain through rain water.
Sox+H2O H2SO4
NOx+H2O HNO3
These strong acids like sulphuric acid and nitric acid dissolved or firmed in rain water dissociate or release
hydrogen ions thereby increasing the acidity in rain water.
Effects of acid rain:
1. Effects of acid rain on Human health:
a. Acid rain cause damage to human nervous system, respiratory system and digestive system.
b. Also cause illness and premature death from heart and lung disorder such as asthma and bronchitis.
2. Effect of acid rain on Aquatic organisms
a. As acid rain flow a through the soil in a watershed, aluminium is released in to the soils and leached the
lakes and streams, where pH level decreases and aluminium levels increases may affected fishes and plants.
b. It causes complication in ponds, lakes and rivers, where it accumulates as acid snow. It kills aquatic
organisms like plants and fishes.
c. The activity of bacteria, fungi and other micro organisms is reduced in acidic water. So dead materials are
slowly decomposed and the biomass production is reduced in water.
3. Effect of acid Rain on Terrestrial ecosystem:
a. The effect of acid rain precipitation on terrestrial vegetation reduces growth of plants and increased
sensitivity to drought and diseases.
b. It severely retards the plant growth and reduces crop yields.
c. The deposition of sulphur and nitrogen can affect the competitive abilities of different plants.
4. Effect of acid rain on buildings and Materials:
a. It damages buildings, statues, bridges, monuments, erodes away limestone and marble and penetrates
concrete structures to corrode inside steels.
b. Deposition of acidic particles from acid rain corrodes the metal, destruction of paints and stone.(marble and
lime stone)
5. Effect of acid rain on Lakes and Streams ecosystem:
a. It causes acidity in 75% of the Lakes and 50% of the Streams due to acidic deposition and has content low
pH level
b. Thus the numbers and types of fishes and other aquatic animals and plants that live in this water decreases.
Control of Acid rain:
1. Emission of SO2 and NO2 from industries and power plants should be reduced by using pollution control
equipments like scrubbers.
2. Industries and power plants do not burn fossil fuels.
3. Coal containing less sulphur should be used in industries and power plants
4. Alternative energy of coal, natural gases, powered vehicles, battery powered cars, fuel cells etc; are used.
OZONE LAYER DEPLETION:
• Ozone is a form of oxygen.
• The molecules of oxygen contains two atoms where as that of ozone contains three, O3.
• It occupies through out atmosphere, between 20 to 50 km above the earth’s surface as an ozone layer.
Importance of Ozone layer
1. It prevents the harmful UV radiation from sun to earth and thus protects various lives on the earth.
2. Particularly it filters UV-B radiations,
3. UV-B radiations affect DNA molecules, causing damage to the outer surface of plants and animals.
4. In humans it causes skin cancer and eye diseases.
Formation of Ozone:
1. In the stratosphere ozone is continuously being created by the absorption of ultra violet (UV) radiations.
2. Ultra violet radiations decompose molecular oxygen into atomic oxygen by photolytic decomposition.
O2 + hr 2[O] Nascent oxygen or atomic oxygen.
3. The atomic oxygen rapidly reacts with molecular oxygen to form ozone.
O2 + [O] O3 + Infrared radiation as heat
4. Ozone thus form distributes itself in the stratosphere and absorbs harmful UV radiations and continuosly
being converted back to molecular oxygen.
O2 + hr O2 + [O]
Causes of Ozone layer depletion
1. Chlorine released from CFC’s and Bromine(Br), released from halons, are two important chemicals
associated with ozone depletion.
2. Accumulated CFC’s are virtually indestructible.
3. The halons are primarily used in fire extinguishers and CFC’s are extensively used in air conditioners,
refrigerators and cleaning solvents.
4. Methyl bromide,is used during package of fruits to prevent bacterial action flows out in to the atmosphere
as soon as package is opened. Imported fruits are treated with methyl bromide which causes heavy damage to
the ozone.
OZONE HOLE:
Ozone layer is being destroyed by man made CFC. These are used in coolants in refrigerators and air
conditioners. These slowly pass from troposphere and stratosphere. They stay here for long period of 50 to
100 years. In the presence of ultraviolet radiation from sun, CFC breaks up into Chlorine free radical (Cl●)
which readily consumes ozone. Thus each atom of chlorine liberated attacks ozone molecules further.
CF3Cl3 CF2Cl2 +Cl
Cl● + O3 ClO● +O2
ClO● +O● Cl● +O2
Due to this continuous attack of Cl; thinning of ozone layer takes place, which leads to the formation of ozone
hole.
Environment Impact of ozone Depletion
i. Impact on Climate:
Depletion of ozone layer leads to absorption of UV radiation and hence more UV rays will reach the earth’s
surface. Consequently the temperature will increase. The overall warming of the environment would cause
melting of continental glaciers and ice sheets. It further raises the sea level and submerges coastal lowlands.
Another consequence of ozone layer depletion is increase in the amount of hydrogen peroxide in the
troposphere, which would eventually induce acid rain.
ii. Impact on Human beings:
1. It leads to skin cancer.
2. It also decreases the immunity of human beings and prone to infectious diseases.
3. Further rise in temperature in the already hot and moist equatorial regions would retard physiological
growth and cause further suppression of the mental development of Human beings.
iii. Impact on Biotic communities:
Photosynthesis, water use and yields from plants would be markedly decreased. The heavily fertilized crops
would be more adversely affected due to their exposure to UV radiations and hence plants are damaged.
Protection and Maintenance of the Ozone layer:
The remedial measures of ozone depletion adopted at international level consist of two steps:
i. To reduce ozone depleting chemicals.
ii. To make serious efforts to produce and propagate the use of alternative chemicals which do not deplete
ozone in the stratosphere.
NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS AND HOLOCAUST
Nuclear energy:
Energy released during a nuclear reaction is called nuclear energy. Nuclear reactors produce the nuclear
energy either by nuclear fission or fusion. The nuclear power or energy is safe and clean.
Nuclear accidents:
The most hazards to human and environmental health from the nuclear accident is the release of large amounts
of nuclear energy and radioactive products into the atmosphere.
Type’s of nuclear accidents
1. Nuclear test;
Nuclear explosion is carried in under ground, cause settling down the radio active materials on the earth’s
surface and radioactive particles, radioactive rays into the atmosphere.
2. Nuclear power plant:
The release of radiations occur during the accidents. The nuclear power plant located in the seismic vulnerable
area may cause nuclear accidents.
3. Improper disposal of radioactive waste:
It is the another source of accidents. Drums stored underground can rust and leak radioactive materials into
water, land air.
4. Accident during transport:
Trucks carrying radioactive wastes or fuels are involved in frequent accidents.
5. Core melt down:
The major accidents at a nuclear power plant is a core melt down.
Effect of Nuclear radiations:
1. Radiations may cause breaking of chemical bonds such as DNA in cells. This effect may be instantaneous,
prolonged or delayed types. It may be even carried to future generations.
2. Exposure at low dose of radiations, people do not die, but begin to suffer from fatigue, vomiting and hair
loss.
3. Exposure at high dose of radiation affect bone marrow, blood cells, natural resistance and blood to fail clot.
4. Exposure at very high dose of radiation kills the organisms by damaging the tissues of heart and brain.
NUCLEAR HOLOCAUST:
It means destruction of biodiversity by nuclear equipments and nuclear bombs. In a holocaust, a large number
of living beings are totally destroyed. Usually, this kind of destructions is happened in a nuclear war.
Effect of Nuclear Holocaust
1. Nuclear winter
Nuclear bombardments will cause combustion of wood, plastics, petroleum, forest etc; Large quantity of black
shoot will be carried to the stratosphere.
Black shoot will absorb UV radiations and will not allow the radiations to reach the earth. Therefore cooling
will result Due to this cooling effect water evaporation will also reduce. In the stratosphere there would not be
significant moisture to rain out the thick shoot. Thus due to nuclear explosion, a process known as opposite to
global warming will takes place. This is called as nuclear winter.
Effects of Nuclear winter
a. Lowers the global temperature, even in summer temperature will be around freezing temperature.
b. Crop productivity will be reduced causing famines and human sufferings.
3. It ignites all combustible material, destroy all the living beings, material crushing, destruction of homes.
Eg of Nuclear Holocaust:
i. Nuclear war
Japan and Hiroshima are best egs of nuclear holocaust, which happened at II world war.
ii. At Chernobyl:
When the operators lost the control of a water cooled graphite moderated reactor during a low power tests at
Chernobyl in Ukraine, the reactor exploded.
Control Measures:
1. Suitable precautions are to be taken and training must be given to people for handling these materials to
avoid accident.
2. Constant monitoring of the radiation level has to be carried out, limit exposure to the workers.
3. Regular checks and control measures are done by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board under the Department
of Atomic Energy.
CASE STUDIES
1. Uranium reprocessing in Japan
Nuclear accidents takes place at a Uranium reprocessing facility in Tokaimura, Ibaraki prefecture, Tokyo,
Japan on September 30,1999. When the workers packed excess amount of uranium in uranyl nitrate
solution, the tank was not to dissolve this type of solution . Due to high capacity of filling, high pressure
was developed and the tank exploded.
3. Chernobyl Nuclear disaster:
Chernobyl is a small area in the Ukraine of Soviet Union. The explosion took place on April 26.1986. The
human error caused the unmanageable fire and explosion in the reactor due to failure of cooling system in
the light water graphite reactor.
In this accident more than 80,000 people died, 3.5 million people were affected by abnormalities, thyroid
disorders, bone necrosis, skin cancer, pigment discoloration eye disease and others. Nearly 1,50,000
people were evacuated to a safe place at a distance 30 km from the Chernobyl.
WASTE LAND RECLAMATION:
Introduction:
The land which is incapable of rising crops or poor economic value is called waste land. Waste land is
unproductive, unfit for cultivation and grazing.
About 20% of the geographical area of India is waste land. Every year 10 million hectares is reduced to desert
and 4 million hectare land is reduced to Zero agricultural productivity. The main significance of waste land is
the ecological imbalance of an ecosystem of the given area.
Types of waste land:
It can be divided into two types:
1. Uncultivable Land
2. Cultivable Land
1. Uncultivable Land
These lands are not suitable for cultivation, grazing, settlements and infrastructure development.
Examples
Barren lands, hill slopes, stony or gully land, deserts, etc.
2. Cultivable Land
These lands are used for cultivation, grazing and other agricultural purposes.
Examples
Degraded forest lands, water logged lands, saline lands, gilled lands, etc.
Causes of Waste land formation:
1. Soil erosion, deforestation, overgrazing, water logging and salinity.
2. Improper maintained land and over exploitation of natural resources.
3. Development activities like construction of dams and power projects.
4. Mining activities destroy the forest and cultivable lands.
5. Increasing demand for fuel, wood, food and fodder causes degradation of soil productivity.
Objectives of Waste land:
1. Increasing population and cattle in India will increase the demand for food, Land, shelter and other
resources.
2. To prevent soil erosion, landslides, flooding and drought.
3. To avoid over exploitation of natural resources.
4. To conserve the biological resources and natural ecosystem.
Methods of Waste Land reclamation:
1. Land development and Leaching:
For reclamation of salt affected soil , it is necessary to remove the salts, which is usually achieved
by leaching. It can be done by applying excess amount of water. The salt affected field is bundled in small
plots and leaching is done. In continuous leaching, 0.5 to 1.0 cm water is required to remove 90% of
soluble salts.
2. Drainage
This is requires for water logged soil reclamation where excess water is removed by artificial
drainage.
3. Irrigation practices
Surface irrigation with precise land leveling, smoothening and efficient hydraulic design help to
reduce water logging and salinity. Thin and frequent irrigation have been found to be more useful for
better crop yield.
4. Gypsum amendment
Amendment of soldic soils with gypsum is recommended for reducing soil solidity as calcium of
gypsum replaces sodium from the exchangeable sites.
5. Green- manures, fertilizers and bio fertilizers
Application of farm yard manure or nitrogen fertilizers has been found to improve saline soils. Blue
green algae have been found to be quite promising as bio fertilizers for improving salt affected soils.
6. Social forestry Programme
These programmes mostly involve strip plantation on road, rail and canal sides, rehabilitation of
degraded forest lands from forestry, waste land forest development etc.
CONSUMERISM AND WASTE PRODUCTS
Consumerism:
“Consumerism refers to the consumption of resources by the people”.
It is an organized movement of people and government.
It is related to both increase in population size as well as increase in our demand due to change in life style.
Two types of conditions population and consumerism exist.
1. People over-population
a. Excessive population pressure causes degradation of the limited source and there iks absolute poverty,
under nourishment and premature deaths.
b. This occurs in less developed countries (LDCs).
c. Here due to large population, adequate resources are not available for all.
d. So there is less capita consumption although overall consumption is high.
2. Consumption over population
This occurs in more developed countries (MDCs).Here population size is smaller, while resources are in
abundance and due to luxurious life style, per capita consumption of resources is very high. More the
consumption of resources more will is the waste generation and greater is the degradation of the environment.
In LDCs – number of people is very high, but per capita use of resources and waste generation are less.
In MDCs – number of people is low, but per capita use of resources and waste generation are very high.
Objectives of Consumerism
1. It improves the rights and powers of both sellers and buyers.
2. It maintains the good relationship between sellers and buyers.
3. Manufacturing products may reuse and recycle after usage.
4. Manufacturing products should be easily degradable and not cause any pollution.
5. Manufacturer should be liable for the entire life cycle of a product.
6. Active consumerism improves human health and happiness and also it saves resources.
WASTE PRODUCTS
Sources:
Agriculture, mining, industrial and municipal waste
Plastic have taken vital role when compared to other waste materials. Because plastics are neither
biodegradable nor burned easily. The main problem in urban areas is the solid waste containing 20 to 30%
plastics and polythene.
Effect of plastics and polythene wastes
1. It creates unaesthetic appearance in public places residential colonies and tourist spots.
2. Polythene bags are easily lifted by winds because of light weight and may reach open drains which causes
bocking of sewer lines
3. They are non-biodegradable, if dumped in landfills; they stay for long time causing impaired biochemical
reaction.
4. The consumption of polythene bags by stray goats, sheeps and cows causes chocking in the throat and
stomach which leads to death.
5.A part from plastics and polythenes, there are different materials like paper, cardboard, metal can, tin
products and others which used as packaging materials.
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION AND LAW
The “Environmental Protection Act” was established in the year 1980 for the production and improvement of
environment and for the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution.
Objectives
1. Protection and improvement of environment(air, water and land)
2. Prevention of hazards to all living creatures (humans, plants and animals).
3. Maintenance of harmonious relationship between human beings and their environment.
Important protection Act
1. The Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) Act 1974.
2. The Air (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act, 1981.
3. Wild life protection Act,1972.
4. The Forest (conservation) Act, 1986.
5. The Environment (protection) Act, 1986.
6. The Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
AIR (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT
It established in the year 1981.
The objectives of the acts are:
i. Prevention and control of air pollution.
ii. Maintaining the quality of air.
iii. Establishment of Board for the prevention and control of air pollution.
Following are powers and functions of boards.
1. Power to declare air pollution control area.
2. Power to establish standards for emission of air pollutants from automobiles.
3. Power to restrict use of industrial plants.
4. Power of entry and inspection.
5. Power to take samples.
6. Penalties for violations of the provisions of the act.
WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT
It was established in the year 1974.
The main objectives are :
i. Prevention and control of water pollution.
ii. Maintaining and restoring wholesomeness of water.
iii. Establishment of boards of the prevention and control of water pollution.
Powers of the State Government are :
a. Power to obtain information.
b. Power to take samples.
c. Power of prohibition on disposal of polluting matter into a stream or well.
d. Consent of State Board.
e. Penalties for violation of the provision of the act.
Functions of Central Board under section 165-4
1. To promote cleanliness of streams and wells in different areas of the State.
2. To advise the Central Government on matters concerning the prevention and control of water pollution.
3. To produce Technical assistants and guidance to the State Board to carry out research in prevention and
control of water pollution.
4. To organize training of people engaged in pollution control.
5. To lay down standards for stream or wells.
6. To prepare manuals, codes or guides for treatment and disposal of sewage and industrial effluents.
7. To establish or organize laboratories for analysis of water sample from any streams, wells or trade effluent.
The state pollution control board also has similar functions to be executed at state level and is governed by the
directions of CPCB.
WILD LFE PROTECTION ACT
• The wild life act was enacted on 9th September in the year 1972 to protect animals and birds.
• It established the regulation of possession, acquisition, and trade in wild animals and animal products.
• Te act also provides for constituition of a wild life advisory board to advise the State Government in
selection of areas to be declared as sanctuaries and National parks, in formulation of the policies for protection
and conservation of wild life and in any other matter related to the wildlife.
• It imposes restrictions on hunting of wild animals. Packing, uprooting, acquiring and collecting specified
plants are prohibited from any forest land.
FOREST CONSERVATION ACT
• With a view to check further deforestation, on 27th December 1980, Forest (conservation ) Act was enacted.
• It provides for the conservation of forest and imposes restrictions on the deservations of reserved forest and
use of forest land for non forest purpose.
• Compensatory a forestation is required in case of where diversion of forest land is permitted.
ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT
This act is enacted for the safe disposal of waste by the industries and obligates industries to submit
“Environment Report” for every year. By this act the government has power to close down any firm which
violates environmental quality.
The main aim of this act is:
• To provide protection and improvement of environment.
• To provide for the regulation of discharge of environmental pollutants and handling of hazardous substance.
• To provide for the creation of an authority or authorities, this is provided with powers to protect
environment.
• To provide for speedy response in the event of accidents threatening environment and deterrent punishment
to those who endanger human environment, safety and health.
ISSUES INVOLVED IN ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
Following are the issues:
 Even in developed countries, subsidized and mandated pollution control equipment has often been
ineffective.
 Subsidized charges for energy water, pesticides and fertilizer contribute to pollution problems.
 Abatement will be cheap if polluters face an emission tax, because only polluters with low abatement
cost will choose to reduce emissions, while those with higher costs will prefer to pay the charge.
 In addition, there are some “indirect instruments”- those that are not directly related to emissions but
create pollution unintentionally. Public finance policies, through their impact on relative prices, will
often have a impact on pollution.
 In the real world, monitoring each pollution is often costly or impossible, and thus it might be more
effective to use selective taxes or regulations to stimulate pollution control indirectly.
 Most regulatory agencies lack the personnel and other resources to inspect and monitor all emission
controls within their jurisdictions.
PUBLIC AWARENESS:
Awareness regarding the state of environment is a must for each and every person living on this plant. Twenty
years before, the term ecology and environment is new to the people.
Mass media used for environmental awareness:
1. Radio:
Most communication media to the public is the radio talk.It has the advantages of quick and easy
dissemination.
2. Television and Cable network:
Now a days all the TV sets are connected with cable network, hence, the government can insist all the network
channels to show cartoons or documentaries on environment aspects supplied by the relevant government
agencies.
3. Cinema:
The film finance corporation and the government should support and encourage production of these types of
films.
4. Newspaper:
The conclusions, recommendations and written articles of environmental related seminars/conferences should
be published in the newspaper and periodicals.
5. Services of voluntary organizations:
The services of the voluntary bodies like rotary club, Rotract club, NSS, NCC and for spreading the
environmental studies.
6. Environmental awareness in schools & colleges:
The environmental aspects should be taught in the schools and colleges to create environmental awareness.
7. Mobile Exhibition Awareness centre:
Exhibits mounted on wheels should be continuously and periodically tour around the rural areas.
8. Environmental Functions:
In order to rouse environmental consciousness amongst the people, every village/town should be entrusted
with the task of organizing “keep the village / city clean week”.
9. Leader’s appeal:
Political and community leaders as well as popular social reformers can make an appeal to the public about the
urgency of environmental protection. This appeal should be communicated to the people properly by means of
radio, television, paper, notices, etc.
10. Communicators:
To create environmental awareness, the announcement through vehicles may be arranged in all public places.
The announcement regarding environmental aspects should be simple and attractive.
11. Mass tree plantation programme are also carried out through many government functions to encourage a
forestation activities.