INTRODUCTION: The word ENVIRONMENT means surrounding.

We are an integral part of the surrounding; using and influencing it all the time. For our benefit and in our interest it is important that we recognize and respect the limits set by environment for its use. For more reasons than one, most often, these limits are exceeded; resulting in the degradation of the environment .we ought to remember that such a situation if outstretched can challenge our very existence in the environment. We have to be careful, because the environment does not have an infinite capacity to recycle itself.

DEFINITION: The environment is defined in several ways. Environment is our surrounding. Environment is the totality of all externalities that affect human life. Environment is the sum total of external conditions within which an object, organism or community exists.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT:

A term encompassing environmental planning, protection, monitoring, assessment, research, education, conservation and sustainable use of resources, is now accepted as a major guiding factor for national development in India. From the early seventies, India has played a significant role at international forums in delineating and articulating the relevance of environmental concerns in the context of economic development. There has been, over the last decade, a progressive strengthening of official involvement in environmental management in India, with increased

scientific, technical, administrative and legislative backup at the Central and State levels. With the realization that poverty and the state of underdevelopment led to many of the environmental problems that confronted the nation, came the understanding that it was more rapid development which was the best approach. This development has to benefit people. by providing for their basic human needs and rising aspirations... However, another class of environmental problems has arisen as unintended side-effects of the very attempts at development. These had to do with the mismanagement of natural resources, large-scale deforestation, the unplanned discharge of residues and wastes, the handling of toxic chemicals, indiscriminate construction and expansion of settlement activities, etc.

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY : 'India is fortunate in the richness of its natural resources..... The abundance and diversity of its living resources. Adequately managed, these and other resources can meet high levels of material needs, now and for all times to come. The degree to which a nation can prosper depends on its productivity, which is the efficiency with which it is able to utilize the resources of the environment to satisfy human needs and expectations. If the gains in productivity are to be sustained, resources must also continue to be available over time. This requires that, while providing for current needs, the resources base be managed so as to enable sustainable development'. With the realization that poverty and the state of underdevelopment led to many of the environmental problems that confronted the nation, came the

understanding that it was more rapid development which was the best approach. This development has to benefit people. by providing for their basic human needs and rising aspirations... However, another class of environmental problems has arisen as unintended side-effects of the very attempts at development. These had to do with the mismanagement of natural resources, large-scale deforestation, the unplanned discharge of residues and wastes, the handling of toxic chemicals, indiscriminate construction and expansion of settlement activities, etc.

Environmental Planning:

Environmental considerations in the planning process and in the implementation of national development strategies must be based on an understanding of the following issues and responsibilities:

The environment with its component of living and nonliving resources represents the most fundamental building blocks for national development and social well being. The environment today is under severe threat from the pressure generated by growth of human and animal populations, poverty and the misuse/ unplanned use of natural resources. Stabilization of human and livestock population is as crucial for environmental management as it is for achieving other plan objectives. While many of the country's environmental ills could be corrected by rapid economic growth with social justice, utmost care must be exercised to ensure that development activities which bring about such changes are designed so as not to lead to adverse environmental effects. The nation's planning for economic growth and social well-being in each sector

must always take note of the need to protect environmental resources, and where possible, must work to secure improvement in environmental quality. Therefore, the primary responsibility for environmental protection must rest with each sectoral authority. Development agency which would have to develop formal mechanisms to take account of environmental concerns in policies, plans, programmes, projects and legislations that come under their purview. Environmental considerations should form an important element in the criteria for setting developmental targets and assessing plan performance in all sectors. Environmental management must be integral to all development activities. The Department of Environment at the Centre, and its counterparts at the State level would essentially serve as catalysts to promote environmentally sound national development, through provision of management information, technical expertise, monitoring, research and administrative support and, wherever possible, limited financial assistance. The prime responsibility with regard to the environment would rest with the various implementing authorities for development programmes and with the community. For this, environmental education and awareness building is crucial. Environmental planning/protection/improvement requires a coordinated, highly decentralized approach involving the cooperation and active participation of every segment of society, and most importantly of the political leadership.

Basic Policies Relating to Aspects of

Implementation: The experience with environmental management so far emphasizes two facts. First, that environmental issues and problems arise in virtually every sector c the economy, and

at every level of society. Second, the sustainable solutions for problems that manifest those selves in one sector may not apply in other sectors Environmental issues have no administrative, socio cultural or political boundaries. Therefore, the initiative; for tackling environmental issues must emerge from official as well as non-official agencies and individuals operating at different levels. Success in achieving environmentally sound development will depend greatly or the extent of co-operation that can be achieved between Governments. Its subsidiary agencies, voluntary groups, financial institutions, corporate groups in the public and private sectors, educational and research bodies, professional societies, religious and cultural institutions, etc. Environmental authorities such as the Department of Environment will deal with those subject areas for which they have been assigned direct managerial responsibility, e.g., pollution monitoring and control, environmental research and development, etc. The direct goals relating to the subject of environment as a whole would be:

Institutionalizing the process of integrating environmental management and development. Inducing organizations at the Central, State and local levels to incorporate environmental safeguards in their plans and programmes. Securing greater public participation in environmental Establishing a strong S&T base for environmental research and development, demonstration and extension activities. Strengthening mechanisms for ensuring corrective action with regard to environmental degradation that has already taken place.

Pollution Monitoring and Control:

Environmental pollution is a serious and growing hazard in India. Its impact on human health and well being is both

direct, (e.g., inhalation of polluted air and intake of contaminated water), or indirect, by its impact on the health of environmental resources (loss of soil fertility, corrosion of structures, death of aquatic life, etc.). Waterborne pollution, from both community and industrial sources, is probably the most important health hazard in India. A large part of the population has to depend upon untreated or inadequately treated water supplies. In the sector of industrial pollution, while the medium and large industries can be induced to enforce pollution control, the problem becomes almost intractable for the vast numbers of small industries that have proliferated unplanned in many parts of the country. Pollution in the costal zone, resulting in the destruction of valuable living natural and marine resources, and spoiling of tourist attractions like beaches is now attracting growing attention. The availability of modern, well equipped laboratories is essential for executing pollution monitoring and control programmes that include regulatory functions. These will be developed both at the Central and State levels. A special programme is to be initiated for Control of Hazardous Substances (chemical and microbial) used in the country or imported for various purposes (i.e., for agriculture, industry, etc.). The objective is to bring out comprehensive legislation on hazardous materials. It is proposed to create a suitable structure to work out management plans for regulating the safe disposal of these materials to minimize adverse environmental consequences. This will also involve the development of codes for handling, packaging, shipping and disposal of toxic materials and creating awareness on these issues. A major programme on Prevention of Pollution of Ganga would be undertaken as an S&T mission in the Seventh Plan. A central Ganga Authority has been set up under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister. Data regarding trends in environmental quality would emerge from the monitoring of selected indicators such as extent of forest cover, extent of

wasteland, rate of desertification, rate of change in population of endangered species, number of municipalities adequately treating effluents, pesticide residues in water bodies, incidence of acid rain, destruction of fertile land through urbanization, etc.

Natural Living Resources Conservation:

There has been lack of adequate inputs of S&T in the natural living resources conservation programmes. This weakness will now be sought to be rectified through reorientation and strengthening of the work of the Botanical and Zoological Surveys of India (BSI, ZSI), and through the Man and Biosphere Research Programme, with particular emphasis on ecosystems approach. Traditionally, BSI and ZSI have been concerned with higher forms of life. Lower plants and animals, including micro-organisms (bacteria and fungi), though very important in ecosystem considerations, have not received due attention. In the Seventh Plan, work would be initiated in these gap areas. Apart from taxonomic investigations and publication of Flora and Fauna of India, BSI and ZSI will take up joint programmes for Survey of Living Resources and Ecological Mapping in collaboration with NRSA and related agencies. Intensive studies will be undertaken for ecosystem analysis of Conservation Areas like Tiger Reserves, Biosphere Reserves, National Parks and selected sanctuaries, for their actual biological content which needs to be conserved.

Eco-development:

Most of the programmes for environmental management deal with pre-planning for eliminating or at least minimizing environmental degradation. One of the major objectives of the Eco-development practical field schemes such as land reclamation, afforestation, cleaning of water bodies, etc.

To accelerate the process of repairing the damage already done and to illustrate successful tools, techniques and methodologies for environmental protection and field action, programmes would be taken up in some selected areas as demonstration projects, namely:

Mined Area Reclamation; Demonstration projects incorporating such aspects as creation of green belts and grazing lands, cleaning of water bodies and treatment of water, recycling of wastes especially human waste for biogas generation and optimal traffic and land use planning, etc. Rehabilitating Fragile Eco-systems; Watershed Management projects would also be taken up, especially in the Himalayas, to demonstrate the feasibility of technology and management packages for rehabilitation of degraded and fragile watersheds, etc.

For restoration of degraded eco-systems and greening of barren parts, massive public participation, and particularly the mobilization of students, volunteers, ex-servicemen and such others would be required. It is proposed to integrate the efforts in these projects with other on-going projects of similar nature such as social and farm forestry, rural road construction, integrated rural development, etc. Specific multidisciplinary and multi-institutional projects will be carried out on:

Technology and management systems for combating floristic. Rural fuel use and their impact on health. Biological monitoring of heavy metals. Effects of air pollutants on plants. Tissue culture and seed biology as a conservation strategy. Biotechnology for waste management. Coastal area pollution. Development of low-cost instrumentation for environmental quality monitoring.

Ethno biology.

Technology and management systems for combating floristic. Rural fuel use and their impact on health. Biological monitoring of heavy metals. Effects of air pollutants on plants. Tissue culture and seed biology as a conservation strategy. Biotechnology for waste management. Coastal area pollution. Development of low-cost instrumentation for environmental quality monitoring. Ethno biology. Awareness:

Environmental Education, Training and

Or creating and intensifying environmental awareness at all levels of Indian society, both formal and non-formal educational channels will have to be utilized. The basic thrust of the programme would encompass the following objectives:

Incorporation of environmental themes in educational curricula and teaching aids/materials in the formal environmental education sector. Encouraging non-governmental organizations, mass media and concerned organizations to promote nonformal education. Providing aid to professional societies and institutions for environmental education activities. Developing the National Museum of Natural History and establishing Regional (Satellite) Museums. Feasibility studies for establishing a National Institute for Environmental Management.

Promoting the setting up of Interpretive Centers in national parks, botanical gardens, zoos and biosphere reserves. Promoting manpower development and generating literature and audio-visual material for environmental education. Establishing Centers of Excellence in Environmental Education and Research.

Environmental Information:

For environmental management, the availability of accurate and relevant environmental information is a crucial prerequisite. Modern data storage and retrieval systems form important components of a scientifically managed environmental data base. A major programme for publication of environmental status reports, research and policy papers and journals/newsletters for widespread dissemination is envisaged.
Environmental Policy and Law:

Environment related legislation enacted in the past in India is in need of systematic review and updating/amending. It is therefore proposed to establish a mechanism for continuous review of national environmental legislation and support the study of India's role in international environmental conventions. Preliminary work has been completed for the preparation of a National Conservation Strategy; this would be finalized after consultation with concerned Central and State authorities, public and private sector corporate groups, nongovernmental organizations, academic and research bodies, etc.

 Financial Outlays:

The proposed outlays are given in Annexure.

Anticipated Expenditure for the Sixth Five Year Plan and Outlay for the Seventh Five Year Plan for the Sector of Environment and Ecology. (Rs. crores)

Sixth Five Year Plan SECTOR

seventh Five Year Plan 1985-90 outlay

1980-85 Total Centre Stat UTs Anticipated e expenditure 2 3 4 5 6 427.9 350.0 75.7 2.2 1 0* 1 0

Environment and 40.05 Ecology/Prevention and Control of Air and Water Pollution and Ganga Action Plan.

Trends in population growth and environmental degradation: The issues of population, environment and development should be treated not as separate sets of issues, but as three interactive factors. Considerable debate has taken place in recent years on the complex issue of the environmental implications of population change. The rapid population growth, which affects patterns of production and consumption, is a principal source of pressure on the environment especially in a developing country like India. The environment has to sustain not only the basic human needs for survival, but also the conversion of raw materials into products and services India is the second largest populous country of the world, with its current population figures standing at 954 million (Bulatao, 1992-93). Of this, 276 million people reside in urban areas implying urbanization level of 28.9%. The urbanization levels of the country have been increasing consistently since 1971. Almost 20 % of the country's

population lived in the urban areas in 1971, while in 1991 the figure had risen to approximately 26%. Most of this urban population is concentrated in the Class I cities (cities with a population of 100,000 and above). According to the 1991 census, Class I cities contained 140 million people and accounted for 65 percent of the total urban population.

A more disaggregated level of analysis can be done using the million plus cities (cities with a population of 1 million and above), called metropolitan cities. The number of such cities increased from 12 in 1981 to 23 in 1991. The total population in these metros accounts for nearly one-third of total urban population. Over 50% of the population of these metros lives in the five giant conglomerates- Mumbai (12.57 million), Calcutta (10.92 million), Delhi (8.38 million), Chennai (5.36 million) and Bangalore (4.09 million) (TEDDY 1996/97). The 23 million plus cities have been marked in a map (1.1) of India, showing state boundaries. This has been attached in the report so as to give a clear understanding to a reader unfamiliar with the terrain of the country. CONCLUSION: There has been an increasing awareness in recent years that protection of the environment is necessary for sustaining the economic and social progress of a country. This awareness was reflected at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992, where more than a hundred heads of government

adopted a global action plan called Agenda 21 aimed at integrating environmental imperatives with developmental aspirations and reiterated through the U.N. General Assembly Special Session on Environment held in June 1997. It is now accepted that, in terms of natural resources, a country's demand for its sustenance should not exceed its carrying capacity. Over the last few decades, India has evolved legislations, policies and programmes for environmental protection and conservation of natural resources. The Indian Government's policy has been expressed in the form of statements on forestry, on the abatement of pollution, the national conservation strategy and the policy statement on environment and development.

Protecting the Environment Sound environmental management is critical to sustainable development, and as a consequence, to poverty reduction. Growth will be short-lived if it does not conserve the natural environment and its resources. Although much of the past damage has been caused by powerful vested interests, the pressures of poverty and population can compound the problem through deforestation, overgrazing, and over fishing. The rural poor are often forced to live on fragile lands and near-fragile waters that require sensitive resource management in the face of increasing degradation. The urban poor are exposed to diseases and illnesses resulting from overcrowding, inadequate basic services, and polluted living conditions. To address poverty, it is important to empower the poor and to give them a stake in managing the environment and natural resources.