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Environment 2 PDF
Environment 2 PDF
Environment - 2
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Notes
Contents
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Climate change and global warming are the result of massive emissions of
greenhouse gases such as CO2, CFCsand nitrous oxide. This has been a
problem due to the exponential increase in the burning of fossil fuels throughout
the industrial revolution which began in the 19thcentury. Climate change is a
phenomenon which will have a global impact, although of course nations will
be affected to different degrees. Although the problem is a global one, developed
nations who are heavily industrialised usually release more greenhouse gases
per capita than developing ones. In attempting to address and solve global
warming, many have asked whether developed nations - which led the industrial
revolution and are responsible for most of the greenhouse gases now in the
atmosphere - should bear a greater responsibility for combating climate change.
This debate has been stimulated in large part by the Kyoto Protocol signed in
1992, which exempted developing nations such as China and India, from the
same emissions-reductions obligations as developed countries. The principle
underlying Kyoto is known as common but differentiated responsibilities,
which continues as a centerpiece principle for those calling on Developed
countries to assume a greater responsibility. China, India, and other developing
countries call for recognition of this principle, while many developed countries
argue that conditions have changed as developing countries have begun to
industrialize and pollute more rapidly in recent years.
Hence developing nations argue emissions cuts should be based on the
accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the developed world says
in the long term, targets should be based on current levels.
The group representing the developed nations argued a carbon emission reduction
approach based on the GDP of a given country. They argued this accurately
reflected the carbon efficiency of a nations economy. If economic stability is
to be preserved, the degree to which carbon is reduced should be tied to
economic output, representing a carbon tax proportional to the amount
contributed to the global economic stage.
It was argued that developing economies rely on the strength of developed
nations economies to purchase those goods which cant be consumed internally.
Any carbon tax disproportionately affecting developed countries economies
would upset this balance and cause economic instability. If developed economies
stumble or stall due to heavy taxation, then demand will fade for goods from
developing nations, resulting in a drag on their economies and thus the domino
spiral into global recession ensues.
There were additional points made indicating that developing nations are uniquely
exposed to the damaging effects of climate change. Many are island or coastal
nations whose geographical position happen to make them more susceptible or
inland locations which models predict may turn to desert. This argument implies
that developing nations should want to contribute as much as possible to
carbon emission reductions because they are especially vulnerable to the
consequences of business as usual.
Whereas on the other hand the group representing the developing nations
contended that carbon emission standards should be based on population. In
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other words, if one country has say, around 250 million people and another has
1 billion, then the country with 1 billion would be permitted to produce 4
times the carbon emissions as the country with 250 million. There are plenty
of statistics out there that show how drastically different the per capita carbon
footprint is between developed and developing nations. In this technological
and energy hungry age, the per capita carbon footprint of a nation is closely
linked to the quality of life of its citizens. Developing nations argue that every
person in the world has an equal right to engage in activities which result in
carbon emissions and benefit from the industries which produce them.
According to developing nations historical responsibilities of developed
countries and equity in access to global atmospheric resources should continue
to be the basis of defining mitigation commitments. The 2015 agreement
must ensure that the developing countries be given their fair share of carbon
and development space. The contribution of developing countries to mitigation
efforts is far greater than that of developed countries and could be further
enhanced if developed countries effectively implement and significantly increase
their commitments of providing finance, technology, and capacity building
support to developing countries.
Equal weightage has to be given to adaptation as it is essential for reducing
vulnerabilities of communities to climate change. This assumes more importance
in view of the fact that the developing countries are the most vulnerable to
climate change. However, both global action and finance flows have been
biased in favour of mitigation. The developing countries are pushing hard to
include adaptation in a comprehensive and balanced manner in the 2015
agreement.
As the responsibility of providing financial assistance to the developing countries
lies with the developed countries and this has been clearly articulated in the
UNFCCC. India together with other developing countries continue to urge the
developed countries to honour their obligation to provide new, additional, and
predictable financial support to developing countries in a measurable, reportable,
and verifiable manner. In this context ambitious capitalization of the GCF
assumes significance. Developed countries have been urged to provide clear
timelines and pathways to reach the US$ 100 billion annual commitment
made by them in 2010.
Further technology forms a major component of any move towards combating
climate change. The important issue in this regard is that while the developed
countries are the frontrunners in clean technology, the developing countries do
not possess either sufficient technical capability or the financial resources to
develop clean technologies. Appropriate mechanisms for smooth transfer of
technology from the developed to developing countries have to be agreed
upon. The intellectual property rights price-tag should not come in the way of
such technology transfer.
Hence it can be concluded that there are clear advantages to developed countries
if carbon emissions are regulated based on economic output (GDP). Their
industrial sector is more carbon efficient and a substantial portion of their
economies are service based. Individual citizens in developed countries could
continue to benefit from a larger piece of the carbon pie than their developing
world counterparts.
Developing countries benefit from their oversized populations compared to
GDP when carbon emissions are regulated based on a countries population.
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While their industrial sector is less carbon efficient, fewer of its citizens have
access to the benefits of industrialization, bringing down the per capita carbon
footprint. If regulation is not at all dependent on the carbon efficiency of
economic output, then incentives to improve efficiency are diminished and
equivalent economic output from developed countries would shoulder a
substantial majority of the economic burden from carbon emission reduction.
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Green Climate Fund (GCF): At COP 17 held in Durban, South Africa, the
COP established a Green Climate Fund (GCF) under the Convention to support
projects, programmes, policies and other activities in developing nations. The
Fund will start operating from 2013 where developed nations will provide the
fund. Long term finance of $100 billion by 2020 has been decided by the
nations and the GCF is expected to manage significant part of this. GCF is
expected to be one of the most important sources of international finance. The
important distinction of GCF is that it has an independent legal status and
personality and nationally designated authorities have a paramount role to play.
This has been achieved after many rounds of different negotiations. So far
more than 10 bn dollars have been pledged but there is no clarity, how there
would be dispensed.
Issues are:
Developed and developing countries cannot agree on even the fundamentals of
what should be included (e.g. should private finance through carbon markets
be included?), let alone the level and terms of financing commitments, regulatory
and other mechanisms, or governance structures.
This impasse, which reflects a lack of trust between developed and developing
countries, has manifested itself in basic disagreements over three main issues
relating primarily to mitigation finance: first, the necessity of credible and
substantial developed country commitments on public funding; second, the
role of private finance; and third, the institutions and governance structures to
ensure equity and environmental effectiveness.
First, developing countrieswary from a half-century of often-frustrating
experience with official development assistance (ODA)are rightly skeptical
of developed country assurances regarding future climate finance through public
funding arrangements. The gap between promises and performance in general
ODA is well known; low levels of definite financial commitment, commitments
made but not kept, linkage of aid delivery to other political agendas, and
disappearing donors whose support wanes after initially encouraging a project.
Developed countries, on the other hand, are for the most part generally reluctant
to sign over large sums of taxpayer is money on international projects where
their publics do not see both a strong self-interest and effective results. Even
when they are willing to spend significant funds, donor countries generally
want to maintain flexibility regarding future spending levels depending on
experience with program performance, unforeseen developments, and competing
priorities.
The second divisive issue is the role of private finance. Developing countries
are understandably suspicious of developed countries using conjectured private
finance flows as an excuse to shirk their financial responsibilities. There is
undeniably some temptation for developed country leaders to assign as much
of the responsibility as possible to private financial sources or, in any case, to
use off-balance sheet modalities to limit political contention over payments
from public fiscal sources. Yet, it is inescapable that private as well as public
sources must be part of a mitigation finance mix. Agreement on this
fundamental point must be first. Bargaining about the extent and character of
developed country financial commitments, both public and through markets,
should come second.
The third basic source of impasse concerns the institutions and governance
structures for public and private finance. Developing countries are seeking to
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Notes
2)
3)
This framework must be such that the twin goals of reversing anthropogenic
climate change and facilitating low-carbon development can viably be funded
and achieved.
India has adopted the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) in
2008 which has both mitigation and adaptation measures. The eight National
Missions which form the core of the NAPCC represent multi-prolonged, longterm, and integrated strategies for achieving key goals in the context of climate
change. Adaptation is the focus of the NAPCC. At the same time, Missions
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change like introducing new credit and insurance mechanisms and greater
access to information.
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Transport India has taken substantial initiatives to make the transport sector
less emission intensive. One of the major initiatives has been upgradation of
vehicular emission norms such as Bharat Stage II, Bharat Stage III and Bharat
Stage IV. The commercial manufacture of battery-operated vehicles has begun
in India with a view to promoting low/ no carbon emitting vehicles. Also in
Delhi there has been a large-scale switchover from petrol and diesel to CNG,
with over 50,000 vehicles already converted. In addition to this Integrated
Transport Policy (2001) promotes the use of ethanol-blended petrol and biodiesel.
The National Urban Transport Policy emphasizes the development and usage
of extensive public transport facilities (including non-motorized modes) over
personal vehicles.
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2.
To adopt a climate friendly and a cleaner path than the one followed
hitherto by others at corresponding level of economic development.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
7)
8)
India has also revisited the National Missions under the NAPCC in the light
of new scientific information and technological advances and identified new
missions or programs on wind energy, health, waste to energy, and coastal
areas. It is also redesigning the National Water Mission and National Mission
on Sustainable Agriculture. It is clarified that Indias INDC do not bind it to
any sector specific mitigation obligation or action, including in agriculture
sector. Indias goal is to reduce overall emission intensity and improve energy
efficiency of its economy over time and at the same time protecting the
vulnerable sectors of economy and segments of our society.
Indias INDC is fair and ambitious considering the fact that India is attempting
to work towards low carbon emission pathway while endeavoring to meet all
the developmental challenges the country faces today.
Through this submission, India intends to reduce the emissions intensity of its
GDP by 33 to 35 % by 2030 from 2005 level. This commitment is further
echoed in Indias actions in climate change adaptation with setting up its own
National Adaptation Fund.
The current policy framework also includes a favorable environment for a rapid
increase in renewable energy, move towards low carbon sustainable development
pathway and adapting to the impacts of climate change. It represents the
highest possible efforts as evident from the multiple initiatives of the
Government of India.
Accordingly, Indias development plans will continue to lay a balanced emphasis
on economic development and environment.
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The Kyoto Protocol was adopted in Kyoto, Japan, on 11 December 1997 and
entered into force on 16 February 2005. Its first commitment period started in
2008 and ended in 2012.
In Doha, Qatar, on 8 December 2012, the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto
Protocol was adopted. The amendment includes:
New commitments for Annex I Parties to the Kyoto Protocol who agreed
to take on commitments in a second commitment period from 1 January
2013 to 31 December 2020;
During the first commitment period, 37 industrialized countries and the European
Community committed to reduce GHG emissions to an average of five percent
against 1990 levels. During the second commitment period, Parties committed
to reduce GHG emissions by at least 18 percent below 1990 levels in the eightyear period from 2013 to 2020.
In Doha (Qatar), the following countries agreed to a further commitment period
under the Kyoto Protocol: Australia, the EU, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Monaco, Norway and Switzerland. Major emitters such as China, the USA,
Russia, India, Japan, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea and South
Africa announced politically binding reduction targets to be achieved by 2020
under the Convention.
Also, at the Rio+20 meet in 2012 to mark 20 years of the Rio Environment
Summit, world leaders had to concede that decades of environmental
activism had not achieved the set targets, leading to a consensus that a
new sustainability document was in order for the world to commit itself
to. So at Rio+20 conference, the 193 Member States of the United Nations,
following negotiations that lasted from July 2012 till last month, agreed
upon the text of a new document entitled, Transforming Our World: The
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This agenda contains 17
goals and 169 targets.
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End hunger,
Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable;
Seas and marine resources; protect, restore and promote sustainable use
of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification,
and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss;
The goals are to be achieved by all member countries within the next fifteen
years, thereby giving it the moniker of Agenda for 2030.
Critical Aspect: Positives
a.
b.
Criticism that there are too many 17 goals with 169 targets makes it
a complex task to monitor, ensure reporting and hold governments
accountable, but the Rio+20 consensus was for a comprehensive
document, and this is comprehensive.
c.
But while the jury remains out on whether these are achievable and realistic,
whether the lack of clarity on monitoring and accountability makes it an
exercise in spelling out truisms and platitudes, the fact that this is a
political undertaking is important. As undertakings that civil society and
citizens can hold leaders accountable for, the goals are significant.
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d.
Also, given that this is the first time that ALL nations adopt the same set
of goals, regardless of their relative position on the development continuum,
given that emerging economies in the developing world will play significant
roles as donors in their own right even as the developing world negotiates
with the developed world to keep its commitments on Official Development
Assistance and other forms of financial structural reform, the goals are
more than just 17 desirables.
e.
The 1st SDG end poverty in all its forms everywhere. But acc. to critics
this is an over-ambitious target. The earlier target of halving extreme
poverty was achieved only because of chinas growth, not everywhere.
f.
Also, trying to alleviate poverty and achieving all the other SDGs will
require $ 2-3 trillion per annum for the next 15 years which appears to be
not feasible. AIIB and NDB have a role to play. Another criticism in words
of NITI Aayog CEO, in 12th plan there are 25 indicators which we could
not monitor properly due to lack of data, then how will we track 300+
indicators
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with the data on contiguity of the forest patches. This, in future, would help
the government to monitor the changes in the quality of forests along with
their area and density.
However, the area and quality of forest is diminishing and the rate of forest
destruction is escalating worldwide, despite increased environmental activism
and awareness. This is due to widespread deforestation.
Important Agents Leading to Deforestation, Degradation and Fragmentation
Agents
slash-and-burn farmers
commercial farmers
cattle ranchers
livestock herders
loggers
firewood collectors
infrastructure developers
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Restoration of 0.1 mha of wetlands and the eco system services thereof.
Notes
The Central Government has approved National Mission for a Green India in
February 2014 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme for a total cost of Rs 13,000
Crore, having a plan outlay of Rs 2,000 crore for the 12th Five Year Plan
(FYP) with a spillover of 1 year in the 13th FYP along with Rs 400 Crores
from 13th Finance Commission Grants towards States Share. The share of
Centre : State being in the ratio 75:25 respectively for all States except NorthEastern States and Jammu & Kashmir for which it will be in the ratio of
90:10. The approval also spells out convergence with MGNREGA for Rs.4000
crore, CAMPA for Rs. 6000 crore and National Afforestation Programme for
Rs.600 crore. Budget allocation for the Mission in the current financial year is
Rs.64.00 crore.
The Central Government is also providing assistance to States Governments
and Union territory Administrations under a Centrally Sponsored Scheme
National Afforestation Programme (NAP) for regeneration of degraded forests
and adjoining areas through peoples participation. The scheme is being
implemented through a decentralized mechanism of State Forest Development
Agency (SFDA) at State level, Forest Development Agency (FDA) at Forest
Division level and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at village
level. The Budget allocation for the current financial year under NAP is Rs.
100 crore.
b.
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d.
b.
Forests are not only woods, rather a system of biodiversity which cant be
recreated easily. Acc. to study by forest survey of India, artificial
regeneration in Karnataka and Maharashtra has failed.
c.
Also various states have argued that they dont have land for planting new
forests, thats why Funds raised have been used for the purchasing forest
department vehicles or repairing buildings. Compensatory afforestation is
Done alongside railway tracks/highways where survival rates is poor.
Way forward
If still done then use this money for Consolidating/preserving the remaining
large blocks of natural old-growth forests. Work for natural restoration of
degraded forests instead of artificial i.e. identify degraded forests with
existent root stock and restore by protection measures such as fencing;
Do artificial regeneration only when there is no existing root stock.
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sensitivity and resilience of the land itself determined by on soil character and
management. The impacts of degradation processes will depend upon how the
land interacts with the surrounding air and water resources, as well as human
settlement and land use needs. Land degradation can be limited, reversed and
avoided through the appropriate management of land. It is, therefore, highly varied in
its nature and consequent impacts.
Notes
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Managing urban sprawl: The urban planning is the most important factor,
to control the urban sprawl. Fertile field near by the urbane area need to
be protected by the local government rules. There should be a proper
waste management system dumping of these waste generated as part of
urban sprawling will degrade the land, can cause soil salinity, acidity and
loss of it vegetative properties.
As a major step to ensure that the proposals seeking grant of forest clearance
are processed in time-bound and transparent manner, a web portal for online
filing and monitoring the forest clearance proposal applications has been
launched. The portal will minimize the need for human interface between
project proponents and officials dealing with Forest Clearance proposals in the
Central and the State Governments.
b)
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Act, 1980 for diversion of forest land required for construction in the area
falling within 100 kilometers aerial distance. It can also include strategic defence
infrastructure related activities such as Army Stations, Ammunition Depots,
Training Centres and other support infrastructure, such as schools, hospitals,
residential quartersetc.
c)
Notes
Process of granting permission for forest diversion for all linear projects
like Road, Rail, Canals, Transmission and Pipelines decentralized.
To expedite grant of forest clearance to linear projects like Road, Rail, Canal,
Transmission Lines and Pipelines, most of which are of public utility nature,
the Ministry has decided to delegate powers to grant forest clearance to such
projects irrespective of the area of forest land involved to the Regional
Empowered Committee being constituted at each Regional Office of the
Ministry.
f)
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efforts for development activities in forest areas, covering the tribal people and
others living in the forest.
The Centre is ready to tackle the problems of sensitive areas on the socioeconomic front. It is set to facilitate special execution of essential development
activities. But, the Government wants to ensure a balance between economic
and development considerations on one hand and ecological considerations on
the other. It is imperative that for creation of these facilities in forest and its
fringe areas, most of the land requirement will have to be met from forest land.
The general approval of the Centre is bound by certain conditions. Forest land
diverted for specific development works should be less than one hectare in
each case and clearance from the Centre is subject to the condition that it is
need based. The legal status of the land will remain unchanged. The user
agency should submit the project report to the State Government in the
prescribed format - Form A as provided in Rule 6 of the Forest (Conservation)
Rules, 2003. The user agency should not fell more than 50 trees per hectare.
Importantly, the project should be outside the national parks or wildlife
sanctuaries or protected areas.
Arsenic
In nature As and its compounds exhibit both metallic and non-metallic properties
and can be found almost everywhere. Humans are exposed to arsenic primarily
from air, food and water. Arsenic (As) is introduced into soil and groundwater
during weathering of rocks and minerals followed by subsequent leaching and
runoff. It can also be introduced into soil and groundwater from anthropogenic
sources.
The major regions affected are in the river basin of the Ganga, Brahmaputra
and Meghna in India and Bangladesh with an estimated 25 million people in
Bangladesh and 6 million people in West Bengal, India exposed to arsenic
contaminated ground water
Arsenic groundwater contamination has far-reaching consequences including
its ingestion through food chain, which are in the form of social disorders,
health hazards and socioeconomic dissolution besides its sprawling with
movement, and exploitation of groundwater. The food crops grown using arsenic
contaminated water are sold off to other places, including uncontaminated
regions where the inhabitants may consume arsenic from the contaminated
food. Arsenic tends to accumulate in keratin- rich tissues like nails, hair and
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Mercury (Hg)
Methyl mercury enters the human diet through fish; the highest accumulation
of methyl mercury is found in predatory fish at the top of the aquatic foodchain. Microorganisms can also contribute to the release of Hg into the
environment.
Man-made sources of Mg are many and wide-spread. Mercury is also produced
in the mining and smelting of cinnabar ore. Mercury is used in industries
which produce Cl2 and NaOH, paints, electrical equipment, batteries, measuring
and control equipments, vacuum apparatuses, chemicals, lamps, explosives,
tooth-fillings and fungicides. Mercury is also released by the burning of fossiI
fuels, smelting, cement manufacture and waste disposal.
Exposure to mercury, even in small amounts, is a great danger to humans and
wildlife.
When mercury enters the body it acts as a neurotoxin, which means it harms
our brain and nervous system. Mercury exposure is especially dangerous to
pregnant women and young children, but all adults are at risk for serious
medical problems.
The Minamata Convention on Mercury is a global treaty to protect human
health and the environment from the adverse effects of mercury. The major
highlights of the Minamata Convention on Mercury include a ban on new
mercury mines, the phase-out of existing ones, control measures on air emissions,
and the international regulation of the informal sector for artisanal and smallscale gold mining.
The Convention draws attention to a global and ubiquitous metal that, while
naturally occurring, has broad uses in everyday objects and is released to the
atmosphere, soil and water from a variety of sources. Controlling the
anthropogenic releases of mercury throughout its lifecycle has been a key
factor in shaping the obligations under the convention.
Lead
Lead is a highly toxic substance, exposure to which can produce a wide range
of adverse health effects. Both adults and children can suffer from the effects
of lead poisoning, but childhood lead poisoning is much more frequent.
There are many ways in which humans are exposed to lead: through deteriorating
paint, household dust, bare soil, air, drinking water, food, ceramics, home
remedies, hair dyes and other cosmetics. Lead is also found in pewter pitchers,
dinnerware, toys, storage batteries, and hobbies involving soldering such as
stained glass, jewelry making, pottery glazing, paint sets and art supplies, and
miniature lead figures.
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Children under the age of six, especially unborn babies, are most susceptible
to lead poisoning because their brains and central nervous systems are still
developing. Childhood lead poisoning causes reduced intelligent quotient (IQ),
learning disabilities, attention deficit disorders, behavioral problems, stunted
growth, hearing problems, anemia, kidney damage, and stomach pain. High
levels can cause mental retardation, coma, and death. Exposed adults may
suffer high blood pressure, fertility problems, nerve disorders, muscle and joint
pain, irritability, and memory or concentration problems. Most adults with
lead poisoning are exposed through occupations such as house painting, welding,
renovation and remodeling activities, smelters, firing ranges, the manufacture
and disposal of car batteries, and the maintenance and repair of bridges and
water towers.
Cadmium
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This includes mining and refining of plutonium and thorium production and
explosion of nuclear weapons, nuclear power plants, nuclear fuels and
preparation of radioactive isotopes.
Production of nuclear weapons involves the tests of nuclear arms. These tests
produce large amount of radioactive elements into the environment and make
other materials also radioactive. They include strontium 90, cesium 137, iodine
131 and some others.
The radioactive materials are transformed into gases and fine particles which
are carried to distant places by wind. When rain drops, the radioactive particles
fall on the ground, it is called nuclear fallout. From the soil radioactive
substances are taken by plants, thence they reach humans and animals through
food chains. Iodine 131 damages white blood corpuscles, bone marrow, spleen,
lymph nodes, skin cancer, sterility and defective eye sight and may cause lung
tumours. Strontium 90 accumulates in the bones and may cause bone cancer
and tissue degeneration in most animals and man.
The radioactive materials are washed from land to water bodies where the
aquatic organisms absorb them. From these organisms radioactive materials
may reach man through food chains.
The operation of a nuclear power plant releases large amounts of energy.The
biggest problem is the disposal of these radioactive wastes. If these wastes are
not properly disposed off, can harm the living organisms wherever they may
be dumped. Inert gases and halogens escape as vapours and cause pollution as
they settle on land or reach surface waters with rain.
Many radioactive isotopes such as14C.125I,32P and their compounds are used
in scientific research. Waste waters containing these radioactive materials reach
water sources like rivers through the sewers. From water they enter human
body through food chains.
Harmful Effects of Radioactive Pollution
The effects vary from organism to organism and from level of radioactivity
of nuclear isotopes. The radiations destroy the cells in human body and
causes cancer.
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codes and standards and to develop safety policies in radiation and industrial
safety areas.
Is very apt as it reminds us of responsible consumerism which is a prerequisite to ensure sustainable development.
2.
3.
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a.
b.
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c.
4.
5.
Notes
Reasons for it
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
b.
a.
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b.
6.
b.
ii.
iii. Am I aware of what I eat, how it is produced and how far it has
travelled?
7.
iv.
v.
c.
d.
We have agreed on SDGs but will be achieved only when funds and
technology are transferred, have consensus on key goals
e.
India has had a long cultural tradition of frugality and simple living
in harmony with nature; also enshrined in directive principle
b.
c.
i.
ii.
And recently a major thrust has been given by the present govt in the
form of
i.
ii.
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iv.
v.
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8.
Concluding remark
a.
b.
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other Self Help Groups (SHGs) will be involved in the process of planting and
maintenance. The plant species selected will be region specific depending on
local conditions such as rainfall, climate type of soil etc. For example at some
places soil conditions may suit for plantation of Jamun or mango trees while
at other places plants and grasses can be grown to derive biomass. Wherever
possible, transplantation of existing trees will be given preference while widening
the roads.
Notes
The policy aims at changing the whole process for the avenue plantation and
landscape improvement. Earlier, the land needed for these activities was not
considered during the Detailed Project report (DPR) stage. Now the new policy
has recommended that the requirement of land for tree plantation should be
included in the Land Acquisition Plans prepared by the DPR consultants. This
move will help in pre-planning of the plantation activities and the space required
for the same, so that there is a systematic plan before the construction of
National Highways. One percent of the civil cost of the road projects will be
for developing green corridors.
In the new policy, the provisions about the responsibilities attached have also
been clearly defined. Now it will be the responsibility of the planting agency
to ensure that the condition of the site is good enough for the successful
establishment of grasses. The planting agency is required to supervise all field
operations like preparation of surface, sowing of seeds or saplings and quality
of planting material used.
The monitoring of the plantation status has been included as an integral part
of the policy. The MonitoringAgency will monitor progress of planting and
status of plantations on continuous basis. This agency shall carry out the site
visit for field verification in respect of survival, growth and size of plantation
and maintenance of the same. The monitoring Agency will conduct performance
audit of executing agencies for various projects on an Annual basis and
award of new contracts to the agencies will be decided based on their past
performance.
The plantations and its maintenance may be taken up through outsourcing
following bidding process as per standard protocol of procurement of Ministry
of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) and its agencies for the stretch/
ROW not declared as protected forest under Forest Conservation (Act) 1980.
The MoRTH/NHAI will appoint the authorised agency for empanelment of
Plantation Agencies. Only empaneled agencies will be allowed to bid for planting
work on the National Highways.
The new policy has given a new insight to the process of development. It gives
answer to the question whether the development process is putting our
environment and natural resources into danger. Such initiatives taken by the
Government indicate that the process of development is not exclusive of
environment protection. The development can be sustainable when systematic
and conscious decisions are taken.
The policy when implemented in letter and spirit will result into India being
a "Nation with Natural Highways". It will address the issues that lie in the
"road of development" and pave "a journey towards sustainable development".
It is the onus of the communities involved in the path of development that
they also participate in the process of protection of nature. The Government
can frame policies, provide standards, but success of projects depends on
strong monitoring which is not possible without active community participation
and community ownership.
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