DR.

RAM MANOHAR LOHIYA NATIONAL LAW

UNIVERSITY, LUCKNOW

Subject: -ECONOMICS
FINAL DRAFT ON : -
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION & ITS IMPACT
SUBMITTED TO: SUBMITTED BY:
Dr. Mitali Tiwari SHOBHIT TIWARI

Assistant professor (Economics) B.A. LL.B ( Hons.)

RMLNLU ROLL NO. 130

SECTION - B

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 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I express my gratitude and deep regards to my teacher Dr. Mitali Tiwari Maam for giving

me such a challenging topic and also for her exemplary guidance, monitoring and constant

encouragement throughout the course of this thesis.

I also take this opportunity to express a deep sense of gratitude to my seniors in the college

for their cordial support, valuable information and guidance, which helped me in completing

this task through various stages.

I am obliged to the staff members of the Madhu Limaye Library, for the timely and valuable

information provided by them in their respective fields. I am grateful for their cooperation

during the period of my assignment.

Lastly, I thank almighty, my family and friends for their constant encouragement without

which this assignment would not have been possible.

X
SHOBHIT TIWARI
STUDENT B.A. L.LB. (HONS.)

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT1

2. INTRODUCTION3

3. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION6

4. TYPES OF POLLUTION AND ITS CAUSES7

5. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN INDIA12

6. GLOBAL MEASURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES18

7. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION..23

8. CONCLUSION.27

9. BIBLIOGRAPHY.28

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 INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND

We are truly living in extraordinary times. Our actions of today will have an impact (mostly
negative) on the planet for decades to come and we will pay a price for them. If you are under
forty, you will see in your lifetime a vastly different world-and not a comfortable one at that.
That the planet is in peril is known to thousands of scientists, academics, authors, activists,
NGOs, school children, poor families, indigenous people and other groups. It is also known to
many corporate leaders, administrators, and even politicians. United Nations agencies and
international NGOs (such as Greenpeace and World Wide Fund for Nature) release reports
almost daily on the scale of environmental destruction, make dire predictions, and call for
immediate action. We often read about crossing tipping points, impending climate catastrophe,
and small windows of opportunity to reverse the downslide. Yet, what are we doing today? It is
not just the environmental crisis; there are other danger signs too. Global financial meltdown,
collapsing economies, failed states, runaway military expenditures, increasing inequalities,
soaring food prices, large scale corruption, rising public anger, and protest movements-the list
goes on. Ultimately, however, all these troubles and the ecological decline are interconnected. It
is the high time for bigger efforts.

RESEARCH PROBLEM

(1) What is state of the global ansd Indian environment?

(2) What is likely to happen if we continue business as usual?
(3) How do we end up in this crisis?
(4) How far is humanity responsible for it?
(5) What has the world done about the crisis so far?
(6) What can you do to set things right?
(7) Wherein lies hope for future?

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 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

1. We will try to illustrate the various problems which we encounter in our daily lives and
also to suggest remedies to the problems arising due to increase amount of pollution.
2. Today, Pollution is the hottest topic of the whole world. And the way it is increasing
makes not only Environmentalists but governments and even localites worry about the
Future Generation.
3. Therefore, this study will reveal the pollution, its types, significance to India and world,
what had done, what can be done to prevent it.
4. What is the scorecard with respect to water, waste, energy, biological diversity,
population, and food?
5. Why there is so little action to save the environment?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Doctrinal Research: In this we go through literature available on the subject matter and thereon
propound conclusion based on our study.

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Environmental pollution existed for many years in one form or another. It is an old phenomenon
and yet in its contemporary form it seems to have crept up on governments and even on pertinent
professional disciplines such as biology, chemistry, most of engineering and of course,
economics. Moreover, air and water continued until very recently to serve the economist as
example of free goods. A whole new set of scarce environmental resources presenting unusually
difficult allocation problems seems to have appeared on the scene with the profession having
hardly noticed. Fortunately, this situation is changing fast and much good work is appearing in
the current economic literature. Substantial and thoughtful attention from economists is
especially needed because the economic and institutional sources of the environmental pollution
are either neglected or thoroughly misunderstood. Recently, corporations have been confronted
with a number of global environmental challenges such as global warming, acid rain, depletion
of natural resources, waste management, green consumerism and pollution prevention. There is
growing pressure to deliver products and services which are environmentally compatible. A
number of corporations such as Du Pont, 3M, AT&T, Xerox and Procter & Gamble are,
therefore, integrating various environmental policies and programs into their operations strategy
and specific decisions concerning operations such as product design/planning, process

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technology selection, and quality management. Introduces the concepts of environmental
management (EM) and argues that firms which do not recognize the implications of
environmental problems on the operations function will not succeed in the competitive market.
Various environmental management practices (such as implementing aggressive
pollutionprevention programs, initiating environmentrelated performance measures and
developing green products and process technologies) provide opportunities to strengthen a firms
distinctive competence in terms of operations objectives such as highest quality, lowest cost, best
dependability, and greatest flexibility. Thus, EM gives a competitive advantage and develops
new links between operations strategy and the corporate strategy (e.g. cost leadership and
product differentiation).

CONCLUSION

Environmental Pollution appears as Global issue and in future the world community of
humankind must have to bear its unpreventable consequences. Their ever increasing greed and
selfishness are the major reasons behind it. Government, though, provides every rules,
prevention measures and policies to avoid it at Global level but their implication even at normal
level is not done properly because of the personal greed and inefficiency in taking strict
decisions.
Still time is available to use technology and information for environmental use. Government in
developing countries need to design programs, set standards, and take action to mitigate adverse
health effects of pollution. Healthy people mean human resources are the main object of any
successful business or country. And We the people, the humans have that power to make our as
well as future generations life prosperous, full of happiness and more importantly, HEALTHY.
A profound change is possible only if all of us change our mindsets. Albert Einstein said, You
cant solve a problem with the same mindset which created it in the first place. We mistakenly
see a difference between other beings and ourselves, between nature and ourselves. When we
truly begin to see ourselves as an indivisible part of the universe, there will be a fundamental
shift in our mindset.
Perhaps the first step in saving the planet is to fall in love with its beauty. The second step is to
hear within us the sounds of the earth crying. The third step is to put this new understanding into
action. If the planet is to saved from destruction, we need many Chipko-type peoples
movements. If you look at the science that describes what is happening on earth today and arent
pessimistic, you dont have the correct data. We should embrace the crisis as an opportunity and
move f888888888888888rom Empire to Earth community, from Dominator story to Partnership
story, and from Competition to Cooperation. Real solutions already exist for building the future
we want. It is just a matter of grabbing hold and getting moving.

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CHAPTERISATIONS
1. INTRODUCTION
2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
3. TYPES OF POLLUTION AND ITS CAUSES
4. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN INDIA
5. GLOBAL MEASURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
6. PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION
7. CONCLUSION
8. BIBLIOGRAPHY
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION refers to the introduction of harmful pollutants into the
environment mostly by human activities. As we all know that our EARTH is the only planet in
our known Solar System possessing life and the life on the BLUE PLANET is basically because
of Environment, where water and air are two basic things that sustain life. Without air and water
our Earth would be like the other planets no man, no plants, no animals. The Biosphere in
which the living beings have sustenance has Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Argon and
water vapors in well-balanced amount to ensure and help a healthy growth of life in the animal
world. This balance doesnt only help the life-cycles of plants and animals, but it also creates a
perennial sources of minerals and energies without which the human civilization of today could
not be built. It is for this balance that the human life and other forms have flourished on earth for
so many thousands of years.

But humans, being the most intelligent animal, never stopped being inquisitive, nor was he
content with the bounties provided by nature. With the dawn of the age of Science and
Technology, there has been huge growth and development of human potentials. And what
happens, man start losing his control over his creations and become a slave to it.

Environmental Pollution, today, engaged in depleting not only our Flora and Fauna but
even Humankind, who is the major cause behind this global problem. All the progress
and achievements in the field of Science and Technology are going into vain because it
has been realized at the cost of our health. We are in utter doubt that whether these are
helping us to climb the ladder of prosperity or simply taking down to the blind alleys of
adversity. Many crusaders against are vehemently protesting against the indiscriminate
violations committed daily in name of development. Developmental activities such as
construction, transportation and manufacturing not only deplete the natural resources but
also produce large amount of wastes that leads to pollution of air, water, soil, and oceans;
global warming and acid rains. Untreated or improperly treated waste is a major cause of
pollution of rivers and environmental degradation causing ill health and loss of crop
productivity.

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 TYPES OF POLLUTION AND ITS CAUSES
The agents causing pollution are known as pollutants and include physical, biological or
chemical substances released into the environment affecting humans and other living organisms
directly or indirectly.

TYPES OF POLLUTION
1. AIR POLLUTION
2. WATER POLLUTION
3. SOIL POLLUTION
4. NOISE POLLUTION

1. AIR POLLUTION
Air pollution is a result of industrial and certain domestic activity. An ever increasing use of
fossil fuels in power plants, industries, transportation, mining, construction of buildings, stone
quarries had led to air pollution. Air pollution may be defined as the presence of any solid, liquid
or gaseous substance including noise and radioactive radiation in the atmosphere in such
concentration that may be directly and indirectly injurious to humans or other living organisms,
plants, property or interferes with the normal environmental processes. Air pollutants are of two
types:-

(1) Suspended particulate matter, and

(2) Gaseous pollutants like carbon dioxide (CO2 ), NOx etc

Suspended Particulate Matter

Particulate matter suspended in air are dust and soot released from the
industrial chimneys. Their size ranges from 0.001 to 500 m in diameter. Particles less than
10m float and move freely with the air current. Particles which are more than 10m in diameter
settle down. Particles less than 0.02 m form persistent aerosols. Major source of SPM
(suspended particulate matter) are vehicles, power plants, construction activities, oil refinery,
railway yard, market place, industries, etc.

LEAD AND OTHER METALS PARTICLES

Tetraethyl lead (TEL) is used as an anti-knock agent in petrol for smooth and easy running of
vehicles. The lead particles coming out from the exhaust pipes of vehicles is mixed with air. If
inhaled it produces injurious effects on kidney and liver and interferes with development of red
blood cells. Lead mixed with water and food can create cumulative poisoning. It has long term
effects on children as it lowers intelligence. Oxides of iron, aluminum, manganese, magnesium,
zinc and other metals have adverse effect due to deposition of dust on plants during mining

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operations and metallurgical processes. They create physiological, biochemical and
developmental disorders in plants and also contribute towards reproductive failure in plants.

Gaseous Pollutants

Power plants, industries, different types of vehicles both private and commercial use petrol,
diesel as fuel and release gaseous pollutants such as carbon dioxide, oxides of nitrogen and
sulphur dioxide along with particulate matter in the form of smoke. All of these have harmful
effects on plants and humans.

Eg.- 1. CO & CO2 from automobile exhaust and burning of coal and wood causing
respiratory problems and Greenhouse effect.
2. SO2 & H2S from power plants, refineries and volcanic eruptions causing respiratory
problems, Acid Rain and Chlorosis.

OZONE HOLE CAUSES AND HARM DUE TO OZONE DEPLETION

The stratosphere has an ozone layer which protects the earths surface from excessive ultraviolet
(UV) radiation from the Sun. Chlorine from chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used
for refrigeration, air conditioning, fire extinguishers, cleaning solvents, aerosols (spray cans of
perfumes, medicine, insecticide) cause damage to ozone layer chlorine contained in the CFCs on
reaching the ozone (O3 ) layer split the ozone molecules to form oxygen (O2 ). Amount of
ozone, thus gets reduced and cannot prevent the entry of UV radiation. There has been a
reduction of ozone umbrella or shield over the Arctic and Antarctic regions. This is known as
ozone hole. This permits passage of UVradiation on earths atmosphere which causes sunburn,
cataract in eyes leading to blindness, skin cancer, reduced productivity of forests, etc. Under the
Montreal Protocol amended in 1990 it was decided to completely phase out CFCs to prevent
damage of ozone layer.

GLOBAL WARMING AND GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Atmospheric gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapour, and
chlorofluorocarbons are capable of trapping the out-going infrared radiation from the earth.
Infra-red radiations trapped by the earths surface cannot pass through these gases and to
increase thermal energy or heat in the atmosphere. Thus, the temperature of the global
atmosphere is increased. As this phenomenon of increase in temperature is observed in green
houses, in the botanical gardens these gases are known as green house gases and the heating
effect is known as green house effect. If greenhouse gases are not checked, by the turn of the
century the temperature may rise by 50C. This will melt the polar ice caps and increase the sea
level leading to coastal flooding, loss of coastal areas and ecosystems like swamps and marshes,
etc.

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 1. WATER POLLUTION
Addition or presence of undesirable substances in water is called water pollution.
Water pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems. Water pollution is caused by
a variety of human activities such as industrial, agricultural and domestic. Agricultural runoff
laden with excess fertilizers and pesticides, industrial effluents with toxic substances and sewage
water with human and animal wastes pollute our water thoroughly. Natural sources of pollution
of water are soil erosion, leaching of minerals from rocks and decaying of organic matter. Rivers,
lakes, seas, oceans, estuaries and ground water sources may be polluted by point or non-point
sources. When pollutants are discharged from a specific location such as a drain pipe carrying
industrial effluents discharged directly into a water body it represents point source pollution. In
contrast non-point sources include discharge of pollutants from diffused sources or from a larger
area such as runoff from agricultural fields, grazing lands, construction sites, abandoned mines
and pits, roads and streets.

Sources of water pollution

Water pollution is the major source of water born diseases and other health
problems. Sediments brought by runoff water from agricultural fields and discharge of untreated
or partially treated sewage and industrial effluents, disposal of fly ash or solid waste into or close
to a water body cause severe problems of water pollution. Increased turbidity of water because of
sediments reduces penetration of light in water that reduces photosynthesis by aquatic plants.

(i) Pollution due to pesticides and inorganic chemicals

Pesticides like DDT and others used in agriculture may contaminate water bodies. Aquatic
organisms take up pesticides from water get into the food chain (aquatic in this case) and move
up the food chain. At higher trophic level they get concentrated and may reach the upper end of
the food chain.

Metals like lead, zinc, arsenic, copper, mercury and cadmium in industrial waste waters
adversely affect humans and other animals. Arsenic pollution of ground water has been reported
from West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar, Western U.P. Consumption of such arsenic polluted water
leads to accumulation of arsenic in the body parts like blood, nails and hairs causing skin
lesions, rough skin, dry and thickening of skin and ultimately skin cancer.

Pollution of water bodies by mercury causes Minamata disease in humans and dropsy in
fishes. Lead causes dyslexia, cadmium poisoning causes Itai Itai disease etc.

Oil pollution of sea occurs from leakage from ships, oil tankers, rigs and pipelines. Accidents
of oil tankers spill large quantity of oil in seas which kills marine birds and adversely affects
other marine life and beaches.

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 GROUNDWATER POLLUTION

Lot of people around the world depends on ground water for drinking, domestic,
industrial and agricultural uses. Generally groundwater is a clean source of water.
However, human activities such as improper sewage disposal, dumping of farm yard
manures and agricultural chemicals, industrial effluents are causing pollution of ground
water.
2. SOIL POLLUTION

Addition of substances which adversely affect the quality of soil or its fertility is known
as soil pollution. Generally polluted water also pollute soil. Solid waste is a mixture of
plastics, cloth, glass, metal and organic matter, sewage, sewage sludge, building debris,
generated from households, commercial and industries establishments add to soil
pollution. Fly ash, iron and steel slag, medical and industrial wastes disposed on land are
important sources of soil pollution. In addition, fertilizers and pesticides from agricultural
use which reach soil as run-off and land filling by municipal waste are growing cause of
soil pollution. Acid rain and dry deposition of pollutants on land surface also contribute
to soil pollution.
SOURCES OF SOIL POLLUTION

Plastic bags Plastic bags made from low density polyethylene (LDPE), is virtually
indestructible, create colossal environmental hazard. The discarded bags block drains and
sewage systems. Leftover food, vegetable waste etc. on which cows and dogs feed may die due
to the choking by plastic bags. Plastic is non biodegradable and burning of plastic in garbage
dumps release highly toxic and poisonous gases like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,
phosgene, dioxin and other poisonous chlorinated compounds.

Industrial sources It includes fly ash, chemical residues, metallic and nuclear wastes. Large
number of industrial chemicals, dyes, acids, etc. find their way into the soil and are known to
create many health hazards including cancer.

Agricultural sources Agricultural chemicals especially fertilizers and pesticides pollute the
soil. Fertilizers in the runoff water from these fields can cause eutrophication in water bodies.
Pesticides are highly toxic chemicals which affect humans and other animals adversely causing
respiratory problems, cancer and death.

3. NOISE POLLUTION
Noise is one of the most pervasive pollutant. A musical clock may be nice to listen during the
day, but may be an irritant during sleep at night. Noise by definition is sound without value or
any noise that is unwanted by the recipient. Noise in industries such as stone cutting and
crushing, steel forgings , loudspeakers, shouting by hawkers selling their wares, movement of

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heavy transport vehicles, railways and airports leads to irritation and an increased blood pressure,
loss of temper, decrease in work efficiency, loss of hearing which may be first temporary but can
become permanent in the noise stress continues. It is therefore of utmost importance that
excessive noise is controlled. Noise level is measured in terms of decibels (dB). W.H.O. (World
Health Organization) has prescribed optimum noise level as 45 dB by day and 35 dB by night.
Anything above 80 dB is hazardous.

SOURCES OF NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution is a growing problem. All human activities contribute to noise pollution to
varying extent. Sources of noise pollution are many and may be located indoors or outdoors.

Indoor sources include noise produced by radio, television, generators, electric fans, air coolers,
air conditioners, different home appliances, and family conflict. Noise pollution is more in cities
due to a higher concentration of population and industries and activities such as transportation.
Noise like other pollutants is a byproduct of industrialization, urbanization and modern
civilization.

Outdoor sources of noise pollution include indiscriminate use of loudspeakers, industrial

activities, automobiles, rail traffic, aeroplanes and activities such as those at market place,
religious, social, and cultural functions, sports and political rallies. In rural areas farm machines,
pump sets are main sources of noise pollution. During festivals, marriage and many other
occasions, use of fire crackers contribute to noise pollution.

EFFECTS OF NOISE POLLUTION

Noise pollution is highly annoying and irritating. Noise disturbs sleep, causes hypertension (high
blood pressure), emotional problems such as aggression, mental depression and annoyance.
Noise pollution adversely affects efficiency and performance of individuals.

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 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN INDIA
The environmental issues in India become more serious everyday and is turning bit into a bit of
mess on this front but with a serious lack of education and over 1 billion people, a huge amount
of which are in dire poverty, its hardly surprising.

The recent boom in its industries, little or no environment education, infrastructure nearly at
bursting point not to mention the huge deforestation thats going on. A whopping 65% of the
land in here is degraded in some way, shape or form and the endless government policies do little
to curb the damage. In fact, there is no shortage at all of government legislation protecting the
environment but unfortunately it is never enforced due to flagrant abuse of power, corruption and
lack of resources.

With regards to environmental issues in India, India appears to be digging its own grave deeper
and quicker than the rest of the world, nearly 30% of Indias gross agricultural output is lost
every year due to soil degradation, poor land management and counterproductive irrigation. The
wetlands and lakes are also being hit hard. Mainly by the industrial boom that hit India a decade
ago, the main problems being improper disposal of industrial wastes.

Indias 7516 km of coastline have also come under attack from this environmental sabotage,
overfishing remains a huge problem due to lack of legislation enforcement. Raw sewage from an
awful lot of people is pumped endlessly into the ocean along with other industrial waste and
chemicals. Hundreds of miles of coral and other sea life slowly being destroyed due to offshore
drilling.

MAIN ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

o WATER

Perhaps the largest of the environmental issues in India faced by Indias people is lack of access
or inadequate fresh water resources. As Indias industries get bigger so will the amount of water
they require and the amounts are already beginning to spiral. For instance, Coca Cola factory
was accused for years of messing up an entire ecosystem. By simply diverting all the water to
their factory millions of people went without. The company was also accused of causing huge
droughts and contamination to a massive area by exploiting an excessive amount of groundwater
and then replacing it with toxic discharge. Of course, being a big company its name came into
news but there is no doubt that there are many examples of these things being happening in
India.

Years of exploitation and extraction of groundwater in India has caused the national water table
to suddenly and very dramatically drop. Considering that 85% of rural drinking water and 55%
of urban water comes from underground sources, this seems to me a very urgent problem as

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literally hundreds of millions of people could be left without water...does it even bear thinking
about!

The rivers are on the front line of pollution in India. Millions of people depend on them for their
livelihoods but they are slowly being polluted and destroyed by sewage, chemicals and other
agricultural and industrial waste. These are some of the most polluted rivers in the world but
little seems to be to stem the incessant destruction.

o DEFORESTATION

The story of deforestation is another of the highly serious environmental issues in India. It is
predicted that almost 5.3 Million hectares of forest have been destroyed since the independence.
Most of it being chopped down for housing, industrialisation and river projects. It is estimated
that the number of Mangrove Forests have more than halved in the last 20 years.

The government soon recognized the importance that these forests hold for the conservation of
soil and put forward a range of polices trying to curb the destruction; of course, nothing has
really changed and thousands of acres are destroyed every year with nothing in the way of
'replacement'. Poor management and abuse of power are again the increasingly sad cause behind
the mass deforestation of India, some call it greed. Protected areas are largely declassified so that
commercial activities can take place but new areas are not reclassified. Poaching is another
factor, people actually coming in and steeling trees and one of the final blows to the forest of
India who already seem to have lost the battle is the invasion of foreign tree species such as
Eucalyptus etc.

o AIR POLLUTION

The India air pollution rate is one of the highest in the world making it one of the most
dangerous places to live with roughly 2.2 million people each and every year dying as a
direct result of air pollution.

The contributors to the terrible air quality in India are numerous and obvious and range from
transport (one of the highest contributing factors) as well as industry, household pollution
from cooking and heating and of course India's notoriously bad coal power stations.

75% of households in India use wood as the number one fuel - in turn resulting in a death
rate of about half a million people a year and serious illnesses for millions more including
lung cancer, lung infections and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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 As previously mentioned, the main contributor of air pollution is the transport system,. This
stems primarily from the use of older diesel engines which kick out on average 170 times
more sulphur than modern engines. As a consequence of this, the asthma rate for children in
some of the larger cities is now at 50% and rising fast. A surprising cause of the pollution is
surprisingly cremations. Over two thirds of the Indian population burn their dead and most of
the time on open fires.

o PLASTIC AND OTHER WASTES

Plastic isn't in any urgency to degrade but the people of India don't seem to recognise this as
they throw every unwanted item onto the floor wherever they are. Of course, the victims of
these environmental issues in India are the future generations and the animals. The holy cows
that are so integral to Indian life are slowly being killed from the huge amount of plastic bags
they consume that eventually rap around their insides.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES

Basically, there are seven Pollution regulations.

1. The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and its amendments;

2. The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1974 and its amendments;

3. The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and its amendments;

4. The Environment (Prevention) Act, 1986 and its amendments, (a) National Environmental
Tribunal Act of 1995 and (b) National Environmental Appellate Authority Act of 1997;

5. Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules, July 1989 and

6. The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991.

The Public Liability Insurance Act 1991 has been included as the sixth environmental regulation
because it is the first regulation which gives some teeth to the other five pollution regulations
listed above.

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1. THE WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT, 1974 AND ITS
AMENDMENTS

The purpose of this act is to provide for the prevention and control of water pollution and the
maintenance or restoring wholesomeness of water for the establishment, with a view to carrying
out the purpose of aforesaid of Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution.

The Act specifically prohibits any poisonous, noxious or polluting matter into any stream or
well. Consent from the State Board is required for any type of new discharge into any new
stream or well. This also includes consent for temperature discharges as done by cooling tower
users. Penalties for non-compliance with the permit or polluting in any way are imprisonment for
three months and fine of Rs. 10,000 (One US Dollar equals about thirty six Indian Rupees) or
fine up to Rs. 5,000 per day of violation or both plus any expenses incurred by the Board for
sampling, analysis, inspection etc. These penalties can also be imposed for obstructing any
person acting under the orders or direction of the Board or for damages to any work or
property of the Board.

2. THE WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) CESS ACT, 1977

This law provides for the levy and collection of a Cess on water consumed by persons carrying
on certain industries and by local authorities, with a view to augment the resources of the Central
and State Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution constituted under the Water
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. Industries were specified in Schedule I. They
are:

Schedule I

1. Ferrous: Metallurgical industry

2. Non-Ferrous: Metallurgical industry

3. Mining industry

4. Ore processing industry

5. Petroleum industry

6. Petro-chemical industry

7. Chemical industry
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8. Ceramic

9. Cement industry

10.Textile industry

11.Paper industry

12.Fertilizer

13.Coal (including coke) industry

14.Power (thermal and diesel) generating industry

15.Processing of animal or vegetable products industry

3. THE AIR (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT, 1981

This Act was passed for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution. This law
defined an air pollutant as any solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in the atmosphere in
such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or
plants or property or environment.

This Act requires approval prior to operating any industrial plant. Government may suggest
control equipment prior to giving its consent to any industry for its operation. It may include
chimney etc. In case there is any new technology for emission control, then the Board may insist
on this to being installed. Standards specific to industries have been specified.

Penalties were for a minimum of six months imprisonment to a maximum of seven years and
fine up to Rs. 5,000 for every day during which contravention continues after conviction for the
first such contravention.

4. THE ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION ACT, 1986)

The Act was enacted to provide for the protection and improvement of environment and for
matters connected therewith. this act defined environment which includes water, air, and land
and the inter-relationship which exists among and between water, air and land, and human
beings, other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and property. It also defined a hazardous
substance as any substance or preparation which, by reason of its chemical or physics-chemical

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properties, or handling, is liable to cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plants,
microorganisms, property or the environment.

This law requires that all companies must have some sort of a Spill Prevention Control and
Countermeasures Plan (SPCC). Environmental auditing is required by this law starting in 1993.
This report is to be submitted to the State Pollution Control Board. The law indicates that the
government may recognize one or more lab as environmental lab to carry out tests, etc.

Penalty for contravention of the act may be punishable by imprisonment up to seven years or
fine up to Rs 1 lakh (One lakh equals one hundred thousand). Additional fine of up to Rs 5,000
for every day of violation.

5. HAZARDOUS WASTE (MANAGEMENT AND HANDLING) RULES, July 1989

The Ministry of Environment and Forests came out with Wastes (Management and Handling)
Rules, July 1989 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. The main purpose for
promulgation of these Rules was for management and handling of hazardous substances. The
basis of any environmental pollution has been the generation and disposal of hazardous
substances. To regulate them, all the above regulations have been promulgated. Proper disposal
is probably the most important aspect of any industry.

6. THE PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE ACT, 1991

The purpose of this Act is to provide for public liability insurance for the purpose of providing
immediate relief to the persons affected by accident occurring while handling any hazardous
substance and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. For the first time, this Act
holds the owner liable for death or injury to any person, damage to any property resulting from
an accident. The claimant shall not be required to plead and establish that death, injury or
damage in respect of which the claim has been made was due to any wrongful act neglect or
default of any person. Only Workman has been excluded from this Act as he is covered under the
Workmens Compensation Act, 1923 (8 of 1923).

Under this Act, Environment Relief Fund has been established. This fund may be used in case of
any emergency. Non-compliance is punishable by 3 months imprisonment or fine which may
extend to Rupees ten thousand or both. Medical expenses are also payable under this Act. This
Act provides for immediate relief of Rs. 25,000 per person in case of death and Rs. 12,500 in
case of injury to be paid immediately.

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 GLOBAL MEASURES AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES
Regulatory and Incentive-based Policies

The techniques used by regulatory agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), to control pollution range from charges for the right to pollute to regulations that impose
limits to the amount of a pollutant. Among these are the following:

Emission Charges

Emission Charges are prices established for the right to emit a unit of a pollutant.

Example: In the United Sates industrial polluters pay effluent fees for the right to dump waste in
municipal water treatment plants.

Advantage: Directly internalizes a negative externality by pricing the use of the environment to
dispose of waste.

Emission Standards

Limits established by government on the annual amounts and kinds of pollutants that can be
emitted into the air or water by producers or users of certain products.

Example:

EPA places limits on the number of grams/mile of hydrocarbons, nitrogen dioxide and carbon
monoxide emitted per automobile. The automobile industry satisfies these standards by
equipping cars with catalytic converters. In turn, this device raises the cost of cars.

Command and Control Regulation

A system or rule that requires the use of specific pollution control devices on certain sources of
pollution or applies strict emission standards to specific emitters.

Example: All newly produced automobiles are required to have catalytic converters to meet EPA
emission standards.

Pollution Rights

A government-issued permit allowing a firm to emit a specified quantity of polluting waste.

Example: Michigan's Air Emissions Trading Program.

Advantages:

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- Pollution permits are tradable at free market prices.
- Regulatory authorities can control the amount of pollution by limiting the number of
certificates.
- Provides a choice: purchase permits and pollute or reduce pollution and save the cost of
permits.
- Provides an incentive to reduce emissions in order to sell previously purchased pollution rights.

Emission Offsets

EPA policy which allows a new firm to be established in an area where additional polluting
emissions resulting from the firm's operations normally would prevent the firm from being
approved by EPA. Under this policy the new firm, before it is approved, most induce other firms
in the area to reduce emissions usually through a cash payment.

The Bubble

EPA policy which allows a firm to exceed the amount of emission of a pollutant, if it reduces
another pollutant by more than the current standard. This policy has been named the bubble
because it places a virtual enclosure over the firm to monitor various types of emissions.

Banking of Emissions

A firm that emits less than the specified level of a pollutant is given a credit that allows them to
emit more than the standard at some time in the future. The firm is also allowed to sell these
credits for cash to other firms who want to exceed the standards.

Reducing Pollution at the Global level

We have addressed techniques to control environmental pollution at the national level. In some
instances, however, pollution is the result of activities at the global level and nations may be
required to implement international agreements that address current pollution practices. As
environmental problems become global in scope, international cooperation is needed to solve
them. International and regional organizations may play a key role in developing a consensus on
what types of collective action should be pursued. Although the role of international
organizations is extremely important, one should not forget that environmental problems require
action at the national and local levels.

An example of a global environmental issue is the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer,
which will increase exposure to solar UV radiation, thereby increasing the incidence of cancer
and cataracts. The Montreal Protocol (The Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer), signed in 1987, established a timetable for diminishing CFC emissions and the use of
bromine compounds, both of which destroy ozone. In November, 1992, representatives from half
the nations of the world met in Copenhagen to revise the treaty. Provisions of the meeting called
for a quicker phase-out of the previously targeted ozone-destroying chemicals.

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Although both stratospheric ozone depletion and global climate change have been induced by
human actions, there are basic differences between these two problems, which have led to very
different policy scenarios. The ozone issue was simpler and more immediate, its causes were
understood, and its principal dangers could be foreseen with greater confidence. Most important,
the ozone depletion could be stopped with relatively little impact on economies and lifestyles.
All these factors made it feasible for governments to move into action.

On the other hand, the circumstances around the global climate change issue have been different.
The causes of global climate change are less well understood, and there are a lot of uncertainties
and discrepancies about its principal dangers. Mitigation and adaptation responses imply far-
reaching, costly and controversial changes in economic, technological and political behavior
implying personal and national present-day sacrifices on behalf of an uncertain future. Another
obstacle has been the inviolability of sovereignty that occurs in action plans adopted by the
United Nations. Because of the magnitude and uncertainty of these issues, delaying and avoiding
action has been an attractive option for many policy makers. The international response to the
global climate change issue is still in progress.

When the 20th United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development convened in
Rio de Janeiro on June, 1992, Global Climate Change was the most important issue at hand. This
conference, known as the Earth Summit, adopted the detailed Agenda 21, a plan of action to
confront and overcome the economic and ecological problems of the late 20th century, and to
guide the development of the Earth in a sustainable manner. Two other documents resulted from
the Earth Summit in Rio: a convention on biodiversity and a convention on climate change.
These agreements were signed by 154 countries. Here the latter of the two documents will be
considered.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change entered into force on 21st March
1994, after ratified by 50 states. The Convention's general objective is the "stabilization of
greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous
anthropogenic interference with the climate system" (Article 3). To achieve this the Convention
elaborates legally binding commitments in three categories: (1) those to be undertaken by all
Parties; (2) those that apply to OECD countries, except Mexico, the EEC and eleven countries
that are undergoing transition to a market economy; and (3) those to be undertaken by OECD
countries except Mexico and the EEC. Commitments that apply to all Parties are:

- preparation and communication to the Conference of Parties of national inventories of

greenhouse gas emissions caused by human activity using comparable methodologies;

- development and communication to the COP of programs to mitigate effects if greenhouse

gases and measures of adaptation to climate change;

- cooperation on technology related to greenhouse gas emissions for all relevant sectors;

- sustainable management of greenhouse has sinks and reservoirs;

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- cooperation in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change;

- integration of climate change consideration with other policies;

- research to reduce uncertainties concerning scientific knowledge of climate change, the effects
of phenomenon and the effectiveness of responses to it; and exchange of information, on matters
such as technology and the economic consequences of actions covered by the Convention.

Through the negotiations leading to the adoption of the Convention, there was support among
OECD Member countries to establish national emission targets.

Institutions created under the Convention are the Conference of the Parties (COP) and two
subsidiary bodies. One of the primary functions of the COP is periodic examination of the
obligations of the Parties (commitments) and the institutional arrangements under the
Convention. If the commitments established during the Convention are found to be inadequate,
the COP could adopt amendments or one or more protocols to the Convention that would dictate
additional commitments. The COP met in Kyoto in December 1997 with this goal. The Kyoto
Protocol on Climate Change is the product of this conference.

The Kyoto Protocol on Climate Change and the CoP-4

The Conference of the Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change held a conference in Kyoto, Japan on December 1-11, 1997 to agree on a plan to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. The agreed to plan makes use of global free market forces to protect
the environment. The Kyoto Protocol will be open for signature in March 1998. To enter into
force, it must be ratified by at least 55 countries, accounting for at least 55% of the total 1990
carbon dioxide emissions of developed countries.

Key Aspects of the Kyoto Protocol :

- A set of binding emissions targets for developed nations. The specific limits vary from country
to country. Examples of specific limits: 8% below 1990 emission levels for the European Union
countries, 7% for the United States and 6% for Japan.

- Emission targets are to be reached over a five-year budget period, the first budget period being
2008-2012.

- The emission targets include of major greenhouse gases: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous
oxide, and synthetic substitutes for ozone-depleting CFCs.

- Activities that absorb carbon (sinks), such as planting trees, will be offset against emissions
targets.

- International emission trading will be allowed. Countries that have met their targets for
emission reduction and have room to spare can sell emission permits to companies or countries.
Emissions trading can provide a powerful economic incentive to cut emissions while also
allowing important flexibility for taking cost-effective actions.

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- Countries with emission targets may get credit towards their targets through project-based
emission reductions in other such countries. The private sector may participate in these
activities.

- Through the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) developed countries will be able to use
certified emissions reductions from project activities in developing countries to contribute to
their compliance with greenhouse gas reduction targets. Certified emissions reductions achieved
starting in the year 2000 can count toward compliance with the first budget period.

- The Protocol identifies various sectors (including transport, energy, agriculture, forestry and
waste management) in which actions should be considered in developing countries to combat
climate change and provides for more specific reporting on actions taken.

- The protocol contains several provisions intended to promote compliance.

At a conference held November 2-13, 1998, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Parties to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change agreed to a two-year action plan for advancing the
agenda outlined in the Kyoto Protocol. The Buenos Aires conference (known also as the "Fourth
Session of the Conference of the Parties" or "CoP-4") saw a significant breakthrough on the issue
of developing country participation in international efforts to address climate change. Argentina
became the first developing country to announce its intention to take on a binding emissions
target for the 2008-2012 time period. Kazakhstan announced that it intended to do so as well.
Greater engagement in Buenos Aires on the part of developing countries was evidenced in other
areas as well. One notable example was the growing interest of countries in Latin America and
Africa in the Clean Development Mechanism, one of the Protocol's market-based provisions that
provides incentives for investment in clean technology projects.

During the Buenos Aires conference, on November 12, 1998, the United States signed the Kyoto
Protocol at the United Nations in New York. Signing does not impose an obligation on the
United States to implement the Kyoto Protocol. (The Protocol cannot become binding on the
United States without the approval of the United States Senate.) The President will not submit
the Protocol to the U.S. Senate for approval without the meaningful participation of key
developing countries in efforts to address climate change.

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 PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION
1. Air Pollution

Use of wood and dung cakes should be replaced by cleaner fuels such as biogas, kerosene
or electricity. But supply of electricity is limited. Similarly kerosene is also limited.
Improved stoves for looking like smokeless chullahs have high thermal efficiency and
reduced emission of pollutants including smoke. The house designs should incorporate a
well ventilated kitchen. Use of biogas and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) need to be
encouraged. Those species of trees such as bevel (Acacia nilotica) which are least smoky
should be planted and used. Charcoal is a comparatively cleaner fuel. Indoor pollution
due to decay of exposed kitchen waste can be reduced by covering the waste properly.
Segregation of waste, pre-treatment at source, sterilization of rooms will help in checking
indoor air pollution.

Industrial pollution can be greatly reduced by:

(a) use of cleaner fuels such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) in power plants, fertilizer
plants etc. which is cheaper in addition to being environmentally friendly.

(b) employing environment friendly industrial processes so that emission of pollutants

and hazardous waste is minimized.

(c) installing devices which reduce release of pollutants. Devices like filters, electrostatic
precipitators, inertial collectors, scrubbers, gravel bed filters or dry scrubbers are
described below:

(i) Filters Filters remove particulate matter from the gas stream. The medium of a filter
may be made of fibrous materials like cloth, granular material like sand, a rigid material
like screen, or any mat like felt pad. Baghouse filtration system is the most common one
and is made of cotton or synthetic fibres (for low temperatures) or glass cloth fabrics (for
higher temperature up to 290oC).

(ii) Electrostatic precipitators (ESP)- The emanating dust is charged with ions and the
ionized particulate matter is collected on an oppositely charged surface. The particles are
removed from the collection surface by occasional shaking or by rapping the surface.
ESPs are used in boilers, furnaces, and many other units of thermal power plants, cement
factories, steel plants, etc.

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(ii) Inertial collectors It works on the principle that inertia of SPM in a gas is higher than
its solvent and as inertia is a function of the mass of the particulate matter this device
collects heavier particles more efficiently. Cyclone is a common inertial collector used
in gas cleaning plants.

(iii) Scrubbers Scrubbers are wet collectors. They remove aerosols from a stream of gas
either by collecting wet particles on a surface followed by their removal, or else the
particles are wetted by a scrubbing liquid. The particles get trapped as they travel from
supporting gaseous medium across the interface to the liquid scrubbing medium.
Gaseous pollutants can be removed by absorption in a liquid using a wet scrubber and
depends on the type of the gas to be removed e.g. for removal of sulphur dioxide alkaline
solution is needed as it dissolves sulphur dioxide. Gaseous pollutants may be absorbed
on an activated solid surface like silica gel, alumina, carbon, etc. Silica gel can remove
water vapour. Condensation allows the recovery of many by products in coal and
petroleum processing industries from their liquid effluents. Apart from the use of above
mentioned devices, other control measures are-

increasing the height of chimneys.

closing industries which pollute the environment.

shifting of polluting industries away from cities and heavily populated areas.

development and maintenance of green belt of adequate width.

The emission standards for automobiles have been set which if followed will reduce the
pollution. Standards have been set for the durability of catalytic converters which reduce
vehicular emission.

In cities like Delhi, motor vehicles need to obtain Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate
at regular intervals. This ensures that levels of pollutants emitted from vehicle exhaust are
not beyond the prescribed legal limits.

The price of diesel is much cheaper than petrol which promotes use of diesel. To reduce
emission of sulphur dioxide, sulphur content in diesel has been reduced to 0.05%.

Earlier lead in the form of tetraethyl lead was added in the petrol to raise octane level for
smooth running of engines. Addition of lead in petrol has been banned to prevent emission of
lead particles with the vehicular emission.
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 2. Water Pollution

Waste water from domestic or industrial sources or from garbage dumps is generally known
as sewage. It may also contain rain water and surface runoff. The sewage water can be
treated to make it safe for disposal into water bodies like rivers, lakes etc. The treatment
involves three stages: primary, secondary and tertiary. This includes 1. Sedimentation, 2.
Coagulation/flocculation, 3.filtration, 4.disinfection, 5.softening and 6.aeration. The first four
steps are of primary treatment. The first three steps are involved in primary treatment remove
suspended particulate matter. Secondary treatment removes organic solids, left out after
primary treatment, through their microbial decomposition. Effluents after secondary
treatment may be clean but contain large amounts of nitrogen, in form of ammonia, nitrates
and phosphorous which can cause problem of eutrophication upon their discharge into a
receiving water body such as river, lake or pond. The tertiary treatment is meant to remove
nutrients, disinfect for removing pathogenic bacteria, and aeration removes hydrogen
sulphide and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide and make water healthy and fit for aquatic
organisms. This treatment of waste water or sewage is carried out in effluent treatment plants
especially built for this purpose. The residue obtained from primary treatment one known as
sludge.

Water Recycling - With increasing population the requirement for water is increasing
rapidly. However, the availability of water is limited but an ever increasing water withdrawal
from different sources such as rivers, lakes and ground water is depleting these sources and
deteriorating their water quality. Therefore, it is essential to utilize the available water with
maximum economy. This involves recycling of waste water for certain uses with or without
treatment. Recycling refers to the use of waste-water by the original user prior to the
discharge either to a treatment system or to a receiving water body. Thus the waste water is
recovered and repetitively recycled with or without treatment by the same user.

The following measures can be adopted to control water pollution:

(a) The water requirement should be minimized by altering the techniques involved.

(b) Water should be reused with or without treatment.

(c) Recycling of water after treatment should be practiced to the maximum extent possible.

(d) The quantity of waste water discharge should be minimized.

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 3. Soil Pollution

Indiscriminate disposal of solid waste should be avoided. To control soil pollution, it is

essential to stop the use of plastic bags and instead use bags of degradable materials like
paper and cloth. Sewage should be treated properly before using as fertilizer and as landfills.
The organic matter from domestic, agricultural and other waste should be segregated and
subjected to vermicomposting which generates useful manure as a by product. The industrial
wastes prior to disposal should be properly treated for removing hazardous materials.
Biomedical waste should be separately collected and incinerated in proper incinerators.

4. Noise Pollution

Following steps can be taken to control or minimize noise pollution-

Road traffic noise can be reduced by better designing and proper maintenance of
vehicles.

Noise abatement measures include creating noise mounds, noise attenuation walls and
well maintained roads and smooth surfacing of roads.

Retrofitting of locomotives, continuously welded rail track, use of electric locomotives

or deployment of quieter rolling stock will reduce noises emanating from trains.

Air traffic noise can be reduced by appropriate insulation and introduction of noise
regulations for take off and landing of aircrafts at the airport.

Industrial noises can be reduced by sound proofing equipment like generators and areas
producing lot of noise.

Power tools, very loud music and land movers, public functions using loudspeakers, etc
should not be permitted at night. Use of horns, alarms, refrigeration units, etc. is to be
restricted. Use of fire crackers which are noisy and cause air pollution should be
restricted.

A green belt of trees is an efficient noise absorber.

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 CONCLUSION

Environmental Pollution appears as Global issue and in future the world community of
humankind must have to bear its unpreventable consequences. Their ever increasing greed and
selfishness are the major reasons behind it. Government, though, provides every rules,
prevention measures and policies to avoid it at Global level but their implication even at normal
level is not done properly because of the personal greed and inefficiency in taking strict
decisions.

Still time is available to use technology and information for environmental use. Government in
developing countries need to design programs, set standards, and take action to mitigate adverse
health effects of pollution. Healthy people mean human resources are the main object of any
successful business or country. And We the people, the humans have that power to make our as
well as future generations life prosperous, full of happiness and more importantly, HEALTHY.

A profound change is possible only if all of us change our mindsets. Albert Einstein said, You
cant solve a problem with the same mindset which created it in the first place. We mistakenly
see a difference between other beings and ourselves, between nature and ourselves. When we
truly begin to see ourselves as an indivisible part of the universe, there will be a fundamental
shift in our mindset.
Perhaps the first step in saving the planet is to fall in love with its beauty. The second step is to
hear within us the sounds of the earth crying. The third step is to put this new understanding into
action. If the planet is to saved from destruction, we need many Chipko-type peoples
movements. If you look at the science that describes what is happening on earth today and arent
pessimistic, you dont have the correct data. We should embrace the crisis as an opportunity and
move from Empire to Earth community, from Dominator story to Partnership story, and from
Competition to Cooperation. Real solutions already exist for building the future we want. It is
just a matter of grabbing hold and getting moving.

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 BIBLIOGRAPHY

The Clean Water Act 20 Years Later, Robert W. Adler, J. C. Landman, and D. M.
Cameron, Island Press, Washington D. C. , 1993.
Climate Change Policy Initiatives, Vol. 1, International Energy Agency, OECD, 1994.
Rajagopalan, R. Environment An illustrated journey
http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/lectures/pollution_control/pol
pollut_control.html
http://www.all-about-india.com/Environmental-issues-in-India.html
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/pollution
http://www.researchersworld.com/vol2/issue2/Paper_23.pdf
http://www.unep.org/urban_environment/PDFs/DandoraWasteDump-
ReportSummary.pdf
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/471400/environmental-pollution-indias-
competitiveness.html
http://www.uccee.org/Environmental_Pollution.html
http://www.importantindia.com/10612/essay-on-environmental-pollution/
http://www.who.int/entity/whr/2010/whr10_en.pdf
www.state.gov/www/global/global_issues/climate/index.html
http://www.colorado.edu/economics/morey/4999Ethics/Kneese1971.pdf

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