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UNIT IV
SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

From unsustainable to sustainable development – urban problems related to energy –

water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management – resettlement and
rehabilitation of people; its problems and concerns, case studies – role of
nongovernmental organization- environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions –
climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents and
holocaust, case studies. – wasteland reclamation – consumerism and waste products
–environment production act – Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) act – Water
(Prevention and control of Pollution) act – Wildlife protection act – Forest conservation
act – enforcement machinery involved in environmental legislation- central and state
pollution control boards- Public awareness.

Books Referred:
1. Gilbert M.Masters, “Introduction to Environmental Engineering and
Science”, 2nd Edition, Pearson Education ,2004.
2. Benny Joseph, “Environmental Science and Engineering”, Tata McGraw-Hill, New
Delhi, 2006.

Signature of Subject Handling Staff HOD/EEE

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UNIT IV

SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

From unsustainable to sustainable development – urban problems related to energy –

water conservation, rain water harvesting, watershed management – resettlement and
rehabilitation of people; its problems and concerns, case studies – role of
nongovernmental organization- environmental ethics: Issues and possible solutions –
climate change, global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, nuclear accidents
and holocaust, case studies. – wasteland reclamation – consumerism and waste
products –environment production act – Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) act
– Water (Prevention and control of Pollution) act – Wildlife protection act – Forest
conservation act – enforcement machinery involved in environmental legislation-
central and state pollution control boards- Public awareness.

Objectives
Developing and modernizing the technologies without losing our sound traditional
values and practices is essential.

From unsustainable to sustainable development:

Brundland commission describes sustainable development as the development that meet
needs of present generation without compromising ability of future generations to meet their
own need.

Sustainable development
Meeting the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future
generations, to meet their own need

Concept of sustainable development

• A symbiotic relationship between consumer human race and producer natural system
• Compatibility between ecology and economics
True sustainable development
• Optimum use of natural resources with high degree of reusability, minimum
• wastage, least generation of toxic byproducts and maximum productivity.
Dimensions of sustainable development
• Multi dimensional concept – derived from interactions between society, economy
• and environment.

Aim of sustainable development:

• Inter generational equity
• Intra generational technology

Significance of sustainable development:

• Developing appropriate technology - locally adaptable, eco-friendly, resource
efficient and culturally suitable.
• Reduce , reuse, recycle(3R) of natural resources – reduces waste generation and
pollution
• Providing environmental education and awareness – Changing attitude of the people
• Consumption of renewable resources – attain sustainability
• Conservation of nonrenewable resources – conserved by recycling and reusing
• Population control

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Urban problems related to energy:

Urbanization:
Movement of human population from rural areas top urban areas for betterment of
education, communication, health, employment etc

Causes; Cities are main centers of economic growth, trade, transportation, education,
medical facilities and employment

Urban sprawl: Urban growth is fast , so difficult to accommodate with their limited area .So
cities spread into rural areas
• Urban energy requirement:
• Residential and commercial lighting
• Public and private transportation
• Electrical and electronic appliances
Solution:
Use public transport instead of motor cycles
Energy consumption must be minimized
Use solar and wind energy
Impose strict laws, penalty, and energy audit

WATER CONSERVATION
The process of saving water for future utilization.
Water source:
• Fresh water
• River
• Stream
• Pond
• Ocean
Need for water conservation
• Changes in environmental factors
• Better lifestyles
• Increase in population
• Deforestation
• Over exploitation of ground water
• Agricultural and industrial activities.
Strategies of water conservation
• Reducing evaporation losses
• Reducing irrigation losses
• Re use of water
• Preventing of wastage of water
• Decreasing run-off losses
• Avoid discharge of sewage.
Methods of water conservation
• Rain water harvesting- A technique of capturing and storing of rain water for
further utilization.
• Watershed Management

Rain water Harvesting

Objectives of rain water harvesting
• Increasing demands
• Recharging the ground water
• Reducing the ground water
• Increase in hydro static pressure.

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Roof top rainwater harvesting

• Involves collecting water that falls on roof of house
• Rainwater from roof top, road surface, play ground diverted to surface tank

Advantages of rainwater harvesting

• Increases the well water availability
• Raise ground water level
• Minimizes soil erosion

Watershed management
The management of rainfall and resultant run-off. It is defined as land area bounded
by divide line from which water drains under influence of gravity in to stream, lakes,
reservoir. Eg : Pits, dams, farm, ponds, Himalayas.

Types
1. Micro
2. Mini
3. Macro

Objectives
• To minimize of risk of floods
• For improving the economy
• For developmental activities
• To generate huge employment opportunities
• To promote forestry
• To protect soil from erosion.
Factors affecting watershed
• Unplanned land use
• Deforestation
• Droughty climates.
Forestry
Halt deforestation, provide vegetative cover, degraded land and supplement folder and
fuel wood resources available to rural communities
Agriculture
• Aims to increase agricultural productivity in sustained manner and to diversify crop
production
• Major objective shall be achieved through organizing farmers, training camps and
exposure visits.
• Construct check dams, water harvesting tanks, storage tanks and channels , repair of
old channels , implementing measures to check soil erosion

Horticulture
• establishment of private orchard
• Rejuvenation of existing orchards
• Distribution of horticulture plant for home garden planting.
• Animal husbandry
• Energy conservation
• Community participation
• Training and awareness programme

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Advantages of Watershed projects

• Improved access to drinking water in project areas during drought
• Increase in cultivation area leading to increase in employment
• Increase in crop yield, resulting better income to rural population
• Improved availability of fodder for animals and increase in milk yield
• Increase in employment & involvement of women
• Increase in net returns from all crops.
• Decrease in soil erosion
• Restoration of ecological balance.

RESETTLEMENT AND REHABILITATION OF PEOPLE

Resettlement – simple relocation or displacement of human population.

Rehabilitation – making, system to work again by allowing, system to function naturally.

Includes replacing the lost economic assets, Safeguard Employment, Provide safe land for
building.

Repair damaged infrastructure.

Causes
• Due to Developmental activities
• Due to Disaster
• Due to conservation initiatives.

Effects:
• Loss of land
• Loss of recourse
• Unsatisfactory comp[enasation
• Social and cultura problems
• Changes in tradition of indigenous people
• Spread of disease
• Submergence of valuable forest
• Waterlogging
• Extinction of wild life

Rehabilitation issues
• Displacement of tribal’s increases poverty
• Breakup of families
• Communal ownership of property
• Vanishing social and cultural activities
• Loss of identity between the people.

Case Studies
Sardar Sarovar Dam, the Theri dam Project, Pong Dam.

Environmental ethics
Refers to the issues, principles and guidelines relating to human interactions with
their environment.
Over exploitation of forests, land, water as well as various living components of
biosphere and failure to tackle the problem of pollution and environmental degradation are
exposing the humanly to the thread of a global environment crisis.

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It emphasis that real development cannot occur unless the strategies which are
formulated are implemented are environmentally sustainable. Even though our government
is formulating several rules, regulations, policies, laws, it is the duty of each and every one to
protect our nature.
Therefore human beings are ethically responsible for the preservation of the world‟s
ecological integrity. The environment ethics literally means conscious efforts to protect
environment and to maintain its stability from the pollutants. Following are some of the ways
to safeguard environment.
1. To sacrifice the consumption of some of the good which reduces environment quality
2. Minimize the resource utilization and conservation
3. Adopt sustainable and eco friendly development. (e.g) reduction of waste, recycling,
waste management and harvesting non conventional energy
If we change as individuals then the society will also change by itself. The society is nothing
but an extension of the individual.

Environmental problems
• Deforestation
• Population growth
• Pollution due to effluent and smoke
• Water scarcity
• Land degradation.

Solutions
• Reducing the energy sources
• Recycle and reuse of waste products
• Soil degradation
• Sustainable development
• Protection of Bio – diversity
• Reducing the population.

CLIMATE
The average weather of an area.
Causes of climate change
• Presence of green house gases
• Depletion of ozone gases.
Effect of climate change
• Migration of animals
• Upsetting the hydrological cycles results in floods and droughts
• Changes in global pattern of winds.

Green House Effect and Global Warming:

The progressive warming of earth surface due to blanketing effect of man made CO2
in the atmosphere.
Green house gases- causing global warming CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCs.
The raise of earth‟s surface temperature due to intense green house effect is called
global warming.

Causes:
Over the last century, the level of carbon dioxide in the atm. Has increase by 25%, the
level of nitrous oxide by 19% and the level of methane by 100%. These 3 major global warming
gases are released into the atm. by burning of fossil fuels, industrialization, mining,
deforestation, exhaust from increasing automobiles and other anthropogenic activities.

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Effects:
1. Increase evaporation of surface water – influence climate change
2. Leads to declining biodiversity
3. Melting of mountain glaciers and polar ice, which cause rise in sea level
4. Change the climate and rainfall – reduction in food production
5. The biological productivity of ocean also decreased due to warming of earth‟s surface
6. With more carbon dioxide in the air, the plants will grow bigger with increase in yield and
resulting in the soils getting poor quality
7. If proper precautions are not taken, the conc. Of green house gases may double in the
atom. with in next 50 years, and will makes the average global temp. to 450 C.

Measures
• Reducing CO2 emission
• Utilizing renewable resources
• Plant more trees
• Adopt sustainable agriculture.

ACID RAIN
The precipitation of CO2, SO2, and NO2 gases as pollutants in water.

Effects of acid rain

1. Human beings
• Destroy life – nervous, respiratory and digestive system
• Causes premature death from heart and lung disorders.
2. On Buildings
Corrosion - Taj Mahal, houses, statues, bridges, metals.
3. On terrestrial and Lake Ecosystem
• Reduces rate of photosynthesis, growth of crops, Fish population.
• And bio mass production.

Control measures
• Clean combustion technologies
• Using pollution control equipments
• Replacement of coal by natural gas
• Liming of lakes and soils.

OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

Ozone is formed in the stratosphere by photo - chemical reaction. Ozone is
an important chemical species present in the stratosphere. Its conc. is about 10 ppm. It acts
as a protective shield for the life on the earth. Ozone is produced and also broken down by
photochemical reactions, thus maintaining equilibrium.

Causes for ozone layer depletion:

1. Chlorine released from CFC and Bromine released from halogens are the most important
chemicals associated with ozone layer depletion
2. The halogens are used in fore extinguishers and CFC are extensively used in air
conditioners and refrigerators.
3. Methyl bromide used during packaging of fruits to prevent bacterial action flows out into
the atmosphere as soon as the packing is opened. This cause heavy damage to ozone.
4. High altitude aircrafts and chemicals emitted by industrial plants and automobiles.

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Effects:
1. On Human health - Marked rise in cause skin cancer
2. Damage immune system
3. Eye ailment such as cataract
4. On materials - Shorter life of paints and plastics
5. Restricted growth and crop damage
6. On aquatic systems – phyto plankton, fish
7. On climate – Increasing the average temperature of the earth surface.

Control Measures
• Replacing CFCs
• Use of methyl bromide – crop fumigant.

NUCLEAR ACCIDENTS AND HOLOCAUST

The release of large amounts of nuclear energy and radioactive products into the
atmosphere.
Nuclear energy was researched by man as an alternate source of energy compared
to fossil fuels. Although this did happen along with the benefits came its downfall. In the
short history of nuclear energy there has been a number of accidents that have surpassed
any natural calamity. A single nuclear accident causes loss of life, long term illness and
destruction of property on a large scale.

Examples
1.THE CARELESS SITING OF INDUSTRIES- Bhopal gas tragedy
The careless siting of industries and relatively poor regulatory controls leads to ill
health in the.The Bhopal gas tragedy on December 2nd 1984, where Union Carbide's
Plant leaked 43 tons of Methyl Isocynate and other substances, used in the manufacture
of pesticides is one of the worst industrial accidents in the recent past. Of the 5,20,000
people who were exposed to the gas - 8,000 died during the first week and another 8,000
later. The impact of the survivors is visible even today.

2. CHERNOBYL REACTOR INCIDENT

On April 25, 1986, Russian engineers and scientists begin preliminary tests on Chernobyl
power plant's 4th reactor. In order to control the experiment, the automatic control system
was shut down. After some work, stability was reached at very low power outputs.
Unfortunately, manual control of the water pressure wasn't maintained. The reactor began
to create excess heat. Without the automatic control, the control rods couldn't be
reinserted in time; a deadly chain reaction had begun. Within a matter of 3-4 seconds, the
reactor went from 5% output to 100 times its normal level. The water in the reactor flash
boiled, creating an explosion that leveled thousands of tons of concrete and steel,
including the housing for the reactor. The steam carried almost 70% of the nuclear
material out of the reactor into the surrounding environment. Several thousand volunteers
died on the scene, and it is estimated that 7,000 to 10,000 volunteers died in total,
considering short and long-term effects. Thousands of miles from the scene, the birth
defect rate became double the world average. It is also estimated that 150,000 were put at
risk for thyroid cancer, and over 800,000 children were put at risk of contracting
leukemia. 2 million acres of land (1/5 of the usable farmland in the Ukraine) was, and
still is, completely unusable. It remains difficult to determine the scope of the disaster;
radiation resulting from the event was detected all over the globe. It is estimated that it
may cost up to $400 billion and will take up to 200 years to correct the damage done to
the area, and to compensate those affected by the meltdown.

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Effects
• Nuclear winter
• Ignition of all combustible material
Control Measures
• Suitable precautions to avoid accident
• Constant monitoring of the radiation level
• Checks and control measures done by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board.

Waste land reclamation:

Any land which is not put to optimal use is defined as waste land. The waste land do not
fulfill their life sustain potential wasteland contributes about 20.17% of the total geographical
area of India. The land which is not in use – unproductive, unfit for cultivation another
economic uses.

Types of waste land

1. Uncultivable waste land
– Barren rocky areas, hilly slopes, sandy deserts.
2. Cultivable waste land
- degraded forest lands, gullied lands. Marsh lands, saline land etc.

Reasons for formation

• Over grazing and over exploitation
• Toxic effluent discharged from sewage and industrial wastes
• Mining activities destroy forest and cultivable land
• Use of pesticides also produce wasteland
• Erosion, desertification, water logging also degrade land

Wastelands can be reclaimed by the following way

• Conserving the soil – land is brought under vegetal cover. This can be done by
growing grasses and shrubs
• To reclaim the land/soil, effective participation of the people, voluntary agencies and
government is very important

Methods of waste land reclamation

• Drainage
• Leaching
• Irrigation practices
• Green manures and bio fertilizers
• Application of Gypsum
• Afforestation programmes
• Social forestry programmes.

Consumerism and Waste Products

Consumerism refers to the consumption of resources by the people. Early human
societies used to consume much less resources. But the consumerism has increased to a
very large extent. Consumerism is related to both population size and increase in demands
due to change in life style.
Population has increased tremendously. World Bank estimates our population to
reach 11 billion by 2045. Two types of conditions of population and consumerism exists.
1. People over – population: When there are more people than available food, water and
other resources in an area – causes degradation of limited resources – poverty and under
nourishments. Low Developed Countries (LDC) are more prone to these conditions. There is
less per capita consumption although the overall consumption is high.

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2. Consumption over – population: These conditions occur in more developed countries

(MDC). Population size is smaller but the resource consumption is high due to luxurious life
style (i.e.) per capita consumption is high. More consumption of resources lead to high waste
generation – greater is the degradation of the environment.

According to Paul Ehrlich and John Hodlren model

Overall environmental impact = no. of people x per capita use of resources x waste
generated per unit of resources

Parameter MDC LDC

No. of low High
people
Per capita high Low
consumption
of resources
Waste high Low
generated

Over all environmental impact of these two types of consumerism may be same or even
greater in case of MDC.

Objectives of Consumerisation
• Improves rights and power of the buyers
• Making the manufacturer liable
• Reuse and recycle the product
• Reclaiming useful parts
• Reusable packing materials
• Health and happiness.

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986

CG is to take action to protect and improve environment and SG to co ordinate actions. CG
to set up
1. Std of quality of ]air, water or soil
2. Maximum permissible limits of concentration of pollutants (including noise pollutant)
3. procedures and safe guard for handling hazardous items
4. Prohibition of using hazardous items
5. Prohibition and restriction of certain industries in certain area
6. Procedure and safe guard for prevention of accidents

Environment (Protection) Rules, 1986

SPCB is to follow the guidelines provided in schedule VI. Some are as follows
1. Advises industries for treating the waste water and gases – use of technology – achieve
prescribed std.
2. Encourage recycling and reusing the wastes
3. Encourage recovery of biogas, energy and reusable matter
4. Discharge of effluents and emissions into environment is permitted by SPCB after taking
into account capacity of the receiving water body
5. To emphasize clean technology to increase fuel efficiency and decrease environmental
pollutants

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The act provides for environmental Audit for checking complying with the environmental laws
and regulations.

Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

An Act to provide for the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution, for the
establishment, with a view to carrying out the aforesaid purposes, of Boards, for conferring
on and assigning to such Boards powers and functions relating thereto and for matters
connected therewith.
• Whereas decisions were taken at the United Nations Conference on the Hum an
Environment held in Stockholm in June, 1972, in which India participated, to take
appropriate steps for the preservation of the natural resources of the earth which,
among other things, include the preservation of the quality of air and control of air
pollution; and whereas it is considered necessary to implement the decisions
aforesaid in so far as they relate to the preservation of the quality of air and control of
air pollution;
• Be it enacted by Parliament in the Thirty-second Year of the Republic of India

Salient features
1. Prevention, control and abatement of air pollution
2. Air pollution has been defined as the presence of any solid, liquid or gaseous substance
(including noise) in the atmosphere in such a concentration that may be or tend to be
harmful to human being or any other living creature or plants or property or environment.
3. Noise pollution – inserted in 1987
4. CPCB & SPCB similar to water pollution board
5. Section 20 provides for emission std to auto mobile
6. Section 19 provides for SG to declare „air pollution control area‟ in consultation with
SPCB
7. Direction of PCB can be appealed in the appellate authority.

Water (prevention and control of pollution) Act 1974:

An Act to provide for the levy and collection of water consumed by persons carrying
on certain industries and by local authorities, with a view to augment the resources of the
Central Board and the State Boards for the prevention and control of water pollution
constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Maintaining and restoring the wholesomeness of water by preventing and controlling
its pollution. The salient features and provisions of Act are summed as follows.
1. Maintenance and Restoration of Quality – surface and ground water
2. Establishment of central PCB and state PCB
3. Confers powers and functions to CPCB and SPCB
4. The act provides for funds, budgets, accounts and audits of the CPCB & SPCB
5. The act provides penalties for the defaulters and duties and powers

Water amendment Act 1987- As a result, some of the basic principles of water
law applicable today in India derive from irrigation acts. The early Northern India
Canal and Drainage Act, 1873 sought, for instance, to regulate irrigation,
navigation and drainage in Northern India.
• One of the long-term implications of this act was the introduction of the right of
the Government to ‘use and control for public purposes the water of all rivers and
streams flowing in natural channels, and of all lakes. The 1873 act refrained from
asserting state ownership over surface waters. Nevertheless, this act is a milestone
since it asserted the right of the Government to control water use for the benefit of
the broader public.

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• This was progressively strengthened. Thus, the Madhya Pradesh Irrigation Act,
1931 went much further and asserted direct state control over water: ‘All rights in
the water of any river, natural stream or natural drainage channel, natural lake or
other natural collection of water shall vest in the Government.

Wildlife [protection] act, 1972:

Land mark in the history of wildlife legislation. 1976 the powers are transferred from
state to central government. [I B of W L] was created in 1952 in our country which after WLA,
1972, took up the task of setting National parks and sanctuaries.
It refers to a sweeping package of legislation enacted in 1972 by the Government of
India. Before 1972, India only had five designated national parks. Among other reforms, the
Act established schedules of protected plant and animal species; hunting or harvesting these
species was largely outlawed. The Act provides for the protection of wild animals, birds and
plants; and for matters connected therewith or ancillary or incidental thereto. Formalization of
national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, conservation reserves and community reserves.
Protection to habitat and wildlife within premises of such protected areas.
Development of National Board for Wildlife and State Boards for Wildlife for identification of
future protected areas. Up to April 2010 there have been 16 convictions under this act
relating to the death of tigers.

Wildlife [protection] Act

1 Defines wild life related terminology.
2 Provide appointments of advisory Board, wildlife warden, their powers & duties etc.
3 Prohibition of hunting of endangered species [was first] mentioned.
4 List of endangered species is provided.
5 Guides central 200 authorities.
6 Provides grants for setting up of national parks, wild life sanctuaries etc.
7 The Act imposes ban on trade & commence of scheduled animals.
8 Provides legal proves to officers to punish the offenders.
9 Provide captive breeding programme for endangered species. Many conservation projects
for endangered species were started under this act.
Lion 1972;
Tigers 1973
Crocodile [1974];
Deer 1981.

Forest (conservation) Act, 1980

It deals with conservation of forest and includes reserve forest, protected forest and
any forest land irrespective of ownership.
Environment protection act 1986 (23 May 1986) I- it is a legislation which signifies the
central government determination to take effective steps to protect the environment.
Stating that: No State Government or other authority shall make any order directing-
(i) that any reserved forest shall cease to be reserved;
(ii) that any forest land or any portion thereof may be used for any non-forest
purpose;
(iii) that any forest land or any portion thereof may be assigned by way of lease or
otherwise to any private person or to any authority, corporation, agency or any
other organization not owned, managed or controlled by Government;
(iv) that any forest land or any portion thereof may be cleared of trees which have
grown naturally in that land or portion, for the purpose of using it for reafforestat.

Salient features
1. State government can use forest only forestry purpose.

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2. Provision for conservation of all types of forests. Advisory committee appointed for funding
conservation
3. Illegal non-forest activity within a forest area can be immediately stopped under this act
Non forest activity means clearing land for cash-crop agriculture, mining etc.

However construction in forest for wild life or forest management is exempted from non
forestry activity.

1992 Amendment:
1. This amendment allows transmission lines, seismic surveys, exploration drilling and
hydro electric project in forest area without cutting trees or with limited cutting of trees
– prior approval CG to be sought.
2. Wild life sanctuaries, National parks etc. are prohibited from exploration except with
CG prior approval.
3. Cultivation of coffee, rubber, tea (cash crop), fruit bearing trees, oil yielding trees,
trees of medicinal values are also prohibited in reserved forest area with out prior
approval from CG. Has this may create imbalance to ecology of the forest.
4. Tusser (a type of silk yielding insect) cultivation in forest area is allowed since it
discourages monoculture practices in forests and improves biodiversity.
5. Plantation of mulberry for rearing silk worm is prohibited.
6. Proposal sent to CG for non-forestry activity must have a cost benefit analysis and
environmental impact statement (EIS).

ISSUES INVOLVED IN ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

• Drawbacks of wildlife protection Act
• Drawbacks of Forest Act 1980 and
• Drawbacks of Environment Act 1972.
PUBLIC AWARENESS
Our environment is presently degrading due to many activities like pollution,
deforestation, overgrazing, rapid industrialization and urbanization.
Objectives of public awareness
• Create awareness among people of rural and city about ecological imbalances,
local environment, technological development and various development plants.
• To organize meetings, group discussion on development, tree plantation
programmes exhibitions.
• To learn to live simple and eco-friendlily manner.
Methods to create environmental awareness
• In schools and colleges
• Through mass – media
• Cinema
• Newspapers
• Audio - Visual media
• Voluntary organizations
• Traditional techniques
• Arranging competitions
• Leaders appeal
• Non – government organizations.

Environmental Legislation
1972 June 5th – Environment was first discussed as an agenda in UN conference on
Human Environment. There after every year 5th June is celebrated as Environment Day.

Constitutional Provisions:

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Added in 1976 – Article 48A – “The state shall endeavor to protect and improve the
environment and to safeguard forests and wildlife of the country”

Article 51A (g): “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to protect and improve the
natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for
living creatures”.

By these two articles one constitution makes environment protection and conservation as
one of our fundamental duties.

Central and state pollution control Board:

Central pollution control Board (CPCB):
1. Advices CG in matters – prevention and control of water pollution
2. Co ordinates SPCB and provide technical assistance and guidance
3. Training programs for prevention and control of pollution by mass media and other ways
4. Publishes statistical and technical details about pollution
5. Prepares manual for treatment and disposal of sewerage and trade effluents
6. Lays std for water quality parameters
7. plans nation-wide programs for prevention, control or abatement of pollution
8. Laboratories for analysis of water, sewage or trade effluents

State pollution control Board (SPCB):

SPCB has similar functions as SPCB and governed by CPCB
1. SPCB advises state government w.r.t. location of any industry that might pollute
2. Lays std for effluents to take samples from streams, wells or trade effluents or sewage
passing through an industry. Samples taken are analysed at recognized labs. If the sample
is not confirming to the water quality std, then the unit is neglected
3. Every industry to obtain consent from PCB before commencing an effluent unit by
applying in prescribed form with fee.

Enforcement of environmental legislation – major issues

1. Target of 33% of land to be covered by forest not achieved
2. Rivers turning to open sewers
3. Big towns and cities polluted
4. Wild life endangered
5. EFP (Effluent Treatment Plant) or Air Pollution Control devices are expensive – leads to
closure of units. Government should provide subsidy for small units.
6. Pollution control laws not backed up by policy pronouncements or guidelines
7. Chairman of PCB – political nominee. Hence political interference.
8. Involving public in decision making envisaged by policy statement of the ministry of
environment and forest (1992) is only in paper.

Draw backs of wild life (protection) act

• Fall out of Stockholm conference not localized
• Ownership certificate of animals article – illegal trading
• Trade through J & K. This act not applicable to J&K
• Offender to get just 3 years imprisonment and or Rs.25000/- fine.
Draw backs of the forest (conservation) act 1980
• Inheritance of exploitative and consumerist elements of the British period
• Tribal people (i.e.) inhabitants of forest are left by the act
• Instead of attracting public support (tribal) it has intrigued in the human rights.
• Protection of trees, birds and animals have marginalized poor people.

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PART – A
1. Define the term sustainable development? (or)
What is meant by sustainable development?
It is defined as, “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
2. What are the important aspects of sustainable development?
Inter – generational equity:
It states that we should hand over a safe, healthy and resourceful environment
to our future generations.
Intra – generational equity:
It states that the technological development of rich countries should support the
economic growth of the poor countries and help in narrowing the wealth gap and lead
to sustainability
3. Explain the need for water conservation?
- Though the resources of water are more, the quality and reliability are not high due
to changes in environmental factors
- Better lifestyles require more fresh water
- As the population increases, the requirement of water is also more
- Due to deforestation, the annual rainfall is also decreasing
- Over exploitation of ground water, leads to drought
- Agricultural and industrial activities require more fresh water
4. Define the term environmental ethics?
“Environmental ethics refers to the issues, principles and guidelines relating to
human interactions with their environment”.
5. What is greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect may be defined as, “the progressive warming up of the
earth’s surface due to blanketing effect of man-made CO2 in the atmosphere.”
6. Give some examples of greenhouse gases?
CO2, CH4, N2O and chlorofluoro carbons (CFCs)
7. What are the causes and effects of global warming?
Causes:
Increased inputs of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere from human
activities
Effect:
- Sea level increases
- Negative effect on crop production and forest growth
- Water resources decreases
- Drought nature increases
8. What are the causes and effects of ozone layer depletion?
Causes: presence of
- Chlorofluoro carbon
- Hydro Chloro Fluro Carbon (HCFC)
- Bromo Fluro Carbons (BFC)

Effect:
- UV rays destroys the melamine pigment in human skin
- It also effect the aquatic forms
- It degrade paints, plastics and other polymeric materials
- Increases the average temperature of the earth
9. What is acid rain? (Or) what is acid precipitation?
The presence of excessive acids in rain water is known as acid rain

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10. What is acid precipitation?

It includes acid rain, acid fog, acid snow and other form of precipitation that is
more acidic than normal
The presence of SO2 and NO2 gases in the atmosphere decreases the pH of the water
during the rainfall. This type of precipitation of water is called acid deposition.
11. How CFC’s are accumulated in atmosphere?
CFC’s are accumulated in atmosphere through
- Aerosol propellants
- Cleaning solvents
- Refrigerants (Freon)
- Foam plastic blowing agent
12. Explain the term “Global Warming”?
The increased inputs of CO2 and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere
from human activities will enhance the earth’s natural greenhouse effect of raising the
average global temperature of the atmosphere near the earth’s surface. This enhanced
greenhouse effect is called global warming.
13. What is meant by greenhouse gases?
Greenhouse gases are gases (CO2, CH4, N2O and CFCs) present in
atmosphere, which absorb heat and do not radiate, cause increase in atmospheric and
global temperature. It is similar to the warming effect observed in the greenhouse made
of green glass.
14. What is meant by CDM?
CDM (Clean Development Mechanism) is an arrangement under the kyoto
protocol allowing industrialised countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment
to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries by reducing CO2
and HFC (Hydro Fluro Carbon) emissions.
15. What is meant by environmental audit?
Environmental audits are intended to quantify environmental performance and
environmental position. In this way they perform analogous function to financial audits.
It also aims to define what needs to be done to improve on indicators of such
performance and position
16. What is meant by ISO 14000?
ISO 14000 is the environmental management standards which exist to help
organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment and
comply with applicable laws and regulations.
17. Mention the causes and effects of acid rain?
The gases, nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide, due to burning of coal and oil, in the
atmosphere, react with water to form acids.
SO2 + H2O → H2SO4
NO2 + H2O → HNO3
Effects:
- Acid rain corrodes houses, monuments, statues, bridges and fences
- Acid rain and dry deposition of acidic particles contribute to the corrosion of metals,
and the deterioration of paint and stone
- Dry deposition of acidic compounds can also dirty buildings and other structures,
leading to increased maintenance costs.
18. How does ozone layer depletion take place? Write its consequences?
Depletion of ozone occurs due to the presence of CO2, CFC in the atmosphere
Cl + O3 → ClO + O2
ClO + O → Cl + O2
Consequences:
- Damage genetic materials in the skin cells, which cause skin cancer

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- Affect the aquatic forms (fish)

- Global warming
- Degradation of paints, plastics, etc.,
19. What are the objectives of public awareness?
- To create awareness among people of rural and city about ecological imbalances,
local environment, technological development and various development plants
- To organise meetings, group discussion on development, tree plantation
programmes, exhibitions
- To focus on current environment problems and situations
- To train our planners, decision – makers, politicians and administrators
- To eliminate poverty by providing employment that overcome the basic
environmental issues
- To learn to live simple and eco-friendly manner
20. What are the objectives of environmental impact assessment (EIA)?
It is defined as a formal process of predicting the environmental consequences
of any development projects. It is used to identify the environmental, social and
economic impacts of the project prior to decision making
Objectives of EIA:
- To identify the main issues and problem of the parties
- To identify who is the party
- To identify what are the problems of the parties
- To identify why are the problems arise

PART – B
1. What is sustainable development? Explain.
2. What are factors affecting sustainable development?
3. Briefly explain measures for sustainable development.
4. Discuss the concept of urban problems related to energy.
5. Briefly explain water conservation.
6. Write short notes on water sheet management.
7. List out the benefits of rainwater harvesting.
8. Briefly explain the method of rainwater harvesting.
9. Give short note on environmental ethic.
10. Define global warming.
11. Give short note on green house effect and its impact on environment.
12. Write short note on climatic changes affect in the environment.
13. Give short not on ozone layer depletion and its effects.
14. Explain in detail about acid rain.
15. Write short note on wasteland reclamation.
16. Discuss the concept of consumerism and waste product.
17. The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. Explain.
18. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. Explain.
19. The Wild life Protection Act. Explain.
20. The Forest Conservation Act. Explain.

GE6351- EVS Unit 4