MODULE 05

GLOBAL WARMING
Global Warming
Definition
“Global warming is a gradual increase in the
earth’s temperature generally due to the
greenhouse effect caused by increased levels
of carbon dioxide, CFCs, and other
pollutants. “
Global warming is the phenomenon of a gradual increase in the temperature near
the earth’s surface. This phenomenon has been observed over the past one or two
centuries. This change has disturbed the climatic pattern of the earth. However, the
concept of global warming is quite controversial but the scientists have provided
relevant data in support of the fact that the temperature of the earth is rising
constantly.

There are several causes of global warming, which have a negative effect on
humans, plants and animals. These causes may be natural or might be the outcome
of human activities. In order to curb the issues, it is very important to understand the
negative impacts of global warming.
CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING
Man-made Causes of Global Warming

Deforestation
Use of Vehicles
Chlorofluorocarbon
Industrial Development
Agriculture
Overpopulation

Natural causes of global warming

Volcanoes
Water Vapour
Melting Permafrost
Forest Blazes
Man-made Causes of Global Warming
Deforestation
Plants are the main source of oxygen. They take in carbon dioxide and release
oxygen thereby maintaining environmental balance. Forests are being depleted
for many domestic and commercial purposes. This has led to an environmental
imbalance, thereby giving rise to global warming.

Use of Vehicles
The use of vehicles, even for a very short distance results in various gaseous
emissions. Vehicles burn fossil fuels which emit a large amount of carbon
dioxide and other toxins into the atmosphere resulting in a temperature increase.

Chlorofluorocarbon
With the excessive use of air conditioners and refrigerators, humans have been
adding CFCs into the environment which affects the atmospheric ozone layer.
The ozone layer protects the earth surface from the harmful ultraviolet rays
emitted by the sun. The CFCs have led to ozone layer depletion making way for
the ultraviolet rays, thereby increasing the temperature of the earth.
Industrial Development
With the advent of industrialization, the temperature of the earth has been increasing rapidly. The
harmful emissions from the factories add to the increasing temperature of the earth.
In 2013, the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change reported that the increase in the global
temperature between 1880 and 2012 has been 0.9 degrees Celsius. The increase is 1.1 degrees
Celsius when compared to the pre-industrial mean temperature.

Agriculture
Various farming activities produce carbon dioxide and methane gas. These add to the greenhouse
gases in the atmosphere and increase the temperature of the earth.

Overpopulation
An increase in population means more people breathing. This leads to an increase in the level of
carbon dioxide, the primary gas causing global warming, in the atmosphere.
NATURAL CAUSES OF GLOBAL WARMING
Volcanoes
Volcanoes are one of the largest natural contributors to global warming. The ash and smoke emitted during volcanic eruptions
goes out into the atmosphere and affects the climate.

Water Vapour
Water vapour is a kind of greenhouse gas. Due to the increase in the earth’s temperature, more water gets evaporated from the
water bodies and stays in the atmosphere adding to global warming.

Melting Permafrost
Permafrost is frozen soil that has environmental gases trapped in it for several years and is present below Earth’s surface. It is
present in glaciers. As the permafrost melts, it releases the gases back into the atmosphere, increasing Earth’s temperature.

Forest Blazes
Forest blazes or forest fires emit a large amount of carbon-containing smoke. These gases are released into the atmosphere and
increase the earth’s temperature resulting in global warming.
EFFECTS OF GLOBAL WARMING

Rise in Temperature
Threats to the Ecosystem
Climate Change
High Mortality Rates
Spread of Diseases
Loss of Natural Habitat
Rise in Temperature
Global warming has led to an incredible increase in earth’s temperature. Since 1880, the earth’s temperature has increased
by ~1 degrees. This has resulted in an increase in the melting of glaciers, which have led to an increase in the sea level.
This could have devastating effects on coastal regions.

Threats to the Ecosystem

Global warming has affected the coral reefs that can lead to the loss of plant and animal lives. Increase in global
temperatures has made the fragility of coral reefs even worse.

Climate Change
Global warming has led to a change in climatic conditions. There are droughts at some places and floods at some. This
climatic imbalance is the result of global warming.

Spread of Diseases
Global warming leads to a change in the patterns of heat and humidity. This has led to the movement of mosquitoes that
carry and spread diseases.

High Mortality Rates

Due to an increase in floods, tsunamis and other natural calamities, the average death toll usually increases. Also, such
events can bring about the spread of diseases that can hamper human life.

Loss of Natural Habitat

A global shift in the climate leads to the loss of habitats of several plants and animals. In this case, the animals need to
migrate from their natural habitat and many of them even become extinct. This is yet another major impact of global
warming on biodiversity.
GLOBAL WARMING INDICATORS
1.Ocean heat content is increasing.
2. Air temperature over ocean is increasing.
3. Sea surface temperature is increasing.
4. Global sea level is rising.
5. Humidity is increasing.
6. Temperature of the lower atmosphere is increasing.
7. Air temperature over land is increasing.
8. Higher temperatures.
9. More droughts.
10. Wilder weather.
11. Changing rain and snow patterns.
12. Less snowpack.
13. Melting glaciers.
14. Shrinking sea ice.
15. Thawing permafrost.
GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
INDICATORS
• Air temperatures over land are increasing.
• Air temperatures over oceans are increasing
• Arctic sea ice is decreasing.
• Glaciers are melting.
• Sea levels are rising.
• Ocean heat content is increasing.
• Sea surface temperature is increasing.
• Snow is decreasing.
• Earth's lower atmosphere temperature is increasing.
Air temperatures over land are increasing.
It’s clear that weather stations on land show average air temperatures are rising, and as a result, the frequency and severity of droughts and heat waves are increasing. Intense droughts can lead to destructive wildfires,
failed crops, and low water supplies, many of which are deeply affecting southern areas of the United States and other parts of the world

Air temperatures over oceans are increasing

Roughly 70 percent of the world is covered by oceans, so you can understand how hotter air over them could make a vast difference in the climate system. Oceans evaporate more water as the air right near the surface
gets warmer. The result? More floods, more hurricanes, and more extreme precipitation events.

Arctic sea ice is decreasing.

Satellite images from space show that the area covered by sea ice in the Arctic is shrinking and it’s continued a downward trend for the past 30 years. The Arctic ice cap grows each winter when
there’s less sunlight, and shrinks each summer when days are longer, reaching its lowest point of the year in September.
Some research suggests that the Arctic could lose almost all of its summer ice cover by 2100, but others believe that it could melt completely much sooner than that – in just a few decades.

Glaciers are melting

The disappearance of glaciers is one of the clearest signs of climate change. People who rely on melting glacier water are facing shortages, and in many regions, the situation is only getting
worse.
In a world unaffected by climate change, glacier mass stays balanced, meaning the ice that evaporates in the summer is fully replaced by snowfall in the winter. However, when more ice melts
than is replaced, the glacier loses mass. And the people who depend on melting ice for water to support their farming and living needs are deeply affected.
Sea levels are rising
Sea levels have been rising for the past century. And the pace is only increasing in recent years as glaciers melt faster and
water temperatures increase, causing oceans to expand. You can imagine how this would affect the almost 40 percent of the
US population that lives in a highly populated coastal area. Let’s not forget that eight of the 10 largest cities in the world
are near a coast.
Consider how many millions of people are at risk as sea levels rise, storms intensify, and more extreme flooding occurs.
Additionally, marine life is threatened as salt water intrudes into fresh water aquifers, many of which support human
communities and natural ecosystems.

Humidity is increasing
More humidity means more water vapor is in the air, making it feel stickier in hot weather. Water vapor itself is an
important part of the water cycle, and it contributes to the earth’s natural greenhouse effect. Air conditioners have to work
much harder to make us feel cool as the amount of water vapor in the air increases. Which means more energy use, which
can in turn contribute to more climate change. Lose-lose.

Ocean heat content is increasing

The ocean stores and releases heat over long periods of time. This is a natural and important part of stabilizing the climate
system. Natural climate patterns (think, El Niño) occur regularly because of warmer ocean waters and influence areas like
regional climates and marine life.
But it’s when short-term, natural climate patterns like El Niño occur at the same time as oceans are becoming warmer and
warmer that we know that larger changes are happening. The increased heat content leads to higher sea levels, melting
glaciers, and stress to marine ecosystems.
Sea surface temperature is increasing
Measuring instruments show that water temperatures at the ocean’s surface are going up. To some extent, this is a
normal pattern: the ocean surface warms as it absorbs sunlight. The ocean then releases some of its heat into the
atmosphere, creating wind and rain clouds.
However, as the ocean’s surface temperature continues to increase over time, more and more heat is released into the
atmosphere. This additional heat can lead to stronger and more frequent storms like tropical cyclones and hurricanes.

Snow is decresing
Satellites show areas covered by snow in the Northern Hemisphere are becoming smaller. Snow is important as it helps
control how much of the sun’s energy Earth absorbs. Light-colored snow and ice reflect this energy back into space,
helping keep the planet cool.
However, as the snow and ice melts, it’s replaced by dark land and ocean, both of which absorb energy. The amount of
snow and ice loss in the last 30 years is higher than many scientists predicted, which means the Earth is absorbing more
solar energy than had been projected.
Earth’s lower atmosphere temperature is increasing .

The lowest layer of the atmosphere, called the troposphere, is the layer we’re most familiar with – it’s where we live and
where our weather occurs. Satellite measurements show that this lowest layer of the atmosphere is warming as
greenhouse gases build up and trap heat that radiates from the Earth’s surface.
Scientists tell us that human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels, caused this increase in atmospheric
temperatures. In fact, carbon dioxide levels have increased about 40 percent since the Industrial Revolution began in
1750. And unless we put a stop to this trend as soon as possible, these levels – and temperatures – likely will increase
even more.
HEALTH IMPACTS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE
CHANGE
HEALTH IMPACTS OF GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity, and health professionals worldwide
are already responding to the health harms caused by this unfolding crisis.

Climate change is already impacting health in a myriad of ways, including by leading to death and
illness from increasingly frequent extreme weather events, such as heatwaves, storms and floods, the
disruption of food systems, increases in zoonoses and food-, water- and vector-borne diseases, and
mental health issues.

Furthermore, climate change is undermining many of the social determinants for good health, such as
livelihoods, equality and access to health care and social support structures.

These climate-sensitive health risks are disproportionately felt by the most vulnerable and
disadvantaged, including women, children, ethnic minorities, poor communities, migrants or displaced
persons, older populations, and those with underlying health conditions.
• Although it is unequivocal that climate change affects human health, it remains
challenging to accurately estimate the scale and impact of many climate-sensitive
health risks.
However, scientific advances progressively allow us to attribute an increase in
morbidity and mortality to human-induced warming, and more accurately
determine the risks and scale of these health threats.

In the short- to medium-term, the health impacts of climate change will be

determined mainly by the vulnerability of populations, their resilience to the
current rate of climate change and the extent and pace of adaptation.

In the longer-term, the effects will increasingly depend on the extent to which
transformational action is taken now to reduce emissions and avoid the breaching
of dangerous temperature thresholds and potential irreversible tipping points.
Global warming effects on biodiversity
Only a small change in pattern of climate has severe impact on the biodiversity, altering the habitats of the
species and presenting a threat for their survival, making them vulnerable to extinction. Millennium Ecosystem
Assessment (MEA) predicts climate change to be the principal threat to the biological diversity.

Due to increase in temperature several plant species like Berberisa siatica, Taraxacum officinale, Jasminum
officinale etc. have shifted towards higher altitude in Nainital. Teak dominated forests are predicted to replace
the Sal trees in central India and also the conifers may be replaced by the deciduous types.

According to Gates (1990) 3°Cincrease in temperature may leads to the forest movement of 2.50 km/ year
which is ten times the rate of natural forest movement. Anonymous (2009) reported that changes in climate
affects the normal life cycle of plant. He also reported that invasive species (Lantana, Parthenium and
Ageratum conyzoides) are a threat to native species being more tolerant to climatic variations.

Variation in temperature and precipitation patterns can result in more frequent droughts and droughts and floods
making indigenous plants more vulnerable to pests and diseases (Tibbetts, 2007). Slight change in climatic
condition leads to the extinction of animal species. For example climate change has resulted in extinction of
animals like golden toad and Monteverde
Polar bears are in danger due to reduction in Arctic ice cover;
North Atlantic whale may become extinct, as planktons which are its main food have shown declination due to
climate change.

Though the exact impact of climate change on India's natural resources is yet to be studied in detail,
pioneering studies show that endemic mammals like the Nilgiri tahr face an increased risk of extinction.

Further, there are indicative reports of certain species e.g., Black-and rufous flycatcher (Mikania micrantha)
shifting their lower limits of distribution to higher reaches, and sporadic dying of patches of Shola forests with
the rise in ambient surface temperatures.

The sex ratio of sea turtle disturb because as a result of high temperature more female turtles are produced.

Some threatened species (frogs, toads, amphibians, tigers and elephants) are vulnerable to the impacts of
climate change like sea level changes and longer drier spells.

Changes in ocean temperature and acidification may lead to loss of 95% of the living corals of Australia's
Great Barrier Reef .

Climate change also alters the disease behavior in animals. The devastating amphibian disease chytrid fungus,
likely exacerbated by warmer temperatures, has left many amphibian populations dwindling or extinct.
INTRODUCTION TO GLOBAL EFFORTS IN CONSERVATION
OF BIODIVERSITY
Several international conventions focus on biodiversity issues
1. Convention on Biological Diversity (year of entry into force: 1993)
2.Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species,
3.Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1975),
4. International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2004),
5.Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971),
6.World Heritage Convention (1972)
7.International Plant Protection Convention (1952),
8. International Whaling Commission (1946).

Biodiversity-related conventions work to implement actions at the national, regional and

international level in order to reach shared goals of conservation and sustainable use. In meeting
their objectives, the conventions have developed a number of complementary approaches (site,
species, genetic resources and/or ecosystem-based) and operational.
Biodiversity-related conventions

Convention on Biological Diversity

The objectives of the CBD are the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components,
and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from commercial and other utilization of genetic
resources. The agreement covers all ecosystems, species, and genetic resources.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
The CITES aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten
their survival. Through its three appendices, the Convention accords varying degrees of protection to more than
30,000 plant and animal species.

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals

The CMS, or the Bonn Convention aims to conserve terrestrial, marine and avian migratory species throughout
their range. Parties to the CMS work together to conserve migratory species and their habitats by providing
strict protection for the most endangered migratory species, by concluding regional multilateral agreements for
the conservation and management of specific species or categories of species, and by undertaking co-operative
research and conservation activities.
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
The objectives of the Treaty are the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of their use, in harmony with the
Convention on Biological Diversity, for sustainable agriculture and food security. The Treaty covers all plant
genetic resources for food and agriculture, while its Multilateral System of Access and Benefit-sharing covers a
specific list of 64 crops and forages. The Treaty also includes provisions on Farmers' Rights.

Convention on Wetlands (popularly known as the Ramsar Convention)

The Ramsar Convention provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the
conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. The convention covers all aspects of wetland
conservation and wise use, recognizing wetlands as ecosystems that are extremely important for biodiversity
conservation in general and for the well-being of human communities.

World Heritage Convention (WHC)

The primary mission of the WHC is to identify and conserve the world's cultural and natural heritage, by
drawing up a list of sites whose outstanding values should be preserved for all humanity and to ensure their
protection through a closer co-operation among nations.
International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
The IPPC aims to protect world plant resources, including cultivated and wild plants by preventing
the introduction and spread of plant pests and promoting the appropriate measures for their control.
The convention provides the mechanisms to develop the International Standards for Phytosanitary
Measures (ISPMs), and to help countries to implement the ISPMs and the other obligations under the
IPPC, by facilitating the national capacity development, national reporting and dispute settlement.
The Secretariat of the IPPC is hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations (FAO).

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

The purpose of the IWC is to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make
possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.

International Whaling Commission (IWC)

The purpose of the IWC is to provide for the proper conservation of whale stocks and thus make
possible the orderly development of the whaling industry.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the formal process used to predict the
environmental consequences (positive or negative) of a plan, policy, program, or project
prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. Formal impact assessments
may be governed by rules of administrative procedure regarding public participation and
documentation of decision making, and may be subject to judicial review. An impact
assessment may propose measures to adjust impacts to acceptable levels or to investigate
new technological solutions (Encyclopedia, 2015). It is anticipatory, participatory, and
systematic in nature and relies on multidisciplinary input.

The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an EIA as

‘‘The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical,
social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major
decisions being taken and commitments made.’
Screening to determine which projects or developments require a full or partial impact assessment
study

Scoping to identify which potential impacts are relevant to assess (based on legislative requirements,
international conventions, expert knowledge and public involvement), to identify alternative
solutions that avoid, mitigate or compensate adverse impacts on biodiversity (including the option of
not proceeding with the development, finding alternative designs or sites which avoid the impacts,
incorporating safeguards in the design of the project, or providing compensation for adverse
impacts), and finally to derive terms of reference for the impact assessment;

Assessment and evaluation of impacts and development of alternatives, to predict and identify
the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, including the detailed
elaboration of alternatives;
Reporting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or EIA report, including an environmental
management plan (EMP), and a non-technical summary for the general audience.
Review of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), based on the terms of reference
(scoping) and public (including authority) participation.

Decision-making on whether to approve the project or not, and under what conditions; and
Monitoring, compliance, enforcement and environmental auditing. Monitor whether the
predicted impacts and proposed mitigation measures occur as defined in the EMP. Verify the
compliance of proponent with the EMP, to ensure that unpredicted impacts or failed
mitigation measures are identified and addressed in a timely fashion.
EIA Regulations In India
History of EIA in India
The Indian experience with Environmental Impact Assessment began over 20 years back. It started in 1976-77
when the Planning Commission asked the Department of Science and Technology to examine the river-valley
projects from an environmental angle.

This was subsequently extended to cover those projects, which required the approval of the Public Investment
Board. Till 1994, environmental clearance from the Central Government was an administrative decision and
lacked legislative support.

On 27 January 1994, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF), Government of India, under the
Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, promulgated an EIA notification making Environmental Clearance (EC)
mandatory for expansion or modernisation of any activity or for setting up new projects listed in Schedule 1 of
the notification.

Since then there have been 12 amendments made in the EIA notification of 1994.
The MoEF recently notified new EIA legislation in September 2020.

The notification makes it mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal
power plants, river valley, infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbours and
airports) and industries including very small electroplating or foundry units to get
environment clearance.
However, unlike the EIA Notification of 1994, the new legislation has put the onus
of clearing projects on the state government depending on the size/capacity of the
project.

Certain activities permissible under the Coastal Regulation Zone Act, 1991 also
require similar clearance. Additionally, donor agencies operating in India like the
World Bank and the ADB have a different set of requirements for giving
environmental clearance to projects that are funded by them.
STATUS OF EIA IN INDIA
EIA amendment, 2020
The draft of EIA 2020 (Amendment) was put up for public discussion and consideration by the government last year. The
government proposed certain changes to the 2006 Notification in order to make the entire process transparent and applicant
friendly, which were described to be ‘diluting’ the existing environmental regulations and shrink the scope of EIA, by
environmentalists in and around the country.

The new draft provides for the definition of many terms related to EIA, reducing ambiguity in the existing law to a certain
extent.

The new rules provide for an ‘ex post facto clearance’ route under which certain projects can go ahead with the construction
without obtaining the necessary clearance, subject to the payment of fines in cases of violations, subsequently.
Such clearances in past have been termed to be illegal by the courts in various decisions, most recently in April 2020, in the
case of Alembic Pharmaceuticals Ltd v Rohit Prajapati, the Apex Court while condemning and striking down an ex post facto
clearance, observed that it is in derogation of environmental jurisprudence and an ‘anathema’ to the EIA Notification, 1994.
Referring to the judgment of Common Cause v Union of India, the court opined that such clearances
could lead to irreparable degradation of the environment.

The period of time given to the public to file its concerns regarding the project has been reduced to
20 days, as against the 20 days provided by the 2006 notification.

A new category of projects has been instituted under the head of ‘Projects Involving Strategic
Considerations,’ which have been kept outside the purview of public consultations.
Once a project is labeled to be strategic, no information regarding it shall be made public as a matter
of right.

Any violations taking place can only be reported suo moto by the appraisal/ regulatory authority, the
government, or the proponents themselves.

Monitoring requirements of environmental clearances have been relaxed by allowing the submission
of annual compliance reports instead of the previously mandated half-yearly ones, increasing the risk
of any hazardous implication- health-wise, environmentally or socially, going unnoticed.
Monitoring of environmental clearances
The MoEF and State level Impact Assessment Authorities are obligated
to place the granted environmental clearances in the public domain on
their respective government portals, and copies of the same need to be
submitted to the heads of the concerned local bodies panchayats or
municipal authorities.

It is mandatory for the proponents of the project to submit the

compliance reports to the concerned regulatory authorities, after every
six months, on 1st June and 1st December, every year.
LIST OF PROJECTS NEEDING CLEARANCE UNDER
EIA NOTIFICATION

Mining , extraction of natural resources and power generation (for a

specified production capacity)
Mining of Minerals
Offshore and Onshore oil and gas exploration, development & production
River Valley Projects
Thermal Power Plants
Nuclear Power Projects and Processing of Nuclear Fuel
Primary Processing
Coal Washeries
Mineral beneficiation
Materials Production
Metallurgical industries
Cement Plants
Materials Processing
Petroleum refining industry
Coke oven plants
Asbestos milling and asbestos based products
Chlor-alkali industry
Soda ash industry
Leather/skin/hide processing I
nd
Manufacturing/ Fabrication
Chemical Fertilizers
Pesticide industry and pesticide specific intermediates
Petro-chemical complexes
Man made fibers manufacturing
Petrochemical based processing
Synthetic organic chemicals industry
Integrated paint industry
Pulp and Paper industry
Sugar industry
Service Sectors
Oil and gas transportation pipe line
Isolated storage and handling of hazardous chemicals

Physical Infrastructure including Environmental Services

Airports
All ship breaking yards including ship breaking units
Industrial estates/parks/complexes/areas, Export Processing Zones, and Special Economic Zones, Bio-tech
Parks, Leather complexes.
Common hazardous waste treatment , storage and disposal facilities
Ports , Harbours, break waters, and dredging
Highways
Aerial ropeways
Common Effluent Treatment Plants
Common Municipal Solid Waste Management Facility

Building/Construction projects/Area Development Projects and Townships

Building and Construction projects
Townships and Area Development Projects
CASE STUDY OF HYDRO POWER PROJECT
The study was conducted during 2011 to investigate the impacts of Kol-dam construction
on people and their overall economy. There was a loss of total land holding per family in
the range of 33.07 to 64.46 per cent in 5 affected villages selected for the study. However in
case of cultivated land there was a loss in the range of 36.15 to 67.36 per cent in 5 sampled
villages. Submergence of land resulted in the loss of different trees (fodder, timber, fuel
wood and fruit) from villages’ farmland in the range of 37.45 to 80.60 per cent in 5 affected
village. There was a substantial decrease in the livestock population which ranged from
52.50 to 59.60 per cent. Construction of dam resulted in loss of assets to the extent of 33.33
to 45.45 percent in different villages. Overall there was a decrease in on-farm sectors (crop
& livestock) ranged from 42.86 to 81.17 per cent whereas an increase in off- farm income
(jobs and private business) ranges from 13.33 - 48.33 per cent has been observed from the
affected villages. Hence it can be concluded that there was a loss of on-farm income
resources like agriculture land and its associated resources i.e. important tree species and
livestock. This might have serious impact on local biodiversity as well as on the life style of
project affected families.
It has been concluded from the present
investigations that dam construction have resulted
in loss of on-farm income sources like agriculture
land, farm land trees and livestock population as
well as associated income of project affected families
from these resources was also affected in the study
area.
Case study of thermal power plant
Case study
The deadly gas leak at the LG Polymer Plant in Vizag in May last year, which took as many
as twelve lives, along with harming hundreds, was found to be operating without
environmental clearances for years; the already deteriorating and ecologically sensitive
region of the Western Ghats has been bombarded with proposed projects which would lead
to a significant loss of green cover, compromising the sustenance of River Cauvery in the
region- are certain occasions which serve as reminders for the need strengthen the existing
environmental regulations for the benefit of the public and preservation of the environment
for future generations.

As has been the aim and intention of environmental legislation throughout the world and in
India, to promote and uphold the balance between development and preservation of the
environment, it becomes increasingly important to realize the importance of environmental
impact assessment towards achieving the goal of achieving the goal sustainable
development.
Thank you