UNIT IV

SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

UNSUSTAINABLE TO SUSTAINABLE

Definition

Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generation to
meet their own needs.

True sustainable development aims to optimum use of natural resources with high degree of
reusability, minimum wastage, lease generation of toxic by-products and maximum productivity.

URBAN ENERGY PROBLEMS

Usage of energy in Urban areas

1. Residential and commercial lightings

2. Transportation
3. Industries
4. Usage of Electrical-gadgets (eg. Fridge, washing-machine, Air-conditioning system,
water-heater, etc.).

Possible Solution of Urban energy problems

1. Usage of public transport system

2. Minimising energy consumption.
3. Increase in production capacity
4. Use of energy efficient technologies.
5. Using solar and wind energies.
6. Imposing strict laws, penalties for violators.

WATER MANAGEMENT

Water conservation strategies

1. Reducing evaporation losses.

2. Reducing irrigation losses sprinkling irrigation, drip irrigation. Growing increased
yield variety crops.
3. Re-use of water after treatment.
4. Preventing wastage of water closing taps when not in use, repairing leakage, etc.
5. Decreasing run off losses.
6. Avoid discharge of sewage into natural water resources.
RAIN-WATER HARVESTING

Advantages

1. Reduction in use of energy in pumping water.

2. Achieving drought proofing.
3. Increase in availability of water from well.
4. Rise in ground water levels.
5. Minimizing soil erosion and flood hazards.
6. Upgrading social and environmental status.
7. Future generation is assured of water.

RE-SETTLEMENT AND RE-HABILITATION

Causes

1. Construction of dams, mines, roads, airports.

2. Due to disaster like earth-quakes, floods, droughts, tsunami, etc.

Resettlement

Simple relocation or displacement of human population. This process does not focus on
their future welfare.
Rehabilitation

It involves making a system to work again which includes replacing economic assets,
safeguard employment, provide safe land, restore social services, etc.

SOLUTION ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

1. Reduce wastage of matter and energy.

2. Recycle and re-use waster products.
3. Reduce over-exploitation of natural resources.
4. Minimize soil erosion.
5. More usage of non-conventional and renewable energy sources.
6. Protection of biodiversity.
7. Reduce population and increase economic growth.

ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICAL GUIDELINES

1. Love and honour the earth.

2. Keep each day sacred to earth and celebrate turning of seasons.
3. Humans have NO rights to drive other livings to extinction.
4. Grateful to plants and animals.
5. Avoid construction of destructive weapons.
6. Future generations have rights to live in a clean and safe environment.
7. Consume resources moderately.

CLIMATE

Definition

Climate is the average weather conditions of an area over a long period.

Causes of climate change

1. Releasing green house gases in atmosphere

2. Depletion of ozone layer.
3. Uneven distribution of rainfall.
4. Seasonal changes.

Effect of climate change

1. Disturbance in agriculture.
2. Disturbance in hydrological cycle which results in flood or drought.
3. Disturbance in global pattern of wind and ocean currents.
GREEN HOUSE EFFECT

Definition

The green house effect may be defined as the progressive warming-up of the earths surface
due to blanketing effect of man made gases in the atmosphere.

Gases responsible for green house effect are: CO2, CH4, N2O, CFCs.

GLOBAL WARMING

Effects
1. Increase in sea level.
2. Agriculture and forestry are affected.
3. Droughts and floods become more common.
4. Affect ecosystem.
5. Breaking of more water borne diseases, infectious diseases, etc.

Prevention of Global warming

1. Emission of CO2 should be reduced.

2. Implement energy conservation measures.
3. Use renewable energy like wind, solar, hydro power etc.
4. Plant more trees.
5. Shift from coal to natural gas.
6. Adopt sustainable agriculture.
7. Stabilize population growth.
OZONE LAYER DEPLETION

Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS)

1. CFC (chloro fluoro carbon)

- from refrigerants, propellants in aerosols, plastic blowing agent, etc.

2. HCFC (hydro chloro fluoro carbon)

- Refrigerants, blowing agents.

3. BFC (bromo fluoro carbon)

- Fire extinguishers.

WASTE LAND RECLAMATION

Land which is not in use is called waste land. It is classified into two types.

1. Uncultivable waste land - Rocky areas, hilly slopes, sandy deserts, etc.
2. Cultivable waste land Degraded forests, gullied lands, water logged
and marsh lands, saline lands, etc.

Formation of waste land

1. Due to soil erosion, deforestation, over-grazing, water logging, salinity.

2. Increase in use of firewood. Excessive use of pesticides.
3. Construction of dams and power projects.
4. Over exploitation of natural resources.
5. Dumping of sewage and industrial wastes.
6. Mining.
Methods of wasteland reclamation

1. Draining excessive water.

2. Leaching of salt from soil by passing water.
3. Better irrigation practices.
4. Usage of biofertilizers.
5. Applying gypsum in accelerate formation of clay.
6. Aforestation programmes.

WATER (PREVENTION AND CONTROL OF POLLUTION) ACT, 1974.

Objectives
- Prevention and control of water pollution.
- Restoring wholesomeness of water.
- Establishing central and state boards for prevention and control of water pollution.

Important features of Water Act, 1974.

1. Protect water from all kinds of pollution and preserve aquifers.

2. Establishment of Central Board and State Boards for prevention of water pollution.
3. The State are empowered to restrain any person discharging pollutants into water
body.
4. Penal action on violators.

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

This Act was enacted in the Conference held at Stockholm in 1972.

Objectives

- Prevention and control of air pollution

- To maintain quality of air.
- To establish board for prevention and control of air pollution.

Important features of Air Act.

1. The Central Board may lay down the standards of quality of air.
2. The State Boards are empowered to lay down standards for emission of air pollutants
from industries, automobiles, etc.
3. The State Board are to examine manufacturing process, and verify the standards
prescribed for industries.
4. The State Board can advice the State Government to implement laws in preventing
burning of waste, plastic, rubber products, etc.
5. Violation of law is punishable with imprisonment and heavy fines.

FOREST (CONSERVATION (OR) PRESERVATIVE) ACT, 1980.

Objectives
To protect and conserve forest.
- To ensure judicious use of forest products.
Important features of Forest Act

1. Reserve forests shall not be dereserved without permission from Government.

2. Land registered as forest may not be used for non-forest purposes.
3. Any illegal non-forest activity within forest area is punishable.
4. Forest departments are forbidden to assign the forest land for lease or to a private
person.

WILDLIFE (PROTECTION) ACT, 1972.

Objectives

- To maintain essential ecological processes and life-supporting systems.

- To preserve biodiversity.
- To ensure a continuous use of species.

Important features of Wildlife Act

1. The Act covers the rights and non-rights of forest dwellers.

2. Provides restricted grazing in sanctuaries.
3. Prohibits collection of non-timber forest.

ENVIRONMENT (PROTECTION) ACT, 1986.

Objectives

- To protect and improve the environment.

- To prevent hazards to living creatures and property.
- To maintain harmonious relationship between humans and their environment.

Important features of Environment Act.

1. The Act empowers Government to lay procedures to prevent accidents which causes
pollution.
2. The Government has authority to close down industries which violate the Act.
3. Persons who fails to comply with Act are punishable.
4. The Act empowers officials to inscpect machineries and any time or to collect
effluent samples for testing.

ISO 14000

ISO 14000 is the environmental management standards. Its purpose is to promote effective
and efficient environmental management system.

ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

Objectives
- To identify the main issues and problem of the parties.
- To identify why the problems arise.