Introduction:
The Environment and the subject Economics are inseparably linked since pre-independence times, reason being the three important services offered by the environment to mankind.
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The capital required to begin any business venture is derived from the renewable or non-renewable resources of the environment. One may sell land or cut trees to derive capital.
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The nature has the capacity to absorb all the waste or residue generated by the economic units viz. factories, corporate houses, etc.
- The environment gives us humans life support, which is our most fundamental requirement. Our existance enables us to carry on processes of economic development at various levels.
Business ventures
in different sectors like industry, transport, telecommunications, etc, have resulted in over exploitation of the natural resources which has in turn resulted into resource scarcity. Economic development has continued unstoppably and today the natural resources are depleting at a faster rate than economic development itself. Over exploitation of nature for economic pursuits has been the very reason for the emergence of Environmental Laws in India. Today, the resource scarcity and high pollution levels have created an adverse impact upon our lives.
Environmental Pollution and its major kinds:
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The Environmental Protection Act, 1986 defines "Pollution" under Section 2(k) as 'the presence in the environment of any environmental pollutant'.
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Section 2(b) of the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 (hereafter mentioned as E.P. Act, 1986), defines 'Pollutant' as 'any solid, liquid or gaseous substances present in such concentration as may tend to be injurious to the environment'.
- In simple words, Pollution is the contamination of the environment which has an adverse impact upon life in all forms.
Many people think that air, water and soil pollution are the three distinct forms of pollution, whereas there are many kinds of pollution. The major kinds of pollution are, Air Pollution, Water Pollution, Soil Contamination, Solid Waste Pollution, Light Pollution, Littering, Thermal Pollution and Radioactive Contamination.
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Air Pollution: Motor vehicle emissions, release of chemicals and common gaseous pollutants into the air cause air pollution. The Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs'), Carbon monoxide, Sulphur di oxide and Nitrogen oxides are the common air pollutants.
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Water Pollution: The emission of liquid pollutants in the form of chemicals, untreated sewage water, agricultural water run off which may contain Urea and other fertilizers are the main sources of water pollution.
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Soil Contamination: Use of pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides, release of chemicals by industries or leakage causes soil pollution.
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Solid Waste Pollution: It is also known as Visual Pollution. This includes excessive number of objects which are a disruption to a normal living. Eg: overhead telephone and electricity lines, open storage of trash in municipal areas and colonies maintained under municipalities.
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Light Pollution: Light pollution includes over-illumination of lamps, which has adverse affect on the routine lifestyles of all people.
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Littering: Throwing garbage and waste materials in public and private spaces constitutes littering.
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Thermal Pollution: Degradation of water quality by change in water temperature due to any reason is called thermal pollution. The main cause of thermal pollution is that water is used by thermal power reactors and industries, as a coolant. This causes reduction of oxygen level in that water and also raises its temperature. Increased water temperature adversely affects acquatic life, by increasing their metabolic rate, therby resulting in dying of fishes and other animals soon enough.
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Radioactive Contamination: Contamination can occur from radioactive particles, liquids and gases. Undesired radioactivity can cause severe damage and the magnitude of the resulting hazard cannot be possibly indicated previously.
The first major legislation with the objective of reducing environmental pollution was enacted in the year 1974 in India, which is now known as the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act. This was
followed by another legislation, resulting into another enactment in the year 1981, better known as the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Thereafter, the laws were enacted for environment protection.
Goals of Environmental Policy:
The main goal of the environmental policy is to prevent further degradation of the environment. Other goals include protection of human health as the major concern, ensuring the viability of wildlife, preservation of historical monuments. The goal of preservation of historical monuments gained momentum when the Taj Mahal was threatened by emissions from a new proposed industrial plant. As a whole, steps have been taken to prevent further degradation of the environment by appointment of State Agencies for keeping a check upon the existing industries and the emerging industrial units in the states. These State Agencies have been appointed under the Government of India, so that new industrial units take permission from them to begin industrial activities. Industrial activities can only be commenced when these agencies give permission, subject to terms and conditions.
For successful implementation of this policy, certain faculties like the infrastructure of the regulatory agencies, scientific knowledge about the fate of environmental pollutants and monitoring skills etc, are of paramount importance.