over exploitation of natural resources, Environment, population growth, environmental legislation, Environmental management Standards , Forest conservation Act 1980, Wild life Act, 1972

1. Mr. M. H. Mota
Assistant professor
SITCOE

2.  Increasing use of natural resources by rapidly
increasing human population has resulted in
overexploitation of mother earth.
 The consequences of such exploitation are…
Soil erosion,
Loss of biodiversity and
Pollution of land, air and water bodies.
 This has reached a level which is threatening
human well-being and survival

3.  With growing population,
requirement for space, shelter, and
commodities have exerted enormous
pressure on the environment. To
provide for these, land use has
change dramatically. It has already
been seen that forests have been
cleared for cultivation of grain and
fruit crops.

4.  Clearing land for cultivation to grow more food
 Water scarcity leading to extract more water
from subsurface sources
 Need for human settlements and transport
leading deforestation
 Need for various commodities like metals
 Slum development and Pollution resulting from
overpopulation

5. •Reactions are felt at Local, Regional and Global levels…..
 Soil erosion and Landslides
 •increased frequency of Floods and Drought
 •Silting of river basins
 •Loss of wild habitat and Biodiversity
 •Deforestation and •Loss of CO2 sink
 •Pollution of land, air and water bodies
 Global warming and green house effect

6.  India faces challenges in economic development,
which is to be met from available resources; with
minimum externalities and in presence of an
uncertain climate.
 Environmental policies in India have been evolved
considerably over the past four decades.
 The policies have been responsive to the emerging
concerns of both local and global origin.
 Policies have covered a wide-range of issues such as
air and water pollution, waste management,
biodiversity conservation

7.  In India the law relating to pollution
control is more than 150 years old. The
earliest of them is share (Bombay)
Nuisance Act 1853. The history of
legislative fight against pollution
started with Indian Penal Code, 1860.
Sec 268 defined what is public nuisance.

8. Some of the important environmental legislations
passed by the British were……
1. The Shore Nuisance (Bombay and Kolaba) Act, 1853
2. The Orient Gas Company Act, 1857
3. The Indian Fisheries Act, 1897
4. The Indian Ports Act, 1901
5. The Bengal Smoke Nuisance Act, 1905
6. The Explosives Act, 1908
7. The Indian Ports Act, 1908
8. The Bombay Smoke Nuisance Act, 1912
9. The Indian Steam Vessels Act, 1917
10. The Indian Forest Act, 1927

9.  Environmental law, post-independence, started
growing its roots in India in the early 70’s.
 Inspired by the Stockholm conference, various laws
were passed.
The Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
1974,
The Forest (Conservation) Act 1980,
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
1981,
 The Environment (Protection) Act 1986

10. The main aim of this act is to provide protection
of wild animals, birds and plants for matters
connected with these. and To ensure ecological
and environment security of the country.
The Act adopted two conservation strategies….
 Specified endangered species are protected
regardless of location.
 All species are protected in specified area.

11.  The Water Act was enacted under article
252(1) of the constitution as asocial welfare
measure:-
To prevent and control water pollution.
To establish Central and State boards for the
prevention and control of water pollution and
To provide and confer powers and functions
to the central and state boards to restore
wholesomeness of water.

12.  This act deals with the conservation of
forests.
 The main objectives of this act was to check
deforestation.

13.  The main objectives of this act are…
 To provide for the prevention, control and
abatement of air pollution.
 To provide for the establishment of central
and state boards.
 To lay down the standards to maintain the
quality of air.

14.  It is the first Indian legislation to deal with
environment protection and its components in a
holistic way.
 The EPA provided a framework for management
of hazardous substances, prior assessment of the
environmental impact of major developmental
projects, discharge of industrial pollutants and
effluents into the environment, guidance for
industrial sitting, and management of chemical
accidents.

15. That exists to help organizations…..
 Minimize how their operations (processes etc.) negatively
affect the environment (i.e. cause adverse changes to air,
water, or land);
 Comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other
environmentally oriented requirements, and
 Continually improve in the above.
It maps out a framework that a company or organization
can follow to set up an effective environmental
management system.
It can be used by any organization that wants to improve
resource efficiency, reduce waste and drive down costs.

16.  With our population, extreme climate,
vulnerable ecology, compliance ratio of
monitored industries being lesser and the
economy resting heavily on extinguishable
natural resources, sustainability is the next big
challenge for the country.
 The new tomorrow which India hopes to see with
its economic flashlights requires an strong argue
about environmental feasibility. In this scenario
the environmental agenda is massive.

17.  Though the work done by the Judiciary in this
regard is commendable; yet a lot can still be
expected.
 It would be important to move quickly towards
reaching a broad agreement with all major
stakeholders on the priority actions, and develop
a medium- to long-term program of
implementing the agreed actions supported by
necessary resources, monitorable targets, and
clear accountability mechanisms.