ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

(AEC-I)
DELHI UNIVERSITY
Unit 1 : Introduction to Environmental Studies
 Multidisciplinary nature of environmental studies; components of
environment: atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and
biosphere
 Scope and importance; Concept of sustainability and sustainable
development; Brief history of environmentalism
 ENVIRONMENT
 The word environment is derived from the
French word ‘environ’ meaning surroundings.
 Hence everything surrounding us is called
“ENVIRONMENT”.
 As given by Environment Protection Act
1986, Environment is the sum total of land,
water, air, interrelationships among
themselves and also with the human beings
and other living organisms.
 Environmental Science: The systematic & scientific
study of our environment and our role in it. Environmental
sciences is the combination of biological, chemical, geological,
and mathematical principles as they apply to the environment
and environmental problems.

 Environmental Studies: The branch of Study concerned

with environmental issues. It has a broader coverage than
environment science and includes the social aspects of the
environment”. It looks at the environmental issues through many
perspectives and disciplines, including social, political, and
economic.
 ARCTIC OIL SPILL
 Some 21,000 tons of oil poured
into the surrounding ground and
waterways near the city of Norilsk
after a diesel oil tank belonging to
a subsidiary of Russian metals giant
Nornickel collapsed on May 29,
2020.
 The oil leaked into the Ambarnaya
river that flows into the
environmentally sensitive Arctic
Ocean. This oil spill is believed to
be one of the largest in modern
Russian history in terms of volume.
 Environmental Science Environmental Studies

 How much oil was spilled?  What are the economic and
 Where will this oil go, and social impacts of this oil spill?
how will it quantitatively  What policies, laws, and
affect chemical, physical, and regulations are in place that
biological environmental were/were not followed in this
systems? situation? If there aren’t any
 What is the environmental policies, regulations, or laws in
risk of this oil spill to humans, place, how can it work with
animals, and habitats and the local government to
how can we assess it? improve this situation?
 What will be the long-term  How can the community be
outcome of this spill on educated about this oil spill
environmental systems, and and its effects on the
how can we prevent this from environment?
happening in the future from  How can the community
a scientific standpoint? prevent this from happening
again? And if not, how can they
prepare?
Components of Environment

Environment

Biotic Abiotic
Objectives and Guiding Principles of Environmental Studies

 According to UNESCO (1971)-

1. Creating awareness about environmental problems.
2. Developing an attitude of concern.
3. Motivating public to participate in environment protection
and improvement.
Importance of Environmental Studies
 To know more sustainable way of living.
 To use natural resources more wisely.
 To know the behaviour of organism under natural conditions.
 To know the inter-relationship between organisms in populations and
communities.
 To aware and educate people regarding environmental issues and problems
at local, national and international levels.
1. Atmosphere
2. Lithosphere
3. Hydrosphere
4. Biosphere
Atmosphere - The cover of the air, that envelopes the earth is known as
the atmosphere. Atmosphere is a thin layer which contains gases like
oxygen, carbon dioxide etc. and which protects the solid earth and human
beings from the harmful radiations of the sun. There are five concentric
layers within the atmosphere, which can be differentiated on the basis of
temperature and each layer has its own characteristics. These include the
troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere and the
exosphere.

Earth's atmosphere is
composed of about 78%
nitrogen, 21% oxygen,
and one percent other
gases.
Hydrosphere:

Hydrosphere includes all water bodies such as lakes, ponds,

rivers, streams and ocean etc. Hydrosphere functions in a
cyclic nature, which is termed as hydrological cycle or water
cycle.
Lithosphere:
The lithosphere is the
rocky outer part of the
Earth. It is made up of the
brittle crust and the top
part of the upper mantle.
The lithosphere is the
coolest and most rigid part
of the Earth.

Lithosphere mainly,
contains soil, earth rocks,
mountain etc.
Biosphere

 It is known as the life layer, it refers to

all organisms on the earth’s surface
and their interaction with water and
air.
 It consists of plants, animals and
micro-organisms, ranging from the
tiniest microscopic organism to the
largest whales in the sea.
 The richness of biosphere depends
upon a number of factors like rainfall,
temperature, geographical reference
etc. Apart from the physical
environmental factors, the man made
environment also contribute which
includes human groups, the material
infrastructures built by man and
institutional systems that he has
devised.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
 The Brundtland Report, published in 1987 by the
United Nations World Commission on
Environment and Development, coined the term
"sustainable development" and defined it as
"development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.
 Goals of sustainable development are to address
the global challenges, including poverty,
inequality, climate change, environmental
degradation, peace and justice.
 Rio declaration 1992 codified the principle of
sustainable development.
 The goal of Sustainable Development is to meet the needs of
today, without compromising the needs of tomorrow.
 This means we cannot continue using current levels of
resources as this will not leave enough for future generations.
 Stabilising and reducing carbon emissions is key to living
within environmental limits.
 SD is important as it saves national budget, fulfills the need of
people, conserves the natural resources for future generations.
 The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as
the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member
States in 2015 as a Universal call to action to end poverty,
protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and
prosperity by 2030.

 The 17 SDGs are integrated that is, they recognize that action
in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that
development must balance social, economic and
environmental sustainability.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s)
 UNIT 1

THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY
NATURE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

@CAV
THE MULTIDISCIPLINARY NATURE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

 An interdisciplinary branch of science

that investigates questions related to the
human population, resources, and damages
caused by pollution and disturbance.

 Environmental science is integrative and

involves complex biology, chemistry,
atmospheric science, Oceanography,
Geology, Anthropology, Archaeology,
sociology, History, Political science,
Engineering, economics, Ethics.
Scope
 Our dependence on nature is so great that we
can not live without protecting our ‘Mother
Nature’
 In ancient civilization, it was very common
practice to serve the nature for their own
livelihood.
 We live in natural surrounding (forest, river,
mountain, etc.). Resources: renewable (forest and
water) and non-renewable (minerals and oil).
 Due to increase in population these resources
are getting depleted gradually.
 There is a need to understand make ourselves
aware of our natural assets and get concerned
about our environment and sustainable utilize
the resources.
 Scope of environmental studies is very wide and
nearly covers some aspects of every major
discipline (biology, chemistry, physics, geography,
resource management, economy, etc.).
Importance
 Water, air, soil, forests are all part of our life support
systems. Without them life itself would be impossible.
 Natural resources are limited in nature and continue to
shrink and may be get depleted if not utilized in a sustainable
manner.
 Almost every act of human beings cause some effect on
environment: solid waste, water pollution, air pollution, soil
pollution , etc. And these have ill-effect on human health.
 Individual efforts together with the public and also
government actions are needed to protect our environment
from further more degradation and safeguard it.
Need for Public Awareness
 Earth’s resources are dwindling and our environment is being
increasingly degraded by human activities and hence something
needs to be done.
 Government alone cannot perform all the clean-up functions.
 Individual/group efforts in their own every possible way has to be
made to protect our environment.

◦ minimize the wastage of natural resources

◦ Can inform about the source that lead to pollution
and degradation of environment.
 Mass public awareness: newspapers, radio, television, social media
strongly influences public opinion on conserving our environment.
 Interested students can join environmental group (WWF-
I, BNHS) and various NGO which are working for the
environment.
 Read environment related magazines such ‘DOWN TO
EARTH’, ‘WWF-I’, BNHS HORNBILL’, etc.
 Practice and promote good civic sense: no spitting, no
tobacco chewing, not throwing garbage on the road, etc.
 Take part in events organized on world environment day,
wildlife week, etc.
 Visit a national park or sanctuary, or spend time in whatever
nature you have near your home.
 Environmentally significant days
Day Date Initiative
World Wetlands Day February 2 Marking the date of the adoption of convention on wetland on 2 February, 1972

World Forest Day March 21 Resolution of United Nation General Assembly on November 28, 2012. First time on 21 March 2013

World Water Day March 22 UN observance day in 1993.

Highlight the importance of freshwater

World Meteorological Day March 23 With the establishment of World Meteorological Organization 1950

Earth Day April 22 First celebrate in 1970 for environmental protection

International Day For Biological Diversity May 22 UN sanctioned international day (Rio Earth Submit 22 May 1992) for the promotion of biodiversity issue

Anti Tobacco Day May 31 Started by WHO from 1987 to prevent all forms of tobacco consumption around the globe

World Environment Day June 5 Started by United General Assembly after Stockholm Conference in 1972 as principle vehicle for encouraging
awareness and action for the protection of our environment.

World Ocean Day June 8 It has been started celebrating in 1992 by Canada's International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and
Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at Earth Submit-UN Conference on Environment and Development
(UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

World Population Day July 11 The event was established by the Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme in
1989 to raise awareness of global population issues.
World Ozone Day September 16 Stated celebrating in 1994 by UN General Assembly for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

Green Consumer Day September 28 Started by various organization for sustainable consumer behavior.

Wildlife Week October 1-7 India started celebrating a week to conserve the animal from 2013.
 Institutions in Environment
Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), Mumbai

◦ An NGO founded in 1883 (oldest NGO).

◦ Wildlife policy building, research, popular publications and
peoples’ action have been unique features of this multifaceted
society.
◦ Works towards conservation of wildlife species and
ecosystems.
◦ Publications:
 HORNBILL magazine,
 international journal “Journal on natural history”,
 Salim Ali’s handbook on birds,
 JC Daniel’s book on Indian reptiles,
 SH Prater’s book of Indian mammals and
 PV bole’s book of Indian trees.
◦ Assisting government in framing of wildlife related laws.
◦ ‘SAVE THE SILENT VALLEY’ campaign.
World Wide Fund for Nature India (WWF-I),
New Delhi

◦ Initiated in 1969 in Mumbai and then moved to New Delhi with

several branch offices all over India.
◦ Wildlife education and awareness.
◦ Organizes nature clubs of India program for children. Works as a
think tank and lobby force for environment and development issues.
Center for Science and Environment (CSE), New Delhi

◦ Organizing campaigns, holding workshops/conferences and

producing environment related publications are some of its
activities.
◦ It published ‘State of India’s Environment’, the first of its
kind to be produced as a Citizen’s Report on the
Environment.
◦ It publishes popular magazine ‘DOWN TO EARTH’ a
Science and Environment fortnightly.
◦ It is also involved in publication of material in the form of
books, posters, video films and also conducts workshops
and seminars on biodiversity related issues.
 CPR Environmental Education Centre, Madras

◦ CPREEC was set up in 1988.

◦ Conducts variety of programs to spread environmental

awareness and creates an interest in conservation among the
general public.

◦ It focusses attention on NGOs, teachers, women, youth and

children to generally promote conservation of nature and
natural resources.

◦ Its programs include components on wildlife and

biodiversity issues. It also produces a large number of
publications.
Centre for Environment Education (CEE),
Ahmedabad

◦ It was initiated in 1989.

◦ It has wide range of programs on the environment and
produces a variety of educational material. CEE’s
training in Environment Education (TEE) program has
trained many environment educators.
 Bharati Vidyapeeth Institute of Environment
Education and Research (BVIEER), Pune

◦ This institute is a part of Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed

University and has a Ph.D, masters and Bachelors
program in Environmental Sciences.

◦ Also offers an innovative Diploma in Environment

Education for in-service teachers.

◦ It implements a large outreach programme that has covered

over 435 schools in which it trains teachers and conducts
fortnightly Environment Education Programs.

◦ Biodiversity Conservation is a major focus of its

research initiatives.
◦ It develops low cost Interpretation Centres for Natural and
Architectural sites that are highly locale specific as well as a
large amount of innovative environment educational material
for a variety of target groups.

◦ Its unique feature is that it conducts environment

education from primary school level to the post
graduate level.

◦ It developed a teacher’s handbook linked to school curriculum,

a textbook for UGC for its undergraduate course on
environment .

◦ Its director has developed a CD ROM on India’s biodiversity

published by Mapin Publishers, Ahmedabad.
 Uttarkhand Seva Nidhi (UKSN), Almora

◦ A Nodal Agency and supports NGOs in need of funds for their

environment related activities.

◦ Major program is organising and training school teachers to use

its locale specific Environment Education Workbook Program.

◦ The main targets are linked with sustainable resource use at

the village level through training school children.

◦ Its environment education program covers about 500

schools.
 Salim Ali Center for Ornithology and Natural
History (SACON), Coimbatore

◦ Dr. Salim Ali wished to support a group of committed

conservation scientists on permanent basis and that dream
became a reality only after his demise.

◦ It is an independent organization and is based at

Coimbatore since 1990.

◦ It has instituted a variety of field programs that have

added to the country’s information on our threatened
biodiversity.
 Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun

◦ This institution was established in 1982 as a major training

establishment for Forest Officials and Research in Wildlife
Management.

◦ Its most significant publication has been ‘Planning A Wildlife

Protected Area Network for India’ (Rodgers and Panwar,
1988).

◦ Its M.Sc. Program has trained excellent wildlife scientists. It also

has an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) cell.

◦ It trains personnel in eco-development, wildlife biology, habitat

management and Nature interpretation.
 Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

◦ It was established in1890 at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kolkata.

◦ However it was closed for several years after 1939 and was
reopened in 1954.

◦ It carries out various activities:

 Surveys of plant resources,
 Listing of endangered species,
 Publication of national flora,
 Preparation of national data bank on herbarium and live
collection,
 Plant distribution and nomenclature
 Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
◦ It was established in 1916.
◦ Its mandate was to do a systematic survey of fauna in India.
◦ It has over the years collected ‘type specimens’ on the bases
of which our animal life has been studied over the years. Its
origins were collections based at the Indian Museum at
Calcutta, which was established in 1875.
◦ Today it has over a million specimens!. This makes it one of
the largest collections in Asia.
◦ It has done an enormous amount of work on taxonomy and
ecology.
Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate
Change (MoEFCC)
 Its primary concern is about the planning, promotion and
coordination of the implementation of India’s
environmental and forestry policies and programmes.
 The primary concern of the ministry in the
implementation of policies and programmes
relating to the country’s natural resources
including lakes and rivers, its biodiversity, forest
and wildlife, ensuring the welfare of its animals and
prevention and abatement of pollution.
 People in Environment
Individuals who have been instrumental in shaping the environmental
history in our country:-

Salim Ali
◦ He has written several great books
including the famous ‘Book of Indian
Birds’.
◦ He is also known as ‘Birdman of India’
◦ His autobiography, ‘Fall of a Sparrow’
should be read by every nature enthusiast.
◦ He was our country’s leading conservation
scientist and influenced environmental
policies in our country for over 50 years.
 Indira Gandhi
◦ As a PM, she has played a highly significant role
in the preservation of India’s wild life.

◦ It was during her period as a PM, that the

network of protected areas (PAs) grew from
65 to 298!.

◦ The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 was

formulated during the period when she was PM
and the Indian Board for Wildlife was extremely
active as she personally chaired all its meetings.

◦ India gained a name for itself by being a major

player in Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and
other International Environmental Treaties and
Accords during her tenure.
 MS Swaminathan
◦ One of India’s foremost agricultural
scientists and has also been concerned
with various aspects of biodiversity
conservation.
◦ renowned for his leading role in India's
Green Revolution, a program under which
high-yield varieties of wheat and rice
seedlings were planted in the fields of
poor farmers.
◦ Swaminathan is known as the "Father of
Indian Green Revolution" for his
leadership and success in introducing and
further developing high-yielding varieties of
wheat in India
◦ Founder of the MS Swaminathan Research
Foundation in Chennai, which work on the
conservation of biological diversity.
 Madhav Gadgil
◦ A well known ecologist in India.
◦ His interests range from broad ecological issues such as
developing Community Biodiversity Registers and conserving
sacred groves to studies on the behavior of mammals, birds
and insects.

Anil Agarwal
◦ He was a journalist who wrote the first report on the ‘State
of India’s Environment’ in 1982.
◦ He founded the Center for Science and Environment
(CSE) which is an active NGO that supports various
environmental issues.
 MC Mehta
◦ India’s most famous environmental
lawyer.
◦ Since 1984, he has filed several Public
Interest Litigation (PIL) for supporting the
cause of environmental conservation.
◦ Protecting the Taj Mahal, cleaning up the
Ganges River, banning intensive shrimp
farming on the coast, initiating
Government to implement
environmental education in schools
and colleges, and a variety of other
conservation issues.
 Medha Patkar

◦ She is known as one of rural India’s

Champions who has supported the cause of
downtrodden tribal people whose
environment is being affected by the dams on
the Narmada river.

Sunderlal Bahuguna

◦ His Chipko Movement has become an

internationally well-known example of a highly
successful conservation action program
through the efforts of local people for
guarding their forest resources.
◦ His fight to prevent the construction of
the Tehri Dam in a fragile earthquake prone
setting is a battle and he continues to wage.
◦ The Garhwal Hills will always remember his
dedication to the cause for which he has
walked over 20 thousand kilometers.
Internationally known environmental thinkers who
have made landmarks and whose names are
frequently mentioned are:-
Charles Darwin
◦ Author of “Origin of Species” which brought to
light the close relationship between habitats and
species.
◦ It also brought about a new thinking of man’s
relationship with other species that was based on
evolution.

Henry Thoreau
◦ In 1860, he wrote that the wilderness should be
preserved after he lived in the wild for a year.
◦ He felt that most people did not care for nature and
would sell it off for a small sum of money.
 Ralph Emerson
◦ He spoke of the dangers of commerce to our environment way
back in the 1840s.

John Muir
◦ He is remembered as having saved the great ancient sequoia
trees in California’s forests.
◦ In the 1890s he formed the Sierra club, which is a major
conservation NGO in the USA.

Aldo Leopold
◦ He was a forest official in the US in the 1920s.
◦ He designed the early policies on wilderness conservation and
wildlife management.
 Rachel Carson
◦ In the 1960s Rachel Carson published several articles that
caused immediate worldwide concern on the effects of
pesticide on nature and mankind.
◦ She wrote a well-known book called ‘Silent Spring’ which
eventually led to a change in Government policy and public
awareness.

EO Wilson
◦ An entomologist who envisioned that biological diversity was a
key to human survival on earth.
◦ He wrote ‘Diversity of Life’ in 1993, which was awarded a
prize for the best book published on environmental issues.
◦ His writings brought to the world, the risks to mankind due to
man made disturbances in natural ecosystems that are leading
to the rapid extinction of species at the global level.
Brief History of Environmentalism

Environmentalism means
concern about and action aimed
at protecting the environment.
 1306 — King Edward I of England bans the burning of sea-coal
by proclamation in London, after its smoke had become a
problem.
 Later in the late 1800s, the environmental movement grew
strongly in Britain as a response to the Industrial Revolution.
 With no environmental regulations to stop them, the factories
of the Industrial Revolution polluted air and water and expanded
out into beautiful farmland.
 Early conservation groups, like ‘the Society for the Protection of
Birds (1889)’ and ‘the National Trust for Places of Historic
Interest or Natural Beauty (1894),’ began popping up all over
England.
 The environmental movement began to take shape in North America when
John Muir, one of the earliest environmentalist, convinced the U.S. congress
to create the Yosemite National Park to preserve the beautiful valley.
 And in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson founded the National Park Service,
which deeply supported the growing environmental movement.
 The environmental movement only continued to grow in the 1950s, 60s, and
70s with many influential books being published, such as ‘A Sand County
Almanac (1949)’ and ‘Silent Spring (1962).’
 Silent Spring, written by American biologist Rachel Carson, is especially
influential as it exposed the harmful and dangerous effects of the pesticide
DDT.
 The book was so important for the environmental movement that it lead to
the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970 and DDT was
banned in 1972.
 The 1970s were greatly important for the green movement with many groups,
like Greenpeace, forming in the 1970s.
 The first Earth Day and the UN’s first environmental conference also
happened in the 70s ( 5-16 June 1972, Stockholm)
 One of the major results of the Stockholm conference was the creation of
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
 Despite these institutional accomplishments, the failure to implement most of
its action programme has prompted the UN to have follow-up conferences
 The succeeding United Nations Conference on Environment and
Development convened in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 (the Rio Earth Summit).
 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg
 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20)
 1.Bishnoi Movement (1730)
 Khejarli or Khejadli is a village in Jodhpur district of Rajasthan.
The name of the town is derived from Khejri (Prosopis
cineraria) trees that were once abundant in the village.

 In this village 363 Bishnois sacrificed their lives in 1730 AD while

protecting green Khejri that are considered sacred by the community.
The incident was a forebear of the 20th-century Chipko Movement

 Amrita Devi, a female villager could not bear to witness the

destruction of both her faith and the village’s sacred trees. She
hugged the trees and encouraged others to do the same. 363 Bishnoi
villagers were killed in this movement.

 The Bishnoi tree martyrs were influenced by the teachings of Guru

Maharaj Jambaji, who founded the Bishnoi faith in 1485 and set
forth principles forbidding harm to trees and animals.
2. Chipko Movement (1973)
 In Chamoli district and later at Tehri-Garhwal district of Uttarakhand.
 Mr. Bahuguna enlightened the villagers by conveying the importance of trees in the environment
which checks the erosion of soil, cause rains and provides pure air.
 The women of Advani village of Tehri-Garhwal tied the sacred thread around trunks of trees and
they hugged the trees, hence it was called ‘Chipko Movement’ or ‘hug the tree movement’.
 The main demand of the people in these protests was that the benefits of the forests (especially
the right to fodder) should go to local people. The Chipko movement gathered momentum when
the women faced police firings and other tortures. The then state Chief Minister, Hemwati Nandan
Bahuguna set up a committee to look into the matter, which eventually ruled in favor of the
villagers.
 This became a turning point in the history of eco-development struggles in the region and around
the world.
 Sundarlal Bahuguna, Gaura Devi, Sudesha Devi, Bachni Devi, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, Govind
Singh Rawat, Dhoom Singh Negi, Shamsher Singh Bisht and Ghanasyam Raturi
3. Save Silent Valley Movement (1978)
 Silent Valley, an evergreen tropical forest in the Palakkad district of Kerala, India.
 The Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) proposed a hydroelectric dam across the
Kunthipuzha River that runs through Silent Valley.
 In February 1973, the Planning Commission approved the project at a cost of about Rs 25
crores. Many feared that the project would submerge 8.3 sq km of untouched moist evergreen
forest. Several NGOs strongly opposed the project and urged the government to abandon it.
 In January 1981, bowing to unrelenting public pressure, Indira Gandhi declared that Silent
Valley will be protected. In June 1983 the Center re-examined the issue through a commission
chaired by Prof. M.G.K. Menon.
 In November 1983 the Silent Valley Hydroelectric Project was called off. In 1985, Prime
Minister Rajiv Gandhi formally inaugurated the Silent Valley National Park.
 The Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP) an NGO, and the poet-activist Sughathakumari
played an important role in the Silent Valley protests.
 4. Appiko Movement (1983)
 Uttara Kannada and Shimoga districts of Karnataka State.
 It can be said that Appiko movement is the southern version of the Chipko movement.
The Appiko Movement was locally known as “Appiko Chaluvali”. The locals
embraced the trees which were to be cut by contractors of the forest department.
 The Appiko movement used various techniques to raise awareness such as foot
marches in the interior forest, folk dances, street plays etc. The second area of the
movement’s work was to promote afforestation on denuded lands. The movement later
focused on the rational use of ecosphere through introducing alternative energy
resource to reduce pressure on the forest. The movement became a success. The
project was later stopped.
 Leaders: Appiko’s greatest strengths lie in it being neither driven by a personality
nor having been formally institutionalised. However, it does have a facilitator in
Pandurang Hegde. He helped launch the movement in 1983.
 5. Narmada Bachao Andholan (NBA)-1985

 A social movement against a number of large dams being built across the Narmada River. Narmada
River flows through the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

 The movement first started as a protest for not providing proper rehabilitation and resettlement for the
people who have been displaced by the construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam. Later on, the movement
turned its focus on the preservation of the environment and the eco-systems of the valley.

 Activists also demanded the height of the dam to be reduced to 88 m from the proposed height of
130m. World Bank withdrew from the project. The environmental issue was taken into court. In
October 2000, the Supreme Court gave a judgment approving the construction of the Sardar Sarovar
Dam with a condition that height of the dam could be raised to 90 m. This height is higher than the
88 m which anti-dam activists demanded, but it is definitely lower than the proposed height of 130
m.

 The project is now largely financed by the state governments and market borrowings. The project is
expected to be fully complete8d by 2025.

 Leaders: Medha Patker, Baba Amte, adivasis, farmers, environmentalists and human rights
activists.
 The Constitution under Part IVA (Art 51A-Fundamental Duties) casts a duty on every
citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes,
rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

 The Constitution of India under Part IV (Art 48A-Directive Principles of State Policies)
stipulates that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and to
safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.

• Art 21 “Right to pollution free environment.”

• Art 48-A “ The state shall endeavor to protect & improve the environment and to
safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
• Art 51-A(g) “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.”

 Several environment protection legislations existed even before Independence of India.

However, the true thrust for putting in force a well-developed framework came only after
the UN Conference on the Human Environment (Stockholm, 1972). After the Stockholm
Conference, the National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning was set up in
1972 within the Department of Science and Technology to establish a regulatory body to
look after the environment-related issues. This Council later evolved into a full-fledged
Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
 MoEF was established in 1985, which today is the apex
administrative body in the country for regulating and ensuring
environmental protection and lays down the legal and regulatory
framework for the same. Since the 1970s, a number of environment
legislations have been put in place. The MoEF and the pollution control
boards ("CPCB", i.e., Central Pollution Control Board and "SPCBs", i.e.,
State Pollution Control Boards) together form the regulatory and
administrative core of the sector.

Some of the important legislations for environment protection are as

follows:
 Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
 The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
 The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
 The Environment Protection Act, 1986
 The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
 The Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, etc.
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