Tumkur University Blog

Author: R. C. Nagaraju, Department of Commerce, University College of Arts, Tumkur.

For attaining economic development at quicker pace India launched a number of economic plans since the adoption of new development strategy after Independence.  These economic plans have resulted in substantial expansion of agriculture and industrial sector along with the expansion of infrastructural facilities.

But, due to poor planning and mismanagement of the economy along with ruthless exploitation of natural resources, the physical environment of the country has been totally degraded leading to an ecological imbalance in the country.  By ecological imbalance we mean total destabilization of soil, water, climate and biotic factors.  This ecological imbalance has resulted from degradation of land and soil erosion, deforestation, faulty utilization of water and mineral resources, and industrial and atmospheric pollution as explained below:

a) Degradation of land and soil erosion:

The Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India has reported about the serious problem of land degradation and soil erosion in the following manner:

Problem of soil erosion and land degradation

The above table shows that about 176 million hectare of land in India is facing serious problem of land degradation out of which a 150 million hectare is subjected to soil erosion through water and wind and the rest 26 million hectare is subject to other problem.  Moreover heavy population pressure has led to conversion of forest and permanent pastures into crop lands leading to indiscriminate grazing.

b) Deforestation:  large scale deforestation has been continuing since independence due to over exploitation of forest resources.  During the first two decades of planning India lost about 3.4 million hectare forest land out of which about 70 percent of that area was lost to river valley projects, roads and communication and industries.  Deforestation is still continuing at a rapid scale and the problem has reached to such a level that it has totally disturbed the ecological balance of the country.  The degree of deforestation in Himalayan ranges from Kashmir to North-East India is very high.  All these have lead to ecological collapse in the country.

c) Faulty Utilization of Natural Resources:  Being one of the most wet country of the world, India is still suffering from floods and droughts due to faulty utilization of water resources.  According to one estimate, it is found that area affected by floods in India has increased from 20 million hectare in 1971 to 40 million hectares at present.

The major portion of increasing salinity affected areas lies in the Indo Gangetic plains of U.P., Punjab and Haryana.

d) Environmental Problems from Faulty Mining Practices:  In India large scale extraction of minerals are creating serious problems ruining the country’s land, water, forest and air.  Large scale mining has resulted in conversion of agricultural and forest land into townships roads railway lines etc.  And removal of vegetation and top soil.  In the New Mineral Policy, 1993 attempts have been made to check this environmental pollution arising out of mining operation and to follow some reclamation measures.

e) Industrial and Atmospheric Pollution:  In India, unplanned and uncontrolled growth of industries and ill maintained automobiles are creating huge atmospheric pollution thus regularly leading to huge environmental problems Industrial wastes coming out of fertilizer factories, paper mills, leather factories are constantly being discharged in rivers, likes and seas, creating huge health hazards for the people of the country.

Thus, under this present situation, environmental problems of India are being added in increasing proportions.  Thus, it is high time for planners and policy makers of the country to take necessary steps to reduce the degree of pollution and should preserve proper environment at any cost.  For sustained development, the Government should give proper attention towards these factors.