"India: Environmental, Political and Social Issues first highlights the environmental conditions of Uttarakhand such as relief, structure, drainage, climatic conditions and forest types, as well as the influence of these aspects on aspects of demographic structure such as population distribution, growth, sex ratio and literacy. The authors go to present findings indicate that the Tropical Lowland Rain Forests in Sri Lanka are capable of recovery, in terms of biodiversity and stature, if sufficient recess is provided following land use practices such as selective logging and chena cultivation in spatial and temporal contexts. As a desert state, the climate of Rajasthan is uniquely characterized by low rainfall, dryness and extreme temperature. Fauna of this region are specifically adapted to this hostile environment. In this compilation, threats to fauna of Rajasthan are assessed. Later, after presenting a short introduction to the historical and cultural background, the authors narrate Karunanidhi's most decisive film, Parasakthi (Supreme Power, 1952). It challenges certain cultural stereotypes such as the sexual exploitation of women, social discrimination, corruption, religious superstition and so on. The closing study examines the effects of socio-economic determinants on child malnutrition in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous and malnourished state of India. Using data from NFHS-4, this study highlights district-wide variations in the nutritional status of children less than five years old in the state"--
Environmental pollution has assumed alarming proportions in recent years. Its adverse impact on the everyday lives of people is increasing in magnitude and intensity. That more and more people are becoming aware of this hazard is evident from the fact that National Environmental Engineering Research Institute is inundated with queries relating to various aspects of environmental pollution. This book has been prepared to present the environmental status of India, study various pertinent issues and suggest measures to mitigate the harmful effects of environmental pollution. It is divided into seven main sections, each dealing with an important aspect of environmental pollution. The Air Pollution section describes the different sources and types of air pollution, the status of air quality, the concerns and inadequacy in management and control and their related health impacts. The section on Water studies water resources, their distribution across India and the major contaminants that pollute water. One section of the book exclusively deals with the problem of wastewater generated by industries and municipal sewage. The section on Solid Waste and Hazardous Waste categorises the types of waste generated and suggests different treatment options thereof. The challenges of disposal of hazardous wastes have also been discussed. Pollution related problems in soil and land use have been analysed in Land Environment section. The book analyses all the important aspects of environmental pollution and suggests measures to keep it under control. It will be useful to students, teachers, researchers, policymakers and common readers.
This book provides insights into the current status of waste management in India and research approaches to minimize waste and convert useful waste into energy alternatives towards achieving environmental sustainability. It also discusses the implications of waste on human health and approaches to minimize the burden. Waste disposal, especially municipal solid waste (MSW), is one of the major environmental problems facing Indian cities. Inadequate management of MSW poses risks to inhabitants and is also a breeding ground for various diseases. Environmental health and the impact of waste on health is another major topic that has to be addressed. In India, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and social welfare groups play a major role in collecting and managing waste. However, waste management is still a huge problem and has also expanded into rural areas. Contributed research papers from academic studies and industry focus on applied waste-management methods currently being practiced, waste strategies and ecofriendly approaches such as bioremediation. The outcomes of the research contributions in the book will be useful in implementing and developing a task force to combat the waste-management and energy-demand crises.
This volume uses an innovative and interdisciplinary approach to assess various issues resulting from human-environment interactions in relation to sustainable development. The book encompasses theoretical and applied aspects, using both thematic and regional case studies from India, to highlight the impact of human-environment interactions at various spatio-temporal scales, with each study focusing on a particular anthropogenic issue, particularly in an Indian context. The book's three focal themes (e.g. habitat linkages, ekistics and social ecology, hazard and environmental management) elaborate the essential components of human-environment interactions with nature, its impact on the surrounding natural and social environments, and management techniques through research innovations. Readers will learn how maladjustments, disturbances and disasters are often inevitable byproducts of human-environment systems, and what conceptual and practical strategies can be applied towards sustainable coexistence. The book will be of interest to students, academics and policymakers engaged in environmental management, human-environment interactions and sustainable development.
Over the past decades, environmental problems have attracted enormous attention and public concern. Many actions have been taken by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others to protect human health and ecosystems from particular threats. Despite some successes, many problems remain unsolved and new ones are emerging. Increasing population and related pressures, combined with a realization of the interconnectedness and complexity of environmental systems, present new challenges to policymakers and regulators. Scientific research has played, and will continue to play, an essential part in solving environmental problems. Decisions based on incorrect or incomplete understanding of environmental systems will not achieve the greatest reduction of risk at the lowest cost. This volume describes a framework for acquiring the knowledge needed both to solve current recognized problems and to be prepared for the kinds of problems likely to emerge in the future. Many case examples are included to illustrate why some environmental control strategies have succeeded where others have fallen short and how we can do better in the future.
Modern environmental regulation and its complex intersection with international law has led many jurisdictions to develop environmental courts or tribunals. Strikingly, the list of jurisdictions that have chosen to do this include numerous developing countries, including Bangladesh, Kenya and Malawi. Indeed, it seems that developing nations have taken the task of capacity-building in environmental law more seriously than many developed nations. Environmental Justice in India explores the genesis, operation and effectiveness of the Indian National Green Tribunal (NGT). The book has four key objectives. First, to examine the importance of access to justice in environmental matters promoting sustainability and good governance Second, to provide an analytical and critical account of the judicial structures that offer access to environmental justice in India. Third, to analyse the establishment, working practice and effectiveness of the NGT in advancing a distinctively Indian green jurisprudence. Finally, to present and review the success and external challenges faced and overcome by the NGT resulting in growing usage and public respect for the NGT’s commitment to environmental protection and the welfare of the most affected people. Providing an informative analysis of a growing judicial development in India, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars of environmental justice, environmental law, development studies and sustainable development.
Krech (anthropology, Brown U.) treats such provocative issues as whether the Eden in which Native Americans are viewed as living prior to European contact was a feature of native environmentalism or simply low population density; indigenous use of fire; and the Indian role in near-extinctions of buffalo, deer, and beaver. He concludes that early Indians' culturally-mediated closeness with nature was not always congruent with modern conservation ideas, with implications for views of, and by, contemporary Indians. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
India has moved along an impressive growth path over the last decade, marked with falling share of agriculture, stagnating manufacturing, expanding services segment, growing trade orientation, enhanced FDI inflows etc. The consequent growth implications are obvious as far as the numbers like GDP growth rate and Per Capita GDP trend are concerned, but how sustainable the associated development is with respect to resource management and environmental governance? This book captures the economy-wide impacts of various activities on environment in India. The environmental impacts on water, air, soil quality and human health are captured through case studies from different parts of India. Analyzing separately the concern areas within agriculture (cultivation, aquaculture), manufacturing (industrial pollution, power generation), services (waste management, bio-medical waste, e-waste recycling) and external sector (agricultural trade, FDI inflow, trade in waste products) performance of India, the book attempts to find an answer to that crucial question. The methodology adopted to capture the environmental impacts of various economic activities is derived from the relevant branches like environmental economics, agricultural economics, and water resources economics. The book, focusing on particular sectors, indicates the concern areas and possible ways for enhancing environmental governance.