उतारा ४ –
Enviornmental protection and management is deservedly attracting a lot of attention these days. This is a desirable development in the face of the alarming rate of natural resource degradating which greatly hampers their optional utilisation. When waste waters emanating from municipal sewage, industrial efffluent, agricultural and land runoffs, find their way either to ground water reservoirs or other surface water sources, the quality of water deteriorates, rendering it unfit for use. The natural balance is disturbed when concentrated discharges of waste water is not controlled. This is because the cleansing forces of nature cannot do their job in proportion to the quantity of filthy matter.
According to the National Enviornment Engineering and Research Institute (NEERI), a staggering 70 percent of water available in the country is polluted. According to the planning Commission, “From the Dal lake in the North to the Periyar and Chaliyar rivers in the South, from Damodar and Hoogly in the East to the Thane creek in the West, the picture of water pollution is uniformly gloomy. Even our large perennial rivers like the Ganga, are today heavily polluted.”
According to one study, all the 14 major rivers of india are highly polluted. Basides the Ganga, These rivers include the Yamuna, Narmada, Godavari, Krishna and Cauvery. these rivers 85 per cent of the surface runoff and their drainage basins cover 73 per cent of the country. The pollution of the much revered ganga is due in particular to municipal sewage that accounts for 3/4th of its pollutio load.
Despite India having legislation on water pollution [The water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974] and various water pollution control boards, rivers have today become synonymous with drains and sewers.
उताऱ्यावरील प्रश्न
Q1.
1. The degration of natural resources will necessarily lead to,
a) Poor economic utilization of resources.
b)Contamination of water from municipal sewage.
c) Water unfit for human consumption. None of the above.
Q.2. According to NEERI
a) The extent of water pollution in the Dal Lake is grim.
b) Seventy percent of total water available in the country is polluted.
c) Only a few town and cities have sewage treatment facilities.
d) All the major rivers of India are highly polluted.
Q.3. Municipal sewage pollutants account for,
a) The lowest percentage of water pollution
b) Seventy five percent of the Ganga’s Water pollution load.
c) Twice the volume of the waste water of industrial origin.
d) Three times as much discharge from the agricultural fields.
Q.4. What is the meaning of ‘environmental plunder’ ?
a) Inefficient role of judiciary to protect environment.
b) Corporate responsibility is lacking.
c) Introduction of green taxes.
d) None of the above.
Q.5. Individual proceedings are often far from democratic means
a) Sometimes judiciary fails to protect interests of weaker sections of society.
b) Process of litigation is expensive.
c) Judges are remote from victims.
d) All of above.
Q.6. According to author ‘Judicial activism’ in environmental issues.
a) Is not at all helpful.
b) Should be judged case by case.
c) Has important limitation.
d) All of above
(क्रमश:)
