Environmental Degradation in India

What is Environmental Degradation?

Environmental degradation is the decay of the ecosystem caused by human consumption of resources such as air, water, and land. Simply put, the increasing deterioration of the climate as a result of different factors is referred to as Environmental degradation. Some of these factors include unusual weather fluctuations, deforestation, ecological pollution, and ozone-depleting compounds. Environmental degradation consists of both pollution and the degradation of resources. 

The environment meets our fundamental needs for endurance. People are a significant aspect of the environment and hold real responsibility for environmental damage. Our activities have an impact on the environment as well as on the organic organism. Hence, environmental degradation should be considered a major problem.

India faces issues from air pollution, river pollution, garbage, and environmental pollution. According to World Bank experts, India made one of the fastest progresses in the world in tackling environmental problems and improving environmental quality between 1995 and 2010. Still, it has a long way to go before attaining environmental purity comparable to that of developed nations. Some of the issues faced by India are mentioned below:

1. Air Pollution:

Air pollution is one such type that pertains to the polluting of the air whether indoors or outdoors. Air pollution is defined as any physical, biological, or molecular change to the atmosphere’s air. When any dangerous gases, dust, or smoke enter the sky, then it causes the air to become contaminated, which makes it difficult for people, animals, and plants to survive. 

The three major sources of air pollution include:

• Use of fossil fuels by industries and thermal power plants.
• Burning biofuels like fuelwood, cow dung, crop residues, etc.
• Use of liquid fuels such as diesel, etc., in vehicles.

Air pollutants are usually categorised into two parts; viz., Gaseous Pollutants and SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter). Air pollutants here means any kind of liquid, solid, or gaseous substance present in the atmosphere in such concentration which is injurious to all living creatures. These pollutants can cause serious problems like acute and chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, hypertension, heart diseases, eye irritation, etc. In India, most cities have higher SPM levels than the standards prescribed by the authorities. The most populated cities of India include Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Nagpur, Chennai, etc. Besides these cities, the rural population is also affected by indoor pollution and is having severe health effects.

Air pollution is a severe problem in India with the main causes being fuelwood and biomass fires, fuel adulteration, vehicle emissions and traffic congestion. Air pollution is also an important cause of the Asian brown haze which is delaying rainfall. 

India is the world’s biggest user of energy-related fuel wood, farm refuse, and biomass. Traditional fuel (fuel wood, agricultural waste, dung cake) leads household energy use in rural India, accounting for approximately 90% of total consumption. This traditional fuel accounts for approximately 24 percent of the total use in urban areas. 

Every year the combustion of wood, agri-waste, and biomass cake emits over 165 million tonnes of combustion products into India’s interior and external air. These biomass-powered home stoves in India are also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.  

2. Water Pollution: 

Water is the most unique natural substance on earth. Water Pollution refers to the presence of biological, organic, inorganic, radiological, or physical foreign substances in the water, which degrades its quality. Water pollution has a large impact on economic development. The primary causes of water contamination are garbage flushing, industrial effluents containing organic contaminants, chemical waste, heavy metals, and mining operations. Sewage and industrial effluents are discharged into lakes, waterways, rivers, coastal regions, and underground water sources. Some of the major industries causing water pollution include pharmaceuticals, textiles, cement, chemical, leather tanning, glass, pulp and paperboard, electrical and electronic equipment, etc.

Water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, hepatitis, gastroenteritis, trachoma, and others are caused by contaminated and untreated water. 

Furthermore, supplying safe drinking water to individuals increases municipal corporation expenses. shortage of water leads to trouble and slows the development of an economy.

3. Loss to Bio-diversity:

India has a diverse range of agro-climatic conditions which support a diverse range of animals and plants. According to estimates, India places 10^th in the world and 4^th in Asia in terms of plant diversity. As agriculture becomes more commercialised, a number of plant and animal species are becoming extinct. Over 1,500 plant species, 79 mammals, 44 birds, 15 reptiles, 3 amphibians, and several insects are endangered. The destruction of habitats is a major cause of biodiversity decline. 

Profitable crops occupy more land while less profitable crops decline quickly, which causes a wide range of environmental issues. Concerns have been raised about the loss of vegetative covers such as grasslands and forest tree species as well as the extinction of wild animals, birds, and insects. Deforestation, overcrowding, pollution, and global warming all cause habitat loss. Large species and those residing in forests or oceans are more affected by habitat loss. According to some specialists, around 30% of all species will be vanished by 2050, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) says that roughly one-third of all known species are on the verge of elimination worldwide. It has been estimated that 25% of mammals will become extinct within the next 20 years.

4. Deforestation:

Deforestation is the continuous elimination or destruction of forest cover. Large-scale deforestation has been occurring since freedom as a result of the over-exploitation of natural resources. During the first three decades of planning, India lost approximately 3.4 million hectares of forest land with approximately 70 percent of that area lost to river valley projects, roadways, and connectivity. Deforestation is still accelerating. The issue has gotten so bad that it has completely disrupted the country’s ecological balance. Deforestation is high in the Himalayan mountains extending from Kashmir to North-East India. 

Some of the major causes for the decrease in forest wealth are:

• Population growth increases demand for fuel materials and lumber.
• Overgrazing, expansion, and unsafe practices.
• Unpredictability of development projects.
• Wildfires in the forest.

5. Land Degradation and Soil Loss:

Land or Soil degradation is defined as any change or disruption to the soil that is perceived as undesirable. Land degradation can occur as a result of both man-made and natural causes, such as storms and forest fires. It has been estimated that up to 40% of the world’s agricultural land has been severely degraded. Climate change, land clearing and deforestation, soil nutrient loss due to bad agricultural methods, overgrazing, and over-grafting are the primary reasons for land degradation. Water erosion is the most common cause of soil degradation in India.  

Population growth and the resulting demand for food, energy, and houses have significantly changed land-use practices and severely harmed India’s ecosystem. It means that, as food consumption cannot be increased, the growing population put huge pressure on land development at the cost of forests and grazing lands. Thus, horizontal land growth has fewer opportunities and is mostly dependent on vertical improvement, which is supported by agricultural technological developments such as HYV seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and agricultural tools. All of these practices damage and deplete the ecology.

6. Global Warming and Ozone Depletion:

The ozone layer is responsible for protecting the Earth from dangerous ultraviolet radiation. The production and emission of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are the primary cause of ozone layer depletion. This is responsible for nearly 80% of total ozone layer depletion. Many other chemicals, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and volatile organic molecules are responsible for ozone layer depletion.

Such compounds can be found in vehicle emissions, manufacturing byproducts, aerosols, and refrigerants. All of these ozone-depleting compounds are stable in the lower atmosphere, but as they reach the stratosphere they are subjected to ultraviolet rays. This causes their disintegration and the release of free chlorine atoms which combine with the ozone gas that leads to the depletion of the ozone layer. 

Another consequence of environmental deterioration is Global Warming. Global warming is defined as an increase in Earth’s temperature caused by certain gases, specifically carbon dioxide, which captures the heat of the Sun. Global warming is the most severe impact of industrial pollution. The emissions of greenhouse gases such as CO₂ and methane have caused the Earth’s temperature to rise, resulting in global warming. Global warming causes a wide range of health risks and diseases, including malaria, dengue fever and cholera. It also causes glaciers and snow-capped mountains to melt, raising water levels in oceans and waterways and increasing the risk of flooding.