CHAPTER 3: EFFECTS OF HUMAN ACTIVITIES, EIA AND SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
ILL EFFECTS OF MODERN AGRICULTURE ON ENVIRONMENT
In modern agriculture system, excess amount of fossil fuel, water, chemical
fertilizers and pesticides are used to get higher yield. In modern agriculture high
yielding crop varieties (HYV) are grown which require large amount of water
supply, chemical fertilizers and chemical pesticides.
Modern agriculture has adversely affected the fertility of soil, which became the
cause of degradation of land. Some of the harmful effects of modern agriculture
are as follows:
IMPACT OF MINING ON ENVIRONMENT
Mining refers to the process of extracting metals and minerals from the earth. It
disturbs the physical, chemical and biological features of the soil.
URBANIZATION
Urbanization is a situation of high rate of population growth in cities. People
migrate from villages to cities in search of jobs as the only form of employment
available in rural areas is agriculture.
URBAN SPRAWLING
It is a process of human settlement in sub-urban area (=area outside of urban zone)
IMPACTS OF URBANIZATION ON ENVIRONMENT
Change in land use pattern
Deforestation
Depletion of wildlife
Loss of biodiversity
Loss of greenery.
Ecological imbalance
Air pollution due to housing, industries and transportation
Air borne diseases
Water pollution due to sewage (waste water from houses) and effluent (waste
water from industries)
Water borne and water induced diseases.
Soil pollution due to solid waste from houses and industries.
Noise pollution due to housing, industries and transportation.
Problem of Global warming, acid rain and ozone layer depletion.
EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment)
EIA is a systematic process of assessment of impacts of any development project
(for ex: factory/industry/dam etc.) on environment.
EIA is one of the recent the branch of environmental engineering.
In India, EIA is conducted by MoEF (Ministry Of Environment And Forest).
AIMS/OBJECTIVES OF EIA
To achieve sustainable development.
Minimum (minimal) environmental degradation.
Prevention from long term adverse impacts.
EIS (Environmental Impact Statement)
EIS is a document written in the format as specified by Department of
Environment. EIS is a part of EIA process and it consists of data regarding the
impacts of development project on environment. It includes:
Impact of project on land quality.
Impact of project on water quality.
Impact of project on air quality.
The extent of noise produced.
Impact of project on plants and animals (i.e. biodiversity).
Impact of project on National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries.
Impact of project on society.
Impact of project on public health.
Impact of project on agriculture and tourism
LIST SOME MAJOR PROJECTS FOR WHICH EIA IS MANDATORY
Major irrigation projects/ river valley projects
Hydel power projects
Thermal power projects
Chemical/metallurgical industries
Nuclear power plants
Tourism projects
Mining projects
Food processing industries
Paper and pulp industries
Oil refineries
Textile industries etc.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
It is:
An eco-friendly development
A long-term development
Such a development which helps in maintaining/sustaining the availability of
natural resources for present generation as well as future generation without
affecting their quality.
The World Commission on Environment and Development, in 1987, submitted a
report entitled “Our Common Future”, which defined the term Sustainable
Development as:”Development that meets the needs of present without
compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs”.
This Commission is known as Brundtland Commission, named after G. H.
Brundtland, former minister of Norway.
By checking population explosion
By implementing 4 “R” policy i.e. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recovery.
By using appropriate technology (=eco-friendly technology)
By judicious use of natural resources.
Through environmental awareness, environmental education and public
participation.
By implementing laws (Acts) and legislation.
Obstacles in the Path of Sustainable Development
Pollution
Over-Population
Poverty
Discrimination (=inequity) against women
Caste based fight
Religion based fights
Dirty politics
Problems of female infanticide, child marriage, child labour and dowry
Illiteracy (lack of education)
Corruption
