Vinod Kumar Sharma
Indira Gandhi Institute of Development
Research (IGIDR), Mumbai- 400065, (INDIA).
Tel: (91-22) 2841-6531; Fax: (91-22) 2840-5653; E-Mail: vks@igidr.ac.in
Tel: (91-22) 2841-6531; Fax: (91-22) 2840-5653; E-Mail: vks@igidr.ac.in
Abstract
This paper reviews the state of major sub-sectors of
environment in India
and examines the effectiveness of policy and other measures adapted to improve
their condition. While country’s contribution to
global environmental problems such as global warming and ozone depletion may be
lower than other transitional economies, the local problems related to air,
water, land, etc., within the country, are quite disturbing. Environmental challenges of development strategies are
enormous as such issues are no more confined to one discipline or one nation.
Thus, to deal with multi-dimensional and multi-national problems, appropriate policies are required at international, national and local levels. It is suggested that environmental policies should be
based on facts and rational calculations rather than emotions and debate. If
pollution abatement measures are too stringent polluters may not follow them
and find alternative ways to bye-pass them. Also, if these measures are too
lenient, development processes will go on deteriorating our ecosystem.
Therefore, government policies and measures should focus on a strategy that
strikes a balance between environmental care and the economic development in
the country.
Keywords: Economic Growth, Environmental Laws and Policies, Socio-economic
Issues, Sustainable Development, India.
Introduction
More than 97 per cent of the world’s
water resources occurs in the form of oceans and only about 2.7 per cent as
fresh water bodies including both surface and ground water resources. Thus,
fresh water occupies a very small portion of the total water on the Earth in
which rivers and lakes do not even get counted as they contribute to a
negligible amount (0.014 percent) of all fresh water. Chemically, water is H2O
and since it is regarded as a universal solvent it never exists individually in
nature. Nor it is desirable in its purest form as some components like
minerals, salts, etc. are required from the health point of
view. If any one or more components of water exceed the prescribed limits, it
causes water contamination.
In addition to water scarcity, quality
of water is also to be considered relative to the proposed use of water.
Groundwater quality is also a serious issue as about 85 per cent of India’s
population depends on it for drinking and other domestic uses. Leaching of
toxic chemicals into the groundwater on account of contamination and
over-exploitation is visible in many parts of the country.
Status of Water Resources
Safe and regular water
supply is a necessary aspect of development process. Just as surface water is
stored in the form of tanks, reservoirs, lakes within the river or drainage
channels, groundwater is stored in the aquifers. This section describes the
status of various surface and gound water bodies in the State.
Surface Water Resources
As shown in Table 2.1, the quantity of
inland water resources in Maharashtra is about 3.39 lakh ha, which accounts for
only 4.93 per cent of the total inland water resources in the country. Since
the state has more than 9 per cent of the country’s population, it indicates
that the per capita water availability in the state is (MoWR, 2003).
Table
2.1: Inland Water Resources in Maharashtra
|
Water Resource
|
Quantity
|
|
Rivers & Canals (Length in kms)
|
16000
|
|
Reservoir (In lakh ha)
|
2.79
|
|
Tanks, Lakes & Ponds (In lakh ha)
|
0.50
|
|
Beels, Oxbow Lakes & Derelict Water (ha)
|
NA
|
|
Brackish Water (In lakh ha)
|
0.10
|
|
Total Water Bodies (In lakh ha)
|
3.39
|
Source: GoI (2004) NA – Not Available
Urban Situation
Maharashtra
has about 250 urban agglomerations, comprising of 22 Municipal Corporations
(MCs) and 222 Municipal Councils. Among all categories of urban local bodies
only 15.3 per cent satisfied norms, thus, indicating inadequate availability of
water. As can be seen from the Table 2.7, even within Class I cities, there is
wide variation as the water supply is 272 litres per capita per day (lpcd) in
Mumbai as against 158 lpcd in Nagpur
(CPCB, 1997).
|
·
Agrani
River Basin
|
·
Bombay
Island River
Basin
|
·
Ghataprabha
River Basin
|
|
·
Konkan Coastal Basin
|
·
Krishna
River Basin
|
·
Kundalika
River Basin
|
|
·
Lower
Bhima River
Basin
|
·
Lower
Godavari River
Basin
|
·
Nag
River Basin
|
|
·
Narmada
River Basin
|
·
Nira
River Basin
|
·
North and New Bombay Basin
|
|
·
Patalganga
River Basin
|
·
Satpati Coastal Basin
|
·
Sukna
River Basin
|
|
·
Tapi
River Basin
|
·
Ulhas
River Basin
|
·
Upper
Bhima River
Basin
|
|
·
Upper
Godavari River
Basin
|
·
Wainganga, Wardha, Penganga River Basin
|
|
Source: DoE, GoM (2005)
|
Generation
|
Collection
|
 |
 |
|
Source: CPCB (2002:a)
|
|
Figure
2.2: Road Accident Statistics of Mumbai
Source:
ToI, April 2005
Conclusions
·
Maharashtra
contributes about 20 per cent to the industrial output and 13 per cent to the
GDP of the country as of 2003-04. Per
Capita State
income at Rs 29,204 is higher than the National Income at Rs 20,989 (current
prices). Over the last four decades, the share of the primary sector has
declined from 34.4 per cent to 13.4 per cent while that of the secondary sector
has remained more or less constant at about 26 per cent; however, the share of
tertiary sector has increased from 39.9 per cent to 60.8 per cent.
·
Integration of some of
the infrastructure schemes such as construction of roads with the employment
and income generation programmes may help in the alleviation of poverty.
Medical facilities and provisions in rural areas should also be upgraded. The
infrastructure facilities especially power, ports and road network should be
improved. Privatisation of distribution of power and water may help in reducing
T&D losses, leakages and unauthorised connections.
Recommendations
·
There is a need to
provide more and efficient irrigation facilities such as properly managed
watershed development programmes, drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, etc. The export promotion drive would have to be
synchronised with the State’s changing crop pattern in agriculture and allied
sectors.
·
Department of
Industries should introduce such schemes, which focus on total quality
management resulting in quality improvement, cost reduction, higher
productivity.A marketing strategy is required to address the needs of domestic
and international tourists and publicise the tourism potential of Maharashtra through appropriate media.
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