6 Environmental science Social Issues part 1
IntroductionThe term sustainable was development and introduced by the World Commission onEnvironment and Development (The Brundtland Commission), in its seminal report of 1987,Our Common Future. The concept has terrifically worked out in creating public awarenessfor sustaining the planet with better management. The sustainable development has beendefined as “meeting the need of the present generation without compromising the needs offuture generation”. The concept precisely emphasizes upon using the earth resourcesjudiciously and compensating for it in some sense e.g. if cut few trees to support our lives,
we should also implant some new ones at some site. This would result in. maintaining the
earths fine balance between resource consumption and resource generation.
In understanding this concept we very often encounter two terms- sustainable and
development. These are summarized below as:
Sustainable
The literal meaning of sustainability is “that can be maintained” or “keep goal
continuously”. In ecological sense it refers to “conservation of ecological balance by avoiding
depletion of natural resources”. Hence, we can understand it as something, which has got
to do with longevity (long life) of a resource, commodity, species, ecosystem, earth etc.
Development
The literal meaning of development is “the act or instance of growth/advancement”. So
the growth can be of many types viz., growth of education, growth of industry, growth of
population, growth of forests and many other. But what type of growth are we addressing
to? Here we are addressing to one of the most sensitive issue of growing concern ‘about
improving the well-being of human beings. This could be achieved only through compromising
with some of our comforts and luxuries. The generation of comforts and luxuries brings
environment under great pressure. The Nations economic growth should not stand upon the
fragile foundation of earth’s resources. Mahatma Gandhi a great social scientist, rightly
192
CHAPTER
Environmental Science :
6 Social Issues
pointed out that, “The earth provides enough to satisfy everyone’s need, but not everyone’s
greed”.
In the context of economical and technical development the world always had been
better today than yesteryears and will always be better tomorrow than today. But the
condition of environment will always be poorer than before. Hence, the concept of sustainable
development raises certain questions for the present generations to answer. What is our
present? Are we happy with our present? Prospective changes of the magnitude described
above raises fundamental questions about the kind of world we will bequeath to our children
and about the nature and goals of development. The present in which we live is important
as it shapes our future. Nothing much can be done to recover the damages imposed on
nature in the past. But if we shape our surroundings based on environmental ethics and
economically exploit our present environment we would lend a healthier tomorrow to our
children. As we have examined some environmental issues in the previous chapters, we
would commonly agree that human population growth, loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction,
ozone depletion, global climate change, pollution (air, water, noise etc.) and limited food &
energy supply are environmental concerns of global scale. In the past two decades a great
deal of work from researchers, ecologists, environmental scientists, social scientists,
geographers and demographers have build up a very clear picture of what our tomorrow
would be like: Some initiatives have been taken up both at government and non-government
level. Still promising environmental concern at individual level is far lacking beyond
sustainable needs.
Although population growth continues to expand at an unsustainable pace but still
certain countries have achieved a demographic transition to zero population growth. However,
positive signs from developing nations are still absent. We have achieved breakthroughs in
renewable energy sources, agro-forestry schemes and better pollution control advancements.
Increased man awareness, resourcefulness and enterprise will help eliminate poverty and
resource wastage and will make our environment a much better place to live in. Until
environmental concerns do not find space in our heart we would never be able to delicately
handle our surroundings when we are at home or public. We should recognize things at
personal and collective grounds to protect nature and to create a sustainable environment.
Urban Problems Related to Energy
Big cities and towns have always influenced education, religion, commerce,
communication and politics, which have in turn influenced culture and society in various
proportions. Initially only a very limited section of the society lived in cities and towns while
the chief occupation of major population had been fishing, hunting, agriculture and cattle
rearing. However’ Industrial Revolution lead to expansion of cities and town both in size and
power. In developing nations, especially a large segment of society from villages moved to
cities for occupational support (occupational migration). This exactly was the cause of rapid
expansion of cities’ and formation of metropolitans like Delhi, Bombay, Chennai, Bangalore,
Calcutta and others. This ultimately brought into picture the concept of urbanization and
industrializations, which provided many benefits to society, especially to the rich, but also
introduced some evils in it. Here evils referred to were the increasing demand on energy
resources; whose consumption in turn lead to multitude problems of pollution, resource
shortage, diseases and waste disposal. Some of the major urban problems related to energy
are as under:
194 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(i) Electricity
Electricity from various sources is a major requirement of expanding cities, towns and
villages. Each and every activity of mans life is now someway related to electricity
consumption. Housing gadgets like mixer-grinder, T.V., computer, music systems, geysers,
fans, lights, A.C.s, microwave, water lifting pump, warm blowers, coolers, etc. form the
essential components of a house. This all together has led to an electricity energy crunch.
It is well known that some part of electricity is lost in transmission and greater part
is stolen. The remainder is simply not enough to support the majority of people in the city
and that’s why the problem of electricity in cities is on the rise. The buildings are empowering
the cities like anything but nowhere we see dams, supplying electrical units, increasing in
number at the same pace. Therefore, what majority of the cities face today is a usual cut
of electricity for a minimum of 6-8 hrs. This makes today’s urban life handicapped. Resourceful
enjoy the resource benefit from the rising generator and inverter culture, which in turn put
pressure on resources and lead to pollution problems.
(ii) Fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas and coal)
Fossil fuels have always been under a great threat from times immemorial. In the
absence of technological advancements these have served mankind for several years. In this
quest for energy the coal reserves have suffered a lot. With rise in technical know how man
started generating power from nuclear sources, hydroelectric power, wind power etc. But
still these contribute a little. We still depend on thermal power a lot.
(a) Petrol and Diesel: Transport and communication has brought the petroleum reserves
of the world under a great threat. The rise in number of vehicle per year is immense.
To understand the gravity of the problem a glance of metropolitan roads and lanes
is enough. Even the roads and lanes of big cities, small cities and towns are loaded
with two wheelers.
(b) Natural Gas: The common usage of natural gas is in the form of Liquid Petroleum
Gas (LPG). There is a terrific rise in the usage of LPG driven household commodities
with the expanding population. Earlier the LPG usage was only limited to kitchen
for cooking. The advent of technology introduced a numerous household items
making its use like gas geysers, gas heaters, gas fans, gas lanterns etc. In a way
it is serving as a substitute of electricity, which is other reason for increasing
pressure on oil wells/reserves.
(c) Coal: The world population has extracted and used coal reserves thinking as if it
is a never-ending commodity/resource. It has served Sustainable Development,
— Urban Problems,
— Water Conservation and Management,
— Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People,
— Environmental Ethics,
— Global Warning,
— Environment Protection Act,
— Issues involved in Enforcement of Environment Legislation,
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : SOCIAL ISSUES 195
Millions throughout the ages. Earlier it was primarily used to support kitchens. People
also utilized it for heating stoves/ heaters in colder regions of the world. Later, its usage in
the railways became the chief cause of its rapid exhaustion. Coal reserves are a limited
source of energy now. It should be used judiciously and economically.
(iii) Fuel wood
Fuel wood being used for the ignition of fire is chiefly responsible for the destruction
of impoverished forestlands. Though fuel wood collection to support family daily chores is
allowed in certain parts of the forest generally the outskirts but the greed and dearth
compels women to penetrate deep into the forest. Generally the big cities are characterised
by the absence of forestland at the fringes. But whatever degraded forest is available serve
as a source of fuel wood even in and around urban centres e.g. Dehradun is a well developed
city, but in its fringes we can still see women and children carrying loads of fuel wood.
Water Conservation
We could save as much as half of the water we now use for domestic purposes without
great sacrifice or serious changes in our lifestyles. Simple steps, such as taking shorter
showers, stopping leaks, and washing cars, dishes, and clothes as efficiently as possible, can
go a long way toward forestalling the water shortages that many authorities predict. Isn’t
it better to adapt to more conservative uses now when we have a choice than to be forced
to do it by scarcity in the future?
Rain Water Harvesting
Water is commonly taken for granted as nature’s gift. Often it is used wastefully in
agriculture, but industry and people pollute and poison available water supplies at an
alarming rate. Water problems arise from increasing demands generated by rapid population
growth; urbanization, industrialization and irrigation for additional food production. In many
areas excessive pumping of groundwater not only brings down water quality, but also depletes
it this affects’ sustainability. The ‘capacity of irrigation tanks numbering about five lakh in
the country is shrinking due to situation and encroachment. Scarcity is noticed even in high
rainfall areas like Cherrapunji (Assam), Western Ghats and Kerala. This is due to improper
management and poor conservation of rainwater.
India’s water potential is substantial but the scarcity is felt everywhere even for drinking.
This is because the country’s water policy and management is not very specific and
implementation is poor. Total rain in the country is about 400 M hm (million hectare
meters). The runoff in the rivers is estimated at 186 M ha. Further the utilizable groundwater
is calculated as 40 M hm. However, the utilizable quantity is about 110-115 M hm (70 M
hm from surface and 40 M hm from groundwater). To meet the relentless increase in
demand for water for various purposes and to achieve the goal of optimal use and to get the
maximum benefits, it is necessary to make water resource development holistic through a
comprehensive integrated river basin planning and management. This can be done only if
a wide range of disciplines are involved. Wastage of water due to leakage in pipes and
unattended repairs results in about 30-40 per cent water resource lost.
The landscape watershed units can be effectively subdivided into discrete hydrological
units. Since the watersheds are spatially laid from ridge to valley, they most efficiently
conserve land and water resources and help secure water availability throughout the growing
196 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
season. The land area of the watershed drains into a common point. Hence, the drainage
water can be easily stored in above -ground storage structures for recycling during droughts
or for growing an additional crop. Rain fed agriculture research and development has been
dominated by the concept of high yields for decades. It arose from the scientific principles
developed for the ‘green revolution’ high input, high-output technologies. Fatigue and cracks
are now developing in the green revolution areas. For rain fed agriculture, an area-based
development through watershed management provides an excellent framework for sustaining
semi-arid tropical ecologies. Also the landscape watershed units focus on the maintenance
of managed biodiversity through diversified cropping systems. It is significant to note that
a broad range of baseline information on watershed-based soil and water conservation
technologies already exists. A study commissioned by the National Institute of Agricultural
Extension Management, Hyderabad, showed that if the watershed technology is to succeed
it must be specific to natural endowments of the location; it must be built on indigenous
knowledge; it should be based on people’s participation; it must be equitable in sharing of
costs and benefits, and village-based institutions must be put-in-place right from inception
of the project.
Watershed Management
It was suggested that, rather than allowing residential, commercial, or industrial
development on flood plains, these areas should be reserved for water storage, aquifer
recharge, wildlife habitat, and agriculture. Sound farming and forestry practices can reduce
runoff. Retaining crop residue on fields reduces flooding, and minimizing. Ploughing and
forest cutting on steep slopes protects watersheds. Wetlands conservation preserves natural
water storage capacity and aquifer recharge zones. A river fed by marshes and wet meadows
tend to run consistently clear and steady rather than in violent floods.
A series of small dams on tributary streams can hold backwater before it becomes a
great flood. Ponds formed by these dams provide useful wildlife habitat and stock-watering
facilities. They also catch soil where it could be returned to the fields. Small dams can be
built with simple equipment and local labour; eliminating the need for massive construction
projects and huge dams. Watershed-based frame for rain fed agriculture provides uncommon
opportunities for achieving sustainable food and nutritional security. It is time that the
watershed development agenda is considered a programme for-the masses.
Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People
“Land for land” is a better policy than cash settlement. Even in implementing this
policy, the land is not given in the command area in most cases, forestland is either cleared
on waste fallow land given without any provision for developing the land or for the supply
of necessary inputs; a village is broken up and families dispersed; villagers are usually left
to buy private land, take loans from the government, which puts poor villagers at a
disadvantage- land prices in neighboring villages shoot up steeply if the government takes
up resettlement; the villagers are resettled in distant places, sometimes in a totally alien
environment and culture, thus creating insurmountable adjustment problems. Oustees from
Pong dam in Himachal Pradesh were settled in Anupgarh in Rajasthan, bordering on Pakistan.
The people were generally left to fend for themselves. Arrangements for drinking water,
dispensaries, schools, village roads or drainage of the rehabilitation sites are only completed
years later. In the case of the Ukai Dam in Gujarat, resettlement work was undertaken by
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : SOCIAL ISSUES 197
the ‘Ukai Nav Nirman Samity. Even so, out of a total of 18,500 affected families, only 3500
families could be resettled.
People who could previously barely manage to survive in their traditional environment
are uprooted as a result. The objectives of rehabilitation should be:
1. The people displaced should get an appropriate share in the fruits of development.
2. Creating new settlements with their own environment should rehabilitate them.
3. Removal of poverty should also be an objective of the rehabilitation policy and
therefore some land to all.
4. Oustees (even the landless) should be given assurance of employment.
5. While dealing with tribal one should also keep in mind the following five principles
of tribal-development accepted during Jawaharlal Nehru’s era as ‘tribal panchsheel.’
6. Tribal should develop along the lines of their own genius and we should avoid
imposing anything on them.
7. We should try to encourage their own traditional arts and culture in every way.
8. Resettlement should be in the neighborhood of their own environment. If
resettlement is not possible in the command area, top priority should be given to
the development of irrigation facilities and supply of basic inputs for agriculture;
drinking water, wells, grazing grounds for cattle schools for the children, primary
health care units and other amenities should be arranged.
9. In partly affected village, villagers should be given the option of shifting out with
others with the same compensation as available to evacuees.
10. Training facilities should be set up to upgrade the skills of affected people and
reservation in jobs should be made for the willing adults among the evacuees.
11. Special attention should be given to the rehabilitation of artisans and village crafts
people.
12. Villagers should be taken into confidence at every stage or implementation and
we should also implant some new ones at some site. This would result in. maintaining the
earths fine balance between resource consumption and resource generation.
In understanding this concept we very often encounter two terms- sustainable and
development. These are summarized below as:
Sustainable
The literal meaning of sustainability is “that can be maintained” or “keep goal
continuously”. In ecological sense it refers to “conservation of ecological balance by avoiding
depletion of natural resources”. Hence, we can understand it as something, which has got
to do with longevity (long life) of a resource, commodity, species, ecosystem, earth etc.
Development
The literal meaning of development is “the act or instance of growth/advancement”. So
the growth can be of many types viz., growth of education, growth of industry, growth of
population, growth of forests and many other. But what type of growth are we addressing
to? Here we are addressing to one of the most sensitive issue of growing concern ‘about
improving the well-being of human beings. This could be achieved only through compromising
with some of our comforts and luxuries. The generation of comforts and luxuries brings
environment under great pressure. The Nations economic growth should not stand upon the
fragile foundation of earth’s resources. Mahatma Gandhi a great social scientist, rightly
192
CHAPTER
Environmental Science :
6 Social Issues
pointed out that, “The earth provides enough to satisfy everyone’s need, but not everyone’s
greed”.
In the context of economical and technical development the world always had been
better today than yesteryears and will always be better tomorrow than today. But the
condition of environment will always be poorer than before. Hence, the concept of sustainable
development raises certain questions for the present generations to answer. What is our
present? Are we happy with our present? Prospective changes of the magnitude described
above raises fundamental questions about the kind of world we will bequeath to our children
and about the nature and goals of development. The present in which we live is important
as it shapes our future. Nothing much can be done to recover the damages imposed on
nature in the past. But if we shape our surroundings based on environmental ethics and
economically exploit our present environment we would lend a healthier tomorrow to our
children. As we have examined some environmental issues in the previous chapters, we
would commonly agree that human population growth, loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction,
ozone depletion, global climate change, pollution (air, water, noise etc.) and limited food &
energy supply are environmental concerns of global scale. In the past two decades a great
deal of work from researchers, ecologists, environmental scientists, social scientists,
geographers and demographers have build up a very clear picture of what our tomorrow
would be like: Some initiatives have been taken up both at government and non-government
level. Still promising environmental concern at individual level is far lacking beyond
sustainable needs.
Although population growth continues to expand at an unsustainable pace but still
certain countries have achieved a demographic transition to zero population growth. However,
positive signs from developing nations are still absent. We have achieved breakthroughs in
renewable energy sources, agro-forestry schemes and better pollution control advancements.
Increased man awareness, resourcefulness and enterprise will help eliminate poverty and
resource wastage and will make our environment a much better place to live in. Until
environmental concerns do not find space in our heart we would never be able to delicately
handle our surroundings when we are at home or public. We should recognize things at
personal and collective grounds to protect nature and to create a sustainable environment.
Urban Problems Related to Energy
Big cities and towns have always influenced education, religion, commerce,
communication and politics, which have in turn influenced culture and society in various
proportions. Initially only a very limited section of the society lived in cities and towns while
the chief occupation of major population had been fishing, hunting, agriculture and cattle
rearing. However’ Industrial Revolution lead to expansion of cities and town both in size and
power. In developing nations, especially a large segment of society from villages moved to
cities for occupational support (occupational migration). This exactly was the cause of rapid
expansion of cities’ and formation of metropolitans like Delhi, Bombay, Chennai, Bangalore,
Calcutta and others. This ultimately brought into picture the concept of urbanization and
industrializations, which provided many benefits to society, especially to the rich, but also
introduced some evils in it. Here evils referred to were the increasing demand on energy
resources; whose consumption in turn lead to multitude problems of pollution, resource
shortage, diseases and waste disposal. Some of the major urban problems related to energy
are as under:
194 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(i) Electricity
Electricity from various sources is a major requirement of expanding cities, towns and
villages. Each and every activity of mans life is now someway related to electricity
consumption. Housing gadgets like mixer-grinder, T.V., computer, music systems, geysers,
fans, lights, A.C.s, microwave, water lifting pump, warm blowers, coolers, etc. form the
essential components of a house. This all together has led to an electricity energy crunch.
It is well known that some part of electricity is lost in transmission and greater part
is stolen. The remainder is simply not enough to support the majority of people in the city
and that’s why the problem of electricity in cities is on the rise. The buildings are empowering
the cities like anything but nowhere we see dams, supplying electrical units, increasing in
number at the same pace. Therefore, what majority of the cities face today is a usual cut
of electricity for a minimum of 6-8 hrs. This makes today’s urban life handicapped. Resourceful
enjoy the resource benefit from the rising generator and inverter culture, which in turn put
pressure on resources and lead to pollution problems.
(ii) Fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas and coal)
Fossil fuels have always been under a great threat from times immemorial. In the
absence of technological advancements these have served mankind for several years. In this
quest for energy the coal reserves have suffered a lot. With rise in technical know how man
started generating power from nuclear sources, hydroelectric power, wind power etc. But
still these contribute a little. We still depend on thermal power a lot.
(a) Petrol and Diesel: Transport and communication has brought the petroleum reserves
of the world under a great threat. The rise in number of vehicle per year is immense.
To understand the gravity of the problem a glance of metropolitan roads and lanes
is enough. Even the roads and lanes of big cities, small cities and towns are loaded
with two wheelers.
(b) Natural Gas: The common usage of natural gas is in the form of Liquid Petroleum
Gas (LPG). There is a terrific rise in the usage of LPG driven household commodities
with the expanding population. Earlier the LPG usage was only limited to kitchen
for cooking. The advent of technology introduced a numerous household items
making its use like gas geysers, gas heaters, gas fans, gas lanterns etc. In a way
it is serving as a substitute of electricity, which is other reason for increasing
pressure on oil wells/reserves.
(c) Coal: The world population has extracted and used coal reserves thinking as if it
is a never-ending commodity/resource. It has served Sustainable Development,
— Urban Problems,
— Water Conservation and Management,
— Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People,
— Environmental Ethics,
— Global Warning,
— Environment Protection Act,
— Issues involved in Enforcement of Environment Legislation,
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : SOCIAL ISSUES 195
Millions throughout the ages. Earlier it was primarily used to support kitchens. People
also utilized it for heating stoves/ heaters in colder regions of the world. Later, its usage in
the railways became the chief cause of its rapid exhaustion. Coal reserves are a limited
source of energy now. It should be used judiciously and economically.
(iii) Fuel wood
Fuel wood being used for the ignition of fire is chiefly responsible for the destruction
of impoverished forestlands. Though fuel wood collection to support family daily chores is
allowed in certain parts of the forest generally the outskirts but the greed and dearth
compels women to penetrate deep into the forest. Generally the big cities are characterised
by the absence of forestland at the fringes. But whatever degraded forest is available serve
as a source of fuel wood even in and around urban centres e.g. Dehradun is a well developed
city, but in its fringes we can still see women and children carrying loads of fuel wood.
Water Conservation
We could save as much as half of the water we now use for domestic purposes without
great sacrifice or serious changes in our lifestyles. Simple steps, such as taking shorter
showers, stopping leaks, and washing cars, dishes, and clothes as efficiently as possible, can
go a long way toward forestalling the water shortages that many authorities predict. Isn’t
it better to adapt to more conservative uses now when we have a choice than to be forced
to do it by scarcity in the future?
Rain Water Harvesting
Water is commonly taken for granted as nature’s gift. Often it is used wastefully in
agriculture, but industry and people pollute and poison available water supplies at an
alarming rate. Water problems arise from increasing demands generated by rapid population
growth; urbanization, industrialization and irrigation for additional food production. In many
areas excessive pumping of groundwater not only brings down water quality, but also depletes
it this affects’ sustainability. The ‘capacity of irrigation tanks numbering about five lakh in
the country is shrinking due to situation and encroachment. Scarcity is noticed even in high
rainfall areas like Cherrapunji (Assam), Western Ghats and Kerala. This is due to improper
management and poor conservation of rainwater.
India’s water potential is substantial but the scarcity is felt everywhere even for drinking.
This is because the country’s water policy and management is not very specific and
implementation is poor. Total rain in the country is about 400 M hm (million hectare
meters). The runoff in the rivers is estimated at 186 M ha. Further the utilizable groundwater
is calculated as 40 M hm. However, the utilizable quantity is about 110-115 M hm (70 M
hm from surface and 40 M hm from groundwater). To meet the relentless increase in
demand for water for various purposes and to achieve the goal of optimal use and to get the
maximum benefits, it is necessary to make water resource development holistic through a
comprehensive integrated river basin planning and management. This can be done only if
a wide range of disciplines are involved. Wastage of water due to leakage in pipes and
unattended repairs results in about 30-40 per cent water resource lost.
The landscape watershed units can be effectively subdivided into discrete hydrological
units. Since the watersheds are spatially laid from ridge to valley, they most efficiently
conserve land and water resources and help secure water availability throughout the growing
196 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
season. The land area of the watershed drains into a common point. Hence, the drainage
water can be easily stored in above -ground storage structures for recycling during droughts
or for growing an additional crop. Rain fed agriculture research and development has been
dominated by the concept of high yields for decades. It arose from the scientific principles
developed for the ‘green revolution’ high input, high-output technologies. Fatigue and cracks
are now developing in the green revolution areas. For rain fed agriculture, an area-based
development through watershed management provides an excellent framework for sustaining
semi-arid tropical ecologies. Also the landscape watershed units focus on the maintenance
of managed biodiversity through diversified cropping systems. It is significant to note that
a broad range of baseline information on watershed-based soil and water conservation
technologies already exists. A study commissioned by the National Institute of Agricultural
Extension Management, Hyderabad, showed that if the watershed technology is to succeed
it must be specific to natural endowments of the location; it must be built on indigenous
knowledge; it should be based on people’s participation; it must be equitable in sharing of
costs and benefits, and village-based institutions must be put-in-place right from inception
of the project.
Watershed Management
It was suggested that, rather than allowing residential, commercial, or industrial
development on flood plains, these areas should be reserved for water storage, aquifer
recharge, wildlife habitat, and agriculture. Sound farming and forestry practices can reduce
runoff. Retaining crop residue on fields reduces flooding, and minimizing. Ploughing and
forest cutting on steep slopes protects watersheds. Wetlands conservation preserves natural
water storage capacity and aquifer recharge zones. A river fed by marshes and wet meadows
tend to run consistently clear and steady rather than in violent floods.
A series of small dams on tributary streams can hold backwater before it becomes a
great flood. Ponds formed by these dams provide useful wildlife habitat and stock-watering
facilities. They also catch soil where it could be returned to the fields. Small dams can be
built with simple equipment and local labour; eliminating the need for massive construction
projects and huge dams. Watershed-based frame for rain fed agriculture provides uncommon
opportunities for achieving sustainable food and nutritional security. It is time that the
watershed development agenda is considered a programme for-the masses.
Resettlement and Rehabilitation of People
“Land for land” is a better policy than cash settlement. Even in implementing this
policy, the land is not given in the command area in most cases, forestland is either cleared
on waste fallow land given without any provision for developing the land or for the supply
of necessary inputs; a village is broken up and families dispersed; villagers are usually left
to buy private land, take loans from the government, which puts poor villagers at a
disadvantage- land prices in neighboring villages shoot up steeply if the government takes
up resettlement; the villagers are resettled in distant places, sometimes in a totally alien
environment and culture, thus creating insurmountable adjustment problems. Oustees from
Pong dam in Himachal Pradesh were settled in Anupgarh in Rajasthan, bordering on Pakistan.
The people were generally left to fend for themselves. Arrangements for drinking water,
dispensaries, schools, village roads or drainage of the rehabilitation sites are only completed
years later. In the case of the Ukai Dam in Gujarat, resettlement work was undertaken by
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE : SOCIAL ISSUES 197
the ‘Ukai Nav Nirman Samity. Even so, out of a total of 18,500 affected families, only 3500
families could be resettled.
People who could previously barely manage to survive in their traditional environment
are uprooted as a result. The objectives of rehabilitation should be:
1. The people displaced should get an appropriate share in the fruits of development.
2. Creating new settlements with their own environment should rehabilitate them.
3. Removal of poverty should also be an objective of the rehabilitation policy and
therefore some land to all.
4. Oustees (even the landless) should be given assurance of employment.
5. While dealing with tribal one should also keep in mind the following five principles
of tribal-development accepted during Jawaharlal Nehru’s era as ‘tribal panchsheel.’
6. Tribal should develop along the lines of their own genius and we should avoid
imposing anything on them.
7. We should try to encourage their own traditional arts and culture in every way.
8. Resettlement should be in the neighborhood of their own environment. If
resettlement is not possible in the command area, top priority should be given to
the development of irrigation facilities and supply of basic inputs for agriculture;
drinking water, wells, grazing grounds for cattle schools for the children, primary
health care units and other amenities should be arranged.
9. In partly affected village, villagers should be given the option of shifting out with
others with the same compensation as available to evacuees.
10. Training facilities should be set up to upgrade the skills of affected people and
reservation in jobs should be made for the willing adults among the evacuees.
11. Special attention should be given to the rehabilitation of artisans and village crafts
people.
12. Villagers should be taken into confidence at every stage or implementation and