New challenges to India’s environment

Context:  An analysis of new challenges that are confronting India’s environment.

Challenges to India’s environment:

• Economic activities: based burning fossil fuels, extracting minerals and raw materials
• Agricultural issues:
  • The industrialisation of agriculture: using technologies creates a cycle of increasing toxicity of soil and air in pursuing higher yields. (under Intensive Agricultural Development Programme (IADP))
    • Use of high-yielding varieties: and the intensive use of chemical fertilisers, water and eventually toxic pesticides to protect the crops from pests
    • Issue of stubble burning: is a consequence of the ill-manged policies of subsidies and Minimum Support Price (MSP).
  • Reluctance of states to adopt an appropriate cropping pattern: and more sustainable practices.
  • Rising population: With rising population, trees in the forest will be cut to win a small patch on which to cultivate a few crops or to build a small dwelling.
  • Downsides of renewable energy: A hydro-electric power project may produce clean energy, but will result in forest depletion.
  • National Security vs environment: g. Threat of clearing some areas of Rajaji National Park at Dehradun airport to accommodate military aircraft in view of the heightened Chinese threat.
  • Related to religious sentiments: g.
    • Clearing forests to accommodate pilgrims expected at Haridwar.
    • Immersing idols laden with toxic chemical paints in rivers and seas.
    • Chaar Dham project has already led to a four-lane highway.

Conclusion: The above-discussed challenges limit our capacity to progress towards a sustainable future dominated by renewable energy since a hydro-electric power project may produce clean energy; the loss of pristine forests is immense.