A Call for Nature… … ….
The present epoch is faced with lots of lots of problems. Out of many, in this present manuscript; I would like to articulate some of the major hindrances amongst many in the context of environment. It is evidently known to us that environment plays an imperative role for diverse creatures of living beings. As a fact, this environment encompasses all the creatures of the Planet viz, plants, human beings, animals, marine creatures, flora, fauna etc. Therefore, it is our prime obligations to protect this environment so as to shield our creatures from being infected with unhygienic and in sanitary substances.
Indeed there is a wide chasm between what we ought to have done, and what we are doing / continuing to perform. And this gulf is going on increasing at an unprecedented scale due to laces of proper co-ordination between various sectors of the government and the virtues of existing laws incorporated in various Statutes, books, Constitution etc.
Unbridled use of science and unprecedented use of technology has given birth, too many problems including the problems of eco-imbalances and environmental degradation. With the advancement of science and technology, this menace has assumed threatening dimensions. Such problems have not only caused enormous damage to flora and fauna, but have also threatened the very existence of mankind on this beautiful Planet.
It has been rightly pointed out that----
“Human survival is menaced by another equally homicidal missile euphemistically described as environmental pollution. If I may imprint an odd expression, ‘thanatalogy through technology’ is the Frankenstein’s monster that science and industry, by promising global progress, have created. If dehumanized industrialization, with all its profit-hungry vulgarity and ecological insensitivity, invade Nature with enlightened resistance from society and persons or depletes all the resources of land, water and air, the crucification of humanity is a certainty and the resurrection of the race a lost possibility unless we begin the battle for human values against barbarity incorporated, right now. Today is right; tomorrow may be too late…. We have guided missiles and unguided men.” *
Off late, scientific artillery, missiles, sophisticated machineries, guns like AK-47, radiation, atomic bombs are indeed responsible for causing innumerable wars, which have the power to destroy the World within flicker of second. Simply imagine!! A world with billions of population, uncountable territories, with more than 108 nations in all can be diminished by pressing a button. Undisputedly, science helps us to illuminate light by unveiling mystic topics with rationalistic reasons and consequences. It is science, which has led to so many successes in various facets of our time. True it is, that 21st century is often termed “scientific revolution” but this science also has notable setbacks by which the entire planet upon which we live in can be demolished by flicker of seconds.
Everyday there is a new problem coming up before us relating to degradation of environment, depredated earth, traumatic subversion of eco-system, poisoning of air, water, and food and technological plunder of the resources of Nature. That is why ‘environmental hygiene is a very urgent problem of mankind. Its solution and immediate adoption of remedial measures would probably save Nature from its irreparable loss. Inordinate delay to adopt and implement such measures could mean the very destruction of natural environment. The seriousness of the problem is now evident from the fact that all the countries --- developed, developing, as well as underdeveloped nations and their scientists, economists, policy makers, and administrations, high profile officers have started giving serious thought about degradation of environment and eco-imbalances. Moreover, the air, water, land pollution, and radiation have led to serious contamination of food with chemicals are affecting our health in adverse manner. The parameter of pollution have come to such an extent that intellectuals and scientists do now have beginning to believe that the bacteriological era has come to an end and the new era called “chemical era” has set in.
The problem of the protection of water resources from pollution with oil and metal, organic chrolic compounds, radioactive waste and various other toxic substances is also a major threat to aquatic, marine, and oceanic life of a country; particularly a country like India, which has a long coastline or other water bodies.
To meet these challenges to mankind, various measures have already been adopted including legal measures. Many laws have been passed by the Indian Parliament and the State legislatures to contain and combat with the existing problems of air, land, water, radiation pollution, and eco-imbalances. These laws include the following Acts, amongst others viz, ----
A] Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972
B] The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
C] The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
D] The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
E] The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986
F] The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
Concern over the State environment has grown the world ever since the sixties. The decline in environmental quality has been evidenced by the increasing pollution, loss of vegetation cover and biological diversity. Excessive concentrations of harmful chemicals in the ambient atmosphere as well as in the food chains are indeed one of the major threats of today’s world. The world community’s resolve to protect and enhance the quality of our environment as laid down at the United Nations Conference on Human Environment held in Stockholm in June 1972. Government of India participated in the Stockholm conference as one of the major signatories amongst many and also voiced deep concerns on the major environment related concerns viz, poverty, healthy environment, deforestation, degradation of environment, education, exploitation of natural resources etc. While several measures have been adopted since then for environmental protection both before and after the Conference; the need for a general legislation further to implement is what the doctor calls for today.
Actually a lot of these problems (as discussed above) have been discussed at length. But what really is lacking is the implementation of our existing laws coupled with their penal clauses. Just when the Government or Courts are taking a positive step to mitigate pollution from ‘chocking cities’ (Delhi and Kolkata) agitations are starting, violence are spreading, political parties are coming up to purchase votes, disruptions are flowing, effigy of a particular figure is being burnt. In a nutshell, society turns into topsy-turvy and a huge turn moil takes place. To bring normal situation, various amendments / alterations / additions / changes goes on in between what was proposed to be achieved initially and what is actually possible to be achieved considering the practical needs of the Country too. Thus, every now and then due to all such problems the basic start that were taken by various Courts / Governments to curb the pollution or policies for environmental degradation are being shattered altogether.
There are various existing laws dealing directly or indirectly with several environmental pollutants; but we require to have a general legislation or a competent body who would be entrusted to look after and implement the provisions that have been incarnated in the Articles of Constitution like Art 47, Art 48A, Art 51a(g), etc. It would be of little avail, if these Articles are actually stored in cold refrigerator without being actually putting into operation in practical domain. And these existing laws concerning on environmental pollution generally focuses on specific types of pollution or on specific hazardous categories of hazardous substances. Some major areas of environmental hazards have been surprisingly left out. There are inadequate linkages in handling matters of industrial and environmental safety. Control mechanisms to guard against slow, indious build-up of hazardous substances, especially new chemicals, in the environment are extremely frail. Because of multiplicity of regulatory agencies; there is an urgent need for an authority to be formed, which can assume the leading role for studying, planning, and implementing long-term requirements of environmental safety and co-ordinate the system of speedy and adequate response to emergency situations threatening the environment.
In view of what has been stated above, there is an urgent need for the enactment of general legislation of environmental protection which, inter alia, should enable co-ordination of activities of the various regulatory agencies, creation of an authority for proper co-ordination of activities in respect of environmental problems.
Most of the above mentioned problems are already known to us. Surprisingly we look to keep ourselves off from our Constitutional obligations when the doctor calls. It is a fact that we the people of India have to come and unify our strengths and resolve these threatening growing problems, which should immediately be stopped. Or else devastation is probably what we are alluring for our future generations.
Authored by:
Saptarshi Dutt
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
