ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH IN INDIA Introduction Environmental pollution is one of the serious problems faced by the people inthe

country, especially in urban areas, which not only experiences a rapid growth of population due tohigh fertility, low mortality and increasing rural -urban migration, but alsoindustrializationw h i c h i s a c c o m p a n i e d b y g r o w i n g n u m b e r o f v e h i c l e s . I n I n d i a , t h e r a p i d increase of human numbers combines with desperate poverty to deplete andpollute local resource bases on which the livelihood of present and futuregenerations depends. Though the relationship is complex, population size a n d growth tend to expand and accelerate these human impacts on t h e environment. According to the World Development Indicators report in 1997,1.5 billion people live exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution, 1 billion live without clean water and 2 billion live without sanitation. The increase of p o p u l a t i o n h a s b e e n t e n d i n g t o w a r d s a l a r m i n g s i t u a t i o n . T h e w o r l d ' s population was estimated to be 6.14 billion in mid 2001 and projected 7.82billion and 9.04 billion in the year 2025 and 2050 respectively. Contributionof India alone to this population was estimated to be 1033 millions in mid2001 which has been projected 1363 millions and 1628 millions in 2025 and2050 respectively. (2001 World Population Data Sheet). According to theprovisional results of the Census of India 2001, the population of India on 1 st March 2001 is 1027 millions. If the world population continues to multiply, the impact on environment could be devastating. Population impacts on theenvironment primarily through the use of natural resources andp r o d u c t i o n o f w a s t e s a n d i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e n v i r o n m e n t a l s t r e s s e s l i k e biodiversity, air and water pollution and increased pressure on arable land.I n d i a is the world's sixth largest and second fastest growing producer o f greenhouse gases. Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai are three of the world's tenmost populated cities. Two-thirds of city dwellers lack sewerage, one -thirdlack potable water. India grows equivalent of another New York City every year in its urban population. By the year 2000, more than 350 million Indianswill live in cities. In 15 years, more than half of Indians will be urban dwellers;1/3 will be slum dwellers and squatters (downloaded from http:// www.usaid.gov/in/ programareas / environm.htm).India is one of the most degraded environment countries in the world and it is paying heavy health and economic price for it. According to a World Banks p o n s o r e d s t u d y , e s t i m a t e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l d a m a g e i n t h e y e a r 1 9 9 2 amounted to about US $ 10 billion or Rs. 34,000 crores, which is 4 . 5 % o f GDP. Urban air pollution costs India US $ 1.3 billion a year. Water degradationleads to health costs amounting to US $ 5.7 million every year, nearly 60percent of the total environmental cost. Soil erosion affects 83 to 163 millionhectares of land every year. Beside, land degradation leads to productivity

loss equal to US $ 2.4 billion or 4 to 6.3 percent of the agr i c u l t u r a l productivity every year (UNDP 1998). T h e l a c k o f s e r v i c e s s u c h a s w a t e r s u p p l y , s a n i t a t i o n , d r a i n a g e o f s t o r m water, treatmentand disposal of waste water, management of solid and hazardous wastes, supply of safefood, water and housing are all unable to keep pace with urban growth. All these in turnlead to an increase in the pollution levels. Also the unplanned location of industries inurban and sub-urban areas followed by traffic congestion, poor housing, poordrainageand garbage accumulation causes serious pollution problems. However, all these factorstogether not only lead to deteriorating environmental conditions but alsohave adverseeffects on the health of people. The peoples in environment polluted areasare infectedby pollution related diseases. Due to air pollution the incidence of respiratorydiseaseslead to increase and water pollution triggers the number of patients sufferingfrom acutew a t e r b o r n e d i s e a s e s . H e n c e i t h a v e b e e n t h e m a i n a r e a s o f c o n c e r n f o r demographers,ecologists, planners and policy makers over the recent past. The presentpaper is ana t t e m p t t o e x a m i n e p o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h , i n c r e a s i n g u r b a n i z a t i o n a n d i t s infl uence on theenvironment and health of the people. Acknowledgement The impact of human settlement in the Columbia River Basin is r a r e l y incorporated into fish and wildlife planning. The Fish and Wildlife Programimplicitly assumes a level base case of human development as do most fisha n d w i l d l i f e p l a n n i n g p r o c e s s e s , i n c l u d i n g t h e B i o l o g i c a l O p i n i o n f o r t h eF e d e r a l C o l u m b i a R i v e r P o w e r S y s t e m . D e m o g r a p h i c i s s u e s a r e o n l y infrequently addressed in subbasin plans through acknowledge m e n t t h a t population growth is a factor limiting quality habitat.However, several dimensions of human development are changing in waysthat make it an important consideration. Regional population is increas ing,settling the landscape in new patterns, and converting land to new economicuses. These trends have unevenly distributed impacts throughout the basinwith direct implications for fish and wildlife conservation, mitigation, andrecovery.

The completion of the first round of subbasin planning, the incre a s i n g emphasis on ecosystem-based management, and the uncertainty introducedb y c l i m a t e c h a n g e a l l m a k e h u m a n p o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h a r e l e v a n t consideration to fish and wildlife recovery planning i n the Columbia RiverBasin. The incorporation of population issues into fish and wildlife planningwill help the region frame recovery actions in a broader and more relevantc o n t e x t . I t w i l l a l s o a s s i s t i n t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o f t h e t y p e s , l o c a t i o n , a n d intensity of potential human impacts on fish and wildlife.For these reasons, this report addresses the issue of human population and its impact on fish and wildlife restoration in the Columbia River Basin. SectionI I p r e s e n t s h i s t o r i c a l p o p u l a t i o n t r e n d s a n d f u t u r e p r o j e c t i o n s a t g l o bal,n a t i o n a l , a n d r e g i o n a l l e v e l s . S e c t i o n I I I a d d r e s s e s t h e m e c h a n i s m s o f population impact on the natural environment. Section IV describes specificp o p u l a t i o n i m p a c t s i n t h e C o l u m b i a R i v e r B a s i n o n t h e b i o p h y s i c a l environment, water, forests, agriculture, mining, electric power, fisheries

anda q u a t i c r e s o u r c e s , a n d w i l d l i f e . S e c t i o n V d i s c u s s e s p o p u l a t i o n - d r i v e n outside-basin influences on fish and wildlife habitat. These influences includeinternational trade, shipping, aquatic invasive species, dredging, airbornepoll ution and transport of hazardous materials. Section VI provides exampleso f p r o c e s s e s a n d t o o l s f o r i n c o r p o r a t i n g h u m a n p o p u l a t i o n i n t o f i s h andw i l d l i f e p l a n n i n g . S e c t i o n V I I p r e s e n t s k e y f i n d i n g s o n t h e n a t u r e o f population growth, the impact of population growth on fish and wildlife, andprotections for fish and wildlife. Section VII also contains recommendationsfor planning processes and tools that account for population effects on fish and wildlife restoration. Demographic characteristics of the population of India India is the second most populous country in the world after China. I n d i a supports 16.87percent of the world's population on its meager 2.4 percent world surfacearea of 135.79m i l l i o n s q u a r e k m s . T h e s e l e c t e d d e m o g r a p h i c c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f t h e population of Indiaare presented in Table 1. At the time of independence country's populationwas 342million. The countrys population size had grown from 361 million in 1951 toaround 846m i l l i o n i n 1 9 9 1 a n d 1 0 2 7 m i l l i o n i n 2 0 0 1 . T h e p o p u l a t i o n o f I n d i a a l m o s t trippled duringthe period of 1951-2001. The phenomenal increase in the population duringthe last fiftyyears has led to rapid industrialization and high rate of urbanization whichhave created

tremendous pressure on natural resources like land, air and water. The urbanpopulationhas increased three and half times, from 62.4 million in 1951 to 217.6 millionin 1991 andit again increased to 288 million in 2001. The percentage of urban populationincreasedfrom 17.28 percent in 1951 to 23.33 percent in 1981, 25.71 percent in 1991and whichfurther increased to 28 percent in 2001. The decadal growth rates of the population areirregular, as it increased from 13.31 percent in 1951 to 24.8 percent in 1971andafterwards it marginally declined to 24.7 percent in 1981, 23.9 percent in1991 and 21.34percent in 2001. The urban growth lead to an increase in the pollution levelsand exposespopulation to serious environmental health hazards. Environmental pollutionin urbanareas is associated with excessive morbidity and mortality. Overcrowding andinadequatehousing contribute to pollution related diseases such as respiratory diseases,acute waterborne diseases, tuberculosis, meningitis and various other diseases. Lack of opportunitiesfor gainful employment in villages and the ecological stresses is leading toan everincreasingmovement of poor families to towns. Mega cities are emerging and urbanslums are expanding. There has been three and half times increase in urbanpopulationo v e r 1 9 5 1 - 1 9 9 1 . D u r i n g t h e p a s t t w o d e c a d e s o f 1 9 7 1 - 9 1 , In d i a 's u r b a n population hasdoubled from 109 million to 218 million and is estimated to reach 300 millionby 2000 AD.Such rapid and unplanned expansion of cities has resulted in degradation of urbane n v i r o n m e n t . I t h a s w i d e n e d t h e g a p b e t w e e n d e m a n d a n d s u p p l y o f infrastructures e r v i c e s s u c h a s e n e r g y, h o u s i n g , t r a n s p o r t , c o m m u n i c a t i o n , e d u c a t i o n , water supply ands e w e r a g e a n d r e c r e a t i o n a l a c t i v i t i e s , t h u s d e p l e t e d t h e p r e c i o u s s c a r c e environmentalresource base of the cities. The result is the growing trend in air and waterquality,generation of wastes, and the proliferation of slums and undesirable land usechanges, allof which contribute to urban poverty. Poverty is said to be both cause and effect of environment degradation. Thepoor people,who rely on natural resources more than the rich, deplete natural resourcesfaster as theyhave no real

prospects of gaining access to other types of resources. Poorerpeople, whocannot meet their subsistence needs through purchase, are forced to use commonproperty resources such as forests for food and fuel, pastures for fodder, andponds andrivers for water. Clean drinking water facility through taps is available to only35 percent of u r b a n h o u s e h o l d s a n d 1 8 p e r c e n t o f r u r a l h o u s e h o l d s i n I n d i a . O t h e r residents useunsafe water sources like wells, ponds and rivers. Population pressure drivenoverexploitation of the surface and underground water resources by the poorhas resultedinto contamination and exhaustion of the water resources. Urban populationis also usingrivers to dispose of untreated sewage and industrial effluent. The result isthat health of those dependents on untreated water resources is increasing at risk. In theabsence of c a p i t a l r e s o u r c e s , t h e p o o r a r e d i r e c t l y d e p e n d e n t o n n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s . Moreoverdegraded environment can accelerate the process of impoverishment, againbecause thepoor depend directly on natural assets. Although there has been significant drop in thepoverty ratio in the country from 55 percent in 1973 to 36 percent in 1993 -94, theabsolute number of poor have, however, remained constant at around 320 million overthe years. Acceleration in poverty alleviation is imperative to break this linkbetweenpoverty and the environment. The poverty and rapid population growth arefound toc o e x i s t a n d t h u s s e e m s t o r e i n f o r c i n g e a c h o t h e r . It a l s o c o n t r i b u t e s t o environmentaldegradation through over exploitation of natural resources like land, air andwater. Thedeterioration of natural resources and unsafe living conditions affects theenvironmentand health of the poor people. Deforestation F o r e s t s a r e a n i m p o r t a n t n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e o f In d i a . T h e y h a v e m o d e r a t e influenceagainst floods and thus they protect the soil erosion. Forests also play animportant rolei n e n h a n c i n g t h e q u a l i t y o f e n v i r o n m e n t b y i n f l u e n c i n g t h e e c o l o g i c a l balance and lifesupport system (checking soil erosion, maintaining soil fertility, conservingwater,regulating water cycles and floods, balancing carbon dioxide and oxygencontent ina t m o s p h e r e e t c . In d i a h a s a f o r e s t c o v e r o f 7 6 . 5 2 m i l l i o n s q u a r e k m s . o f recorded forestarea, while only 63.34 million square kms. can be classified as actual forest cover. Thisa c c o u n t s f o r 2 3 . 2 8 p e r c e n t o f t o t a l g e o g r a p h i c a r e a a g a i n s t 3 3 p e r c e n t recommendedby National Forest Policy of 1988. Per capita availability of forests in India ismuchlower than the world average. In the year 1997, as compared to 1993, thetotal forestc o v e r h a s d e c r e a s e d b y 6 7 1 0 S q . K m s . T h e s t a t e s , w h i c h h a v e s h o w n significantd e c l i n e i n t h e f o r e s t c o v e r s , a r e A n d h r a P r a d e s h a n d M a d h y a P r a d e s h . Whereas thestates of Gujrat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and West Bengal have shown an increase inforest cover (Table 2).In 1981-83, only 11.2 percent of country's total land area, comprises dense forest with acrown density of more than 40 percent, thus reflecting a qualitative declineof forests inthe country. The total forest area diverted for non-forestry purposes between1950 and1980 was 4.5 million hectares i.e. at an annual rate of 0.15 million hectare. To regulateu n a b a t e d diversion of forestland for non-forestry purposes, F o r e s t (Conservation) Act,1980 was enacted. It has resulted in reduction of diversion of forest area fornonforestrypurposes considerably and the present rate of diversion is 16,000

hectarea n n u a l l y ( E c o n o m i c S u r v e y o f In d i a , 1 9 9 8 - 9 9 ) . C o n t i n u i n g d e f o r e s t a t i o n , therefore, hasbrought us face to face with a major ecological and socioeconomic crisis. EFFECT Land/Soil degradation Direct impacts of agricultural development on the environment arise fromfarminga c t i v i t i e s , w h i c h c o n t r i b u t e t o s o i l e r o s i o n , l a n d s a l i n a t i o n a n d l o s s o f nutrients. Thespread of green revolution has been accompanied by over exploitation of land andw a t e r r e s o u r c e s a n d u s e o f f e r t i l i z e r s a n d p e s t i c i d e s a n d f e r t i l i z e r s h a v e increasedmany folds. Shifting cultivation has also been an important cause of landdegradation.Le a c h i n g f r o m e x t e n s i v e u s e o f p e s t i c i d e s a n d f e r t i l i z e r s i s a n i m p o r t a n t source of contamination of water bodies. Intensive agriculture and irrigation contributeto landd e g r a d a t i o n p a r t i c u l a r l y s a l i n a t i o n , a l k a l i z a t i o n a n d w a t e r l o g gi n g. It i s evident that mosto f t h e l a n d i n t h e c o u n t r y i s d e g r a d i n g , t h u s a f f e c t i n g t h e p r o d u c t i v e resource base of the economy. Out of the total geographical area of 328.7 million hect ares,175 millionhectares are considered to be land-degraded area (Table 3). Water and winderosion isthe major contributor of 141.3 million hectares to soil erosion, with other factors likewater logging 8.5 million hectares, alkali soil 3.6 million hectares, acid soil 4.5 millionh e c t a r e s , s a l i n e s o i l i n c l u d i n g c o a s t a l s a n d y a r e a s 5 . 5 m i l l i o n h e c t a r e s adding to thes i t u d e g r a d a t i o n . W h i l e s o i l e r o s i o n b y r a i n a n d r i v e r i n h i l l a r e a s c a u s e s landslides andfloods, deforestation, overgrazing, traditional agricultural practices, miningand incorrectsiting of development projects in forest areas have resulted in opening up of theseareas to heavy soil erosion. Ravines and gullies reported 4 million hectares,area

subject to shifting cultivation reported 4.9 million hectares and riverine andtorrentserosion due to floods and eutrophication due to agricultural run off reported2.7 millionhectares. The increasing intensification and extensification also results in salination,alkalization and water logging in irrigated areas of the country. For achievingandm a i n t a i n i n g f o o d security, sustainable forestry agricultural and r u r a l developmentscontrolling of land/soil erosion is very much necessary. Environmental pollution T h e t e r m E n v i r o n m e n t a l P o l l u t i o n r e f e r s t o w a ys b y w h i c h p e o p l e p o l l u t e theirsurroundings, air with gases and smoke, poison the water with chemicals andothersubstances, and damage the soil with too many fertilizers and pesticides. Also pollutet h e s u r r o u n d i n gs i n v a r i o u s o t h e r w a ys . E n v i r o n m e n t a l d e g r a d a t i o n i s a result of thed y n a m i c i n t e r p l a y o f s o c i o - e c o n o m i c , i n s t i t u t i o n a l a n d t e c h n o l o g i c a l activities.Environmental changes may be driven by many factors including economicgrowth,population growth, urbanization, intensification of agriculture, rising energyuse andt r a n s p o r t a t i o n . P o v e r t y s t i l l r e m a i n s a p r o b l e m a t t h e r o o t o f s e v e r a l environmentalp r o b l e m s . T h e p o l l u t i o n i s w i d e s p r e a d i n t h e

c o u n t r y a n d c a n b e b r o a d l y categorized asf l u x t yp e o f p o l l u t i o n a n d s i n k t y p e o f p o l l u t i o n . T h e f o r m e r r e f e r s t o t h e pollutantsd u m p e d i n t o t h e e n v i r o n m e n t , e i t h e r t o a i r o r i n w a t e r ; w h i l e t h e l a t e r i s caused byaccumulation either in soil or riverbed or also in ground water. In this paper an attempthas been made to study air and water pollution, which pose more threat to urban life. Air pollution The World Health Organization (WHO) defines air pollution as "substances put into the

air by the activity of mankind into concentrations sufficient to cause harmfuleffects tohealth, property, crop yield or to interfere with the enjoyment of property". Some of them o s t i m p o r t a n t a i r p o l l u t a n t s a r e s u s p e n d e d p a r t i c u l a t e m a t t e r ( S P M ) , nitrogen oxides(NO X ), carbon monoxide (CO), lead, sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) etc. (Table 4). Theurban airpollution has grown across India in the last decade is alarming. The mainfactorsaccounts to urban air quality deterioration are growing industrialization andincreasingvehicular pollution, industrial emissions, automobile exhaust and the burningof fossilfuels kills thousands and lives many more to suffer mainly from respiratorydamage,h e a r t a n d l u n g d i s e a s e s . A c c o r d i n g t o a p o l l u t i o n r e l a t e d s t u d i e s i n t h e community andp a t i e n t s a t t h e K . E . M . H o s p i t a l , M u m b a i o v e r t h e l a s t t w e n t y ye a r s h a v e evaluated thef u l l e x t e n t o f t h e c o r r e l a t i o n a n d d a m a g e t o h u m a n h e a l t h ( K a m a t a n d Mahasur, 1997).According to a study, 84.000 deaths were directly attributable to outdoor airpollution inIndian cities (WHO, 1996). At the same time, indoor air pollution accountedfor 496,000deaths in villages and 93,000 deaths in cities (WHO, 1997). It is found thatthe areaaround RSP village, Jharia ranks fifth and FCI (Fertilizer Corporation of India)Hospital,Sindri ranks eighth among the top ten locations with highest annual meanconcentrations of Nitrogen Oxides (NO X ), having 54 and 46 micro grams percubicmeters respectively. Apart from this, the suspended particulate matter (SPM)level inR S P C o l l e g e , J h a r i a i s t h e f o u r t h h i g h e s t i n I n d i a ( A n o n 1 9 9 5 ) . A s t u d y conducted byCenter for Science and Environment from 1987 to 1998, to understand the trend of airpollution in Delhi based on three major pollutants: sulphur dioxide, nitrogenoxide andSPM. It shows an increasing trend, though fluctuations are noticed in terms of annualmaximum levels. According to the studies conducted by Center for ScienceandEnvironment, total SPM levels are not only always above the standard butthere are days when they have reached nearly seventeen times the standard. A WorldBankstudy conducted in 1995 revealed that if the air pollution is controlled in Calcuttaaccording to the guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO), lives of 5726 personsmay be saved from premature death and of 30 lakhs people may also to be saved to beadmitted to hospital. Vehicular pollution

Transport activities have a wide variety of effects on the environment such as airp o l l u t i o n , n o i s e f r o m r o a d t r a f f i c . T r a n s p o r t i n f r a s t r u c t u r e i n I n d i a h a s expandedconsiderably in terms of network and services. Thus road transport accountsfor a majorshare of air pollution load in mega cities. In most urban areas of India, airpollution hasw o r s e n e d d u e t o t r a f f i c c o n g e s t i o n , p o o r h o u s i n g , p o o r s a n i t a t i o n a n d drainage andg a r b a g e a c c u m u l a t i o n . T h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l e f f e c t s o f f u e l s l i k e o i l a n d petroleumproducts are of growing concern owing to increasing consumption levels. Thecombustion of these fuels in vehicles has been a major source of pollution.With theincreasing vehicles in country, the vehicular pollution has also increased anditaccounts for a considerable share of vehicular pollution in India. The differentfactorsare the types of engines used, the age of the vehicles, poor road conditionsandcongested traffic. They add to air pollution in cities, which is a major cause of respiratory diseases. The principal vehicular pollutants are Carbon Monoxide,Oxides of Nitrogen, Hydrocarbons, suspended particulate matters, a varying amount of SulphurDioxide depending on the Sulphur content of the fuel and lead compounds.. Table5presents the registered motor vehicles in India during 1950 -51 to 1995-96. The totalnumber of registered vehicles in India has increased from 3 million in 1950-51 to morethan 33 million in 1995-96, of which about 28 percent are concentrated in the 23

metropolitan cities of India (Motor Transport Statistics of India, 1997). The number of registered two wheelers rose from just 0.27 million in 1950-51 to more than231 millionin 1991. The number of cars, jeeps and taxis also registered an increase from1.59million in 1950-51 to 41.89 million in 1991. The number of registered trucksand busesalso registered an increase from 0.82 million in 1950-51 to 17.85 million in1991 and0.34 million in 1950-51 to more than 4.49 million in 1991 respectively. Themajor shareis contributed by metropolitan cities in all registered vehicles in the country.An increasein vehicular pollution is associated with a number of environmental problemslike airpollution and global warming. Technical pollution parameters suggest thattwo wheelersare more polluting as compared to other motor vehicles. Carbon Monoxide,Oxides of N i t r o g e n , H y d r o c a r b o n s , s u s p e n d e d a n d p a r t i c u l a t e m a t t e r s , a v a r y i n g amount of S u l p h u r D i o x i d e d e p e n d i n g o n t h e S u l p h u r c o n t e n t o f t h e f u e l a n d l e a d compounds arethe major vehicular pollutants.As a result of urbanization in India, pressure on urban transport is likely toincreasesubstantially in this new millennium. It has been attempted to evaluate thefuturetransport scenario to forecast the vehicle air pollution levels. Following aresome of thepoints of due consideration: India is expected to have 31 metro cities by 2001 and 51 by 2021. The number of vehicles on Indian roads is estimated to increase by ninetimesby the tune of the century out of which 65 % to 70 % shall be two wheelersorthree wheelers. Urban transport demand is expected to grow by 2.6 times by 2016 at theexistingmodel split in larger medium sized cities. At the existing model split, the urban air quality is expected to deterioratefaster in the 21 st century, as two-wheeler population would be as high as86.13 % of the total vehicles used for passenger transportation. By the year 2001, CO emission levels are likely to rise seven times andthat of hydrocarbons by nine times. The levels of other major pollutants are expected to go up five fold (Luthra, 1999)

P o l l u t i o n f r o m e n e r g y p r o d u c t i o n a n d c o n s u m p t i o n i n India The environmental effects due to increasing consumption levels of fuels likecoal,lignite, oil and nuclear etc. are of growing concern to various researchers. Thecombustion of these fuels in industries has been a major source of pollution.Coalproduction through open cast mining; its supply to and consumption in powerstationsand industrial boilers leads to particulate and gaseous pollution which can causepneumoconiosis, bronchitis and respiratory diseases. The energy production/c o n s u m p t i o n i n In d i a d u r i n g 1 9 5 0 - 5 1 t o 1 9 9 5 - 9 6 i s d e p i c t e d i n T a b l e 6 . Energyp r o d u c t i o n a n d c o n s u m p t i o n h a s i n c r e a s e d s t e a d i l y i n In d i a s i n c e 1 9 5 0 onwards. Theproduction of coal and lignite has increased from 32.2 million tons in 1950-51to 292.27million tons in 1995-96, an increase of more than 9 times. The production of petroleumproducts registered an increase of more than 22 times, from 3.3 million tonsin 1950-51to 74.7 million tons in 1995-96. The bulk of commercial energy comes fromthe burningof fossil fuels viz. coal and lignite in solid form, petroleum in liquid form andgas ingaseous form. In addition to emission of greenhouse gases, the burning of fossil fuelshas led to several ecological problems and associated with health problemslike cancerrisk, respiratory diseases and other health problems. Burning of traditionalfuel adds alarge amount of carbon-di-oxide into atmosphere and increases air pollution. Thep r o d u c t i o n o f e l e c t r i c i t y h a s i n c r e a s e d f r o m 5 b i l l i o n K W H i n 1 9 5 0 - 5 1 t o about 380b i l l i o n K W H i n 1 9 9 5 - 9 6 . T h e s h a r e s o f t h e r m a l p o w e r a n d h y d r o p o w e r changedsubstantially. The share of thermal power has increased from 51 percent in1950-51 toabout 79 percent in 1995-96 whereas the share of hydropower declined from49

percent in 1950-51 to 19 percent in 1995-96. The share of nuclear power isnominal. This clearly indicates that burning of fossil fuels, especially coals, emits lot of carbon dio x i d e i n t h e a t m o s p h e r e a n d l e a d s t o g l o b a l w a r m i n g . T h e p e r c a p i t a commercialenergy use in India has increased from 137 Kg of oil equivalent in 1980 to 248 Kg of oilequivalent in 1994 and it again increased to 476 Kg of oil equivalent in 1996(WorldDevelopment Indicators, 1997). The energy consumption in In dia would bequite higha n d t h u s s t r i c t e r c o m m a n d s a n d c o n t r o l s , t e c h n i c a l i n n o v a t i o n s a n d application of 10 efficient pollution abatement technology for vehicular and industrial a i r pollution couldh e l p i n r e d u c t i o n o f a t m o s p h e r i c p o l l u t i o n . A c o n s i d e r a b l e a m o u n t o f a i r pollution resultsfrom burning of fossil fuels. Moreover the resources for fossil fuels are alsolimited thusexploration of alternate energy resources would provide the way out. Thusincreasedpopulation and increased per capita com mercial energy use would worsenthe nationalas well as global atmospheric pollution.An automobile exhaust accounts a sizable part of pollution. Their effect on humanh e a l t h i s p a r t i c u l a r l y o f c o n c e r n . T h e r e i s a s t r o n g c o r r e l a t i o n b e t w e e n average bloodlead levels and the lead content in gasoline. Hydrocarbons present in theexhaust,particularly, in vehicles with poor combustion cause respiratory problems. Table7shows estimated annual episodes of illness and premature deaths due toambient SPMin the air in four largest cities of India. It can be inferred from the table thatboth, theillness and premature deaths have risen significantly in less than five years.About 15 to18

million children in developing countries are affected by high levels of leadin theirblood, which could be the result of emissions from vehicle exhaust and are likely tosuffer from related illness (Kapoor, 1997). Water pollution Water is among the most essential requisites that nature has provided to sustain life onearth. About 80% of earth's surface are covered by water. The deterioratingquality of w a t e r is creating various problems for the mankind. The growth i n population, about 90percent of which will occur in urban areas, will also increase the demand forwater fordomestic and industrial use and treatment of wastes. Water pollution fromdomestica n d h u m a n w a s t e w a t e r i s t h e m a i n c a u s e f o r m u c h s e v e r e w a t e r b o r n e diseases. Thei n d u s t r i a l w a t e r p o l l u t i o n i s d u e t o i n a d e q u a t e m e a s u r e s a d o p t e d i n t h e industry for thea b a t e m e n t o f p o l l u t i o n . I n a d e q u a t e d i s p o s a l o f u r b a n w a s t e a n d o p e n dumping of garbage contaminates surface and ground water.Water and sanitation services are basic necessities of a community and aremoste s s e n t i a l c o n d i t i o n s f o r d e v e l o p m e n t , a s t h e y p l a y a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n improving healthand quality of life. Inadequate water and sanitation coverage is one of the most seriouse n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o b l e m s ( S u m e e t , p 1 2 3 ) . It h a s b e e n e s t i m a t e d t h a t 8 0 percent of thediseases in the world are associated with water usage or poor environmentalhygiene(Sumeet p. xvii). In India, water pollution comes from three main sources:domesticsewage, industrial effluents and run-off from activities such as agriculture. The largescale use of pesticides may have revolutionized food production, but thesechemicalsare responsible for more than 2 million human poisonings every year with aresultant20,000 deaths (WHO, 1986).P o l l u t i n g a r i v e r i s d a n g e r o u s b e c a u s e g e n e r a l l y, r i v e r s a r e t h e p r i m a r y source of d r i n k i n g w a t e r f o r t o w n s a n d c i t i e s d o w n s t r e a m o f t h e p o i n t o f p o l l u t i o n . Broadly, thecauses of water pollution can be attributed to: Urbanization Industrialization Withdrawal of wastes Agricultural run-off and improper agricultural practices Religious and social practicesAccording to the scientists at the National Environ mental Engineering andResearchInstitute, a staggering 70% of the available water in India is polluted. Onlyfive states,Maharashtra, Gujrat, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal, generate morethan 63%of the total waste water in India as they lack treatment facilities (Down toEarth, July 15,p.19). Sewage generated from 25 heavy polluting cities and towns accountfor about 75percent of the pollution load in the river. The Yamuna with 200 million litresof untreatedmuck being dumped in it everyday by Delhi's Sewerage System has becomeone of themost polluted rivers in the world (Down to Earth, June 30, 2000, p.55). The increasing river water pollution is the biggest threat to public health. Thediseasescommonly caused due to polluted water are cholera, diarrhoea, hepatitis,typhoidamoebic and bacillary, dysentery, guineaworm, whereas scabies, leprosy,trachomaand conjucvitis are some of the diseases associated with water scarcity. Allthese couldb e a t t r i b u t e d t o t h e r a p i d l y i n c r e a s i n g p o p u l a t i o n a n d l a c k o f w a t e r resources.Inadequate access to safe drinking water and sanitation facilities leads tohigher infantmortality and intestinal diseases. More than one million children died due todiarrhoeaand other gastrointestinal disorders in 1990s. In addition, around 90 lakhcases of acutediarrhoeal diseases have been reported in India, Uttar Pradesh reporting

thehighestn u m b e r o f c a s e s ( C e n t r a l B u r e a u o f H e a l t h I n v e s t i g a t i o n , 1 9 9 6 ) . I t i s estimated that 73million workdays are lost every year due to water related diseases. The costof treatingthem and the loss in production amount to Rs. 600 crores a year (Citizen'sReport,1982). Summary and conclusions Rapid population growth continues to be a matter of concern for the countryas it hasmanifold effects, one of the most important being environment degradation. Theoutcomes of excessive population are industrialization and urbanization. Thestudyr e v e a l s t h a t r a p i d p o p u l a t i o n g r o w t h h a s l e d t o t h e o v e r e x p l o i t a t i o n o f natural resources. The deforestation has led to the shrinking of forest cover, which eventuallyaffectshuman health. The considerable magnitude of air pollution in the countryalso pulls upthe number of people suffering from respiratory diseases and many a timesleading tod e a t h s a n d s e r i o u s h e a l t h h a z a r d s . T h e s i t u a t i o n i s a l s o s i m i l a r f o r w a t e r pollution, asboth ground water and surface water contamination leads to various water bornediseases. From the various effects of environmental degradation on human beings,discussed in this paper, it appears that if human beings wants to ex ist onearth, there isn o w h i g h t i m e t o g i v e t o p p r i o r i t y t o c o n t r o l p o l l u t i o n o f a l l t y p e s f o r a healthy living. Itcan be said that even after fifty years of independence, India is unable to achieve thed e s i r a b l e s t a n d a r d s o f h e a l t h f o r i t s p o p u l a t i o n a s c o n s e q u e n c e s o f environmentdegradation. There is a need to control population growth in the country. Special efforts should bemade for educating the general mass and local leaders about the adverseeffects of large population through specially designed IEC (Information, Education andCommunication) activities. In order to increase green cover and to preservethe existingforests, afforestation and social forestry programmes should be implementedat thelocal level. Further, measures to control air pollution should be intensifiedthroughoutthe country. Wastewater treatment plants be established in accordance withthe needof time and its usage should be encouraged. The heavy penalty should beimposed on industries disposing off the wastes into the river. Moreover, the landfills areto beproperly managed to prevent ground water contamination. Since slums are one of them a j o r s o u r c e s o f w a t e r p o l l u t i o n p r o p e r m e a s u r e s s h o u l d b e t a k e n t o facilitate theslums with water and sanitation facilities. More emphasis should be laid oncompulsoryenvironmental education at the school level in order to make people aware of thee n v i r o n m e n t p r o t e c t i o n . T h e e n v i r o n m e n t p r o t e c t i o n s h o u l d n o t b e a responsibility of government alone but mass and local leaders should be encouraged to makededicatedefforts to eradicate the environmental problems. To sum up, it may be emphasized that the environment is neither a free giftof environmental goods and services, nor it can be thought of as just a sink fordepositingof waste products from houses, industries and other sources. It is the need of time toprotect environment for the present and future generation.