essay on Environmental Protection

In recent years mankind's consciousness has been aroused very strongly about the need for
environmental protection and ecological preservation. It is of utmost importance that the people should
be aware not only of the problems involved but also of the role to be played in protecting the
environment.
Along with the peoples participation at the grass root level, the formal education programmed should
be provided and implementing various environmental protection projects. In addition it is also very
essential to develop environment friendly technologies and renewable energy sources following the
principle of conservation.

While developing technologies for the benefit of man, it is also essential to study simultaneously their
impact on the environment so that cyclic processes, which the nature has devised for conservation of
resources is not affected.

Air, water and land are the basic amenities of life. But over population and rapid industrialization have
created a state of decadence in the environment. Man has continuously tampered with the nature. As a
result a threat to his life has been increased, due to the lack of healthy air and potable water and the
imbalance established in the biosphere.

Earth is, perhaps, the only planet endowed with an environment and we all share it. One dy we would
pass it on to our future generation as their legacy. But if they will inherit such a polluted environment,
life will be misery for them. Men has improved the technologies and other means necessary for higher
production of wealth and exploited nature for his benefits, but without any foresight as to what to
implications of his actions would be. Indiscriminate industrialization has resulted in urban migration and
slum development, which in turn resulted in degradation of environment.
Before the advent of modern civilization man lived and flourished amidst the nice balance of multiple
biological process. As the most intelligent being on earth man has constantly tampered with the nature
making use of his inventive genius and disturbed the ecological balance. Thus, air, water and soil, all
have got polluted and posing threat to the substance of mankind. The result in numerous health
problems.

Air pollution is due to the direct implication of industrialization. The chimneys of industries emit smoke
and vehicles have fumes, which directly contribute to air pollution. Any gaseous material not considered
a a normal constituent of air or excess of sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, dust etc.
in air cause air pollution in fact. Air pollution also occurs when forests catch fire, rubber plants are
gutted or plastics are burnt along with the household garbage. This danger of pollution has been
aggravated today due to atomic explosions in some advanced countries. Some hovering over the cities
in they early morning is also the result of air pollution. The depletion of ozone layer, which is very
essential for life to protect from dangerous ultraviolet light, is also due to air pollution and it may result
in skin diseases.

The emission of greenhouse (GHGs) like carbon dioxide in increased concentration has led to climate
changes. Although it does not have toxic effect, it is largely responsible for green house effect and thus
for global warming.

Most of the air pollutants directly affect the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Nitrogen dioxide
and ozone also effect the respiratory system, irritate the eyes, nose and throat and in addition ozone
can cause headaches. Carbon monoxide is able to displace oxygen in the blood which in turn can result
in cardiovascular and neurological effects. Lead affects bone narrow, impairs liver and kidney function,
causes neurological damage and limits metal development in children.

Although earth is surrounded by water in its three fourth area yet drinking water has a scarcity. All main
source of portable water like rivers, lakes, ponds, even wells have been polluted by various dangerous
chemical and biological wastes. The coagulated mixture of dirt, sewage and industrial waste pollutes the
river water on whose bank the factories are established. increased use of fertilizers and insecticides also
pollutes the drinking water of ponds and wells. The harmful fertilizers and insectices even seep through
the earth and pollute the ground water. The polluted water supply results in epidemic like cholera,
jaundice and gastroenteritis etcs.
Soil is also being polluted in various ways. Soil pollution usually results from the disposal of solid and
semisolid wastes from agricultural practices and unsanitary habits. Excessive use of pesticides, fertilizers
and manures resulting in both biological and chemical contamination. Rapid industrialization and
urbanization has disposed various solid and semisolid wastes at different places polluting soil as well as
air and water. Apart from this, direct pollution of land by pathogenic organisms is also a of major
importance. Thus, soil is getting heavily polluted day by day by hazardous materials and micro-
organisms which enter food chain or water and are consequently ingested by man. As a result, there are
numerous health problems like dysentery, cholera and paratyphoid fever. Increased use of plastics,
politeness and other non-degradable products has led to the problem of their disposal.

Besides air, water and soil pollution, today we face noise pollution. The constant din and bustle of city
life, frequent playing of loud speakers even in odd hours, constant playing of radios and televisions,
ceaseless loud sound of vehicles deafen us in day time. Research has shown that noise pollution is
capable of causing ulcers, abortions, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension besides several mental
disorders.

Food pollution is another problem we have been facing everyday. We suffer from several diseases
because of the polluted food items that we take. After the advent of nuclear weapons the exposure
level of ionizing radiations has been increased which is hazardous to people. The ill-effects due to
radioactive pollution are cancers, genetic damage and mutations leading to abnormal birth.

Checking of environmental pollution has been absolutely necessary. if it is not checked, the earth will
become a graveyard. So we must give due attention to protect it from our own abuses. We must have
balanced and planned industrial growth in order to check thin pollution. Towns and cities should be
planned very carefully and stress should be given on planting of more trees.

A clean and healthy environment is part and parcel of the wealth and quality of life that we desire for
ourselves now and for our children in the future. People demand that the air they breathe, the water
they drink, and the food they eat is free of pollution and contaminants; they want to live undisturbed by
noise, and they want to enjoy the beauty of the countryside, unspoiled coastlines and mountain areas.
They also want a world that is not threatened by climate change.

Healthy and balanced natural systems are essential for supporting life on this planet. Society relies on
nature to provide us with the resources for our survival: air, water, food, fibers, medicines, and building
materials. Children need to grow up aware of the nature around them. As human beings we have a
responsibility to preserve the actual value of nature both for ourselves and for future generations.

In recent decades, there has been a growing realization that the quality of our air, water, soil, and food
affect the quality of our health and of our lives. This ranges from increased allergies, respiratory disease,
and cancers to the disorder of the body's hormone and fertility systems, and premature death. The
causes of our various environment-health problems are numerous and include pollution from transport,
agricultural activities, industrial processes, domestic waste matter and waste management.

The scientific researches, conducted over centuries, show that the pollution of the atmosphere reached
its top. The contaminants in the air have a negative impact on the health of children, as well as adults.
Our respiratory organs, our vision, and our hearing are damaged because of the high amounts of
contaminants in the air, water, and soil. A substantial number of people have conditions such as asthma,
other respiratory problems or difficulties with additional organs of the body. The contaminants in the air
have not only affected humans, but animals as well.

The atmosphere contains a lot of dust, which travels from the surface of the Earth and, partially, from
space, as strong winds pick up water particles from the seas and oceans. The small pieces of salt
contained in the water are brought into the air. As a result of volcano eruptions, forest fires, industrial
wastes, etc; air becomes polluted with products not completely burned

There are some basic sources of pollution of the atmosphere: industries, transportation devices, and
others. Due to recent studies, we now know that industrial production and its waste products are the
strongest pollutant of the air. Their sources of pollution are thermal power stations, which together with
smoke, throw out sulphurous and carbonic gas in the air. The metallurgical enterprises, especially
nonferrous metallurgies, fill the air with nitrogen compounds, chlorine, fluorine, ammonia, compounds
of phosphorus, particles and compounds of mercury and arsenic, chemical and cement works, to name a
few. Harmful gases get into the air as a result of the burning of fuel for the needs of the industry,
heating of our homes, transportation needs and the burning and processing of household and industrial
wastes.

Aerosols are the collective name of firm or liquid particles, which contaminate the air. Firm components
of aerosols, in some cases, are especially dangerous to living creatures, because they are linked to the
cause of specific diseases. In the atmosphere, aerosol pollution is perceived as smoke, fog, haze or
fumes. Plenty of dust particles are also formed during the industrial activity of many businesses and
people.

The manufacture of cement and other building materials is also a source of dust pollution in the
atmosphere. For these reasons, many people get sick and do not know the cause of their condition.
Every person inhales the air and that air is contaminated. More than half of all Americans breathe
polluted air, which can damage their health. Most believe it is because the government doesn't fully
enforce clean air laws. ''It is clearly time to get serious about enforcing all of the provisions of the Clean
Air Act so that we place Americans' health above business and political interests,'' said John Kirkwood,
president and chief executive officer of the American Lung Association ("Most Americans , para 3).

The soil is a natural formation that holds a number of qualities necessary for a living creature. One of the
most important qualities of the soil it is its fertility. As human beings, we don't fully appreciate the value
and the great importance of soil free of contaminants. Frequently, we encounter.

Our planet is changing. We need to help it change for the better and we're asking for your help to do
that! There are a lot of things that affect our planet in a bad way but the good news is that everyone
can help to reduce them and do their bit for the environment.

Heres a list of important topics and with them a list of big ways that you can help. So read on and start
protecting the environment today.

Electricity (Energy)
Pollution
Food
Water
Rubbish
Rainforests (deforestation)

Electricity

Energy is everywhere. We use energy to move the mouse for a computer, to jump and shout and walk
and run. It takes energy to power a light bulb, and the light that the bulb gives off is also a form of
energy called radiant energy. Radiant energy from the sun enables vegetables, plants, trees and us to
live and grow! Other forms of energy include heat, chemical energy, kinetic (motion) energy,
gravitational energy and nuclear power.

Electricity is a form of energy and this is what powers the TV, the kettle, dishwasher, hairdryer, toaster,
remote control, mobile phone, fridge, stereo, electric toothbrush, mp3 player and more!

Detectives - Can you guess how many things need electricity in your house? Take a guess, then go on a
detective mission and write down all the things you find. Set up a competition in your family and see
who's guess is the closest!

Our growing need for energy is one of the problems facing the world today, because producing
electricity also produces our next topic - pollution. We also have some cool downloads, heres two -
Energy and Alternative Energy.

How to help
When youre using electricity think about where it comes from and how you can use less to take the
strain off of the environment - here are some simple ways to make a big difference:

On or Off? Leaving televisions, stereos and computers on standby with the little red light showing still
uses up electricity, even though they might look like they're turned off. To stop this you can turn them
off at the wall. Simple!
Lights out! Turning lights off when you're not in the room (make sure no-one else is too!) can save a
lot of energy.
Putting the kettle on Britons drink an amazing 60.2 billion cups of tea a day according to The Tea
Council. That's a lot of tea, and a lot of electricity too! That's why it's important to only boil as much
water as you need in your kettle. It's best to boil enough water for one cup, not three or five - plus you
won't have to wait as long, which is a bonus!
Brrrr The fridge is an important part of the kitchen, it keeps food fresh, cool and healthy! But it takes
a lot of energy to keep cool, so help it by not leaving the fridge door open or putting hot things inside.
Shopping Many products are now helping you to reduce your energy use and your parents energy
bills! Check new products for their efficiency grade and rating and keep an eye out for the Energy
Efficiency Recommended logo.
Harness the suns energy - An increasing number of people are fitting solar panels to their houses.
Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels create electricity from sunlight, which can then be used to power their
homes. Solar heating panels make hot water, reducing the need for electricity or gas to heat water or
run the central heating system.

Helpful websites - Energy kids and Energy World.

Pollution

Pollution is caused when harmful or poisonous substances are released or found in the air, rivers, seas,
animals, plants or even our bodies. Now, we live on a strong planet with robust plants and hardy
animals and humans - but theres only so much we can take.

Did you know? Pollution is one of the main causes of asthma, which affects a whopping 1.1million
children in the UK

Unless we are using renewable energy sources such as solar panels or wind turbines, producing the
electricity that powers our homes and gadgets causes pollution. Some of the petrol or diesel that we
put into our cars turns into pollution, which is contained in exhaust fumes. Diesel fumes contain
particulates - a fine dust, which is not good for asthmatics, for example.

What about cow farts? I hear you ask. Actually, I didnt hear and you probably werent asking that but
yep, thats right - we cant leave out the massive impact of farming. The livestock we rear for meat emit
more greenhouse gas than all the worlds transport! The greenhouse gas that livestock produce is called
methane. Methane, together with other greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide contribute to global
warming by acting like a blanket surrounding the whole planet, trapping the suns heat within the
atmosphere and causing global temperatures to rise.

Chemical waste from factories and sewage works can also cause pollution that can get into our rivers
and seas, which soon carry the harmful particles for miles. Litter is considered pollution as it can cause
harm to wildlife and disrupt rivers, streams, seas and other habitats. Harmful chemicals can also be
found in many household and garden items, from plastics to cleaning products, weedkillers and sprays.

But all is not lost. We can all learn a few little tips to help protect the environment and its future:

How to help:

Dont drop litter Birds and animals can mistake litter for food. Litter can end up in rivers and block
drains, or in the sea and be eaten by fish. Also, some litter will stay around for thousands of years!
Save it! All of the electricity saving tips in the above section will also help reduce pollution.
On your bike Instead of taking the car get your bicycle out or take the shoelace express - also known
as walking.
Pleasing products Many household cleaning products contain harmful chemicals which are washed
down the drain. Encourage your parents to buy eco-friendly products or even make your own from
natural substances like vinegar and lemon juice.
Detectives If you spot pollution, such as oil on the beach, report it to the local council. If you suspect a
stream is polluted, report it to the Environment Agency.


Theres a lot more to know about pollution and knowing more will help you do more to protect the
environment. For more information see these factsheets - Pollution, Sea Pollution, River Pollution,
Ozone Layer, Global Warming.

Food

We cant live without it! With more than 7 billion people on earth the demand for food has never been
bigger. In the UK alone we spend about 182 billion pounds a year keeping fed and watered. Thats a
lot of food!

The first question is - where is all this food coming from? Our food comes from all over the world - your
green beans might come from Egypt, coffee maybe from Africa, perhaps your bananas have travelled
from Ecuador and apples flew across the Pacific Ocean from New Zealand. All of these food miles
amounts to a lot of transport and transport means fuel and fuel means pollution.

What else does food need to grow? Water and good soil! Plants and trees that give us fruit need to eat
too you know. Some countries and farms add pesticides and insecticides to food to keep away pests
and insects. These chemicals can sometimes be harmful to wildlife and their habitats and sometimes to
humans too. Look at How to help to find out more.

Here in the west we eat 7 times more than people in poorer countries. And one thing we eat a lot of is
meat and dairy food. What do these foods have in common? Meat and dairy food both come from
animals, and animals also need food and water. And as we saw above, they also fart a lot! Livestock
farts produce a greenhouse gas called methane and all this amounts to 20% of the worlds climate-
changing gases. Phwoar! A suggested alternative to meat is insects - Insect Burger anyone?

How to Help:

Reduce your mileage eating food and drinking drinks produced in the UK reduces the carbon
footprint of your diet. This means that you are helping to reduce pollution! Look at the for little red
tractor on products in your supermarket.
Meat Free Mondays are an easy and effective way to cut down on meat. Make one or even two of
your days meat-free.
Eat organic organic foods have had no insecticides and pesticides added to them which makes them
that bit more natural and healthy. Eating organic food reduces how many chemicals are made and
spread across the countryside.
Get worms! Food waste is an important issue as 7 billion of us munch our way through millions of
tonnes of food. Give your leftovers to worms in your very own wormery and theyll turn it into rich and
healthy compost for your vegetable garden and flowers!
Washing Always wash your hands before eating to prevent the spread of invisible bad stuff like
bacteria and chemicals. Its also good to wash fruit and vegetables before eating or cooking.


For more information see our factsheets on Meat Free Mondays, Future of Food and The Yippittee issue
on Food Glorious Food.

Water

Turn on the tap and there it is. Getting water is so easy that youd be mistaken for thinking that there
was an endless supply. But the world has a water shortage. 70%of the world is covered in water - we
should call our planet ocean not earth! But most of this water is salt water, leaving only a small
percentage of fresh drinking water. Countries including Spain, Italy, Peru, China and South Africa
actually import water from exporting countries such as the US, Australia and Argentina. A staggering 1.1
billion people on earth have no access to clean drinking water. This global shortage is predicted to get
worse as global temperatures rise.

Every person in the UK uses about 150 litres of water a day - compare this to some countries where they
only have 5-10 litres! Poor countries would be shocked to hear that we use drinking water to flush our
toilets. There are many simple ways that we cam reduce our water use. Lets have a look at how you
can help:

How to help:

Get your teeth into it We brush our teeth twice a day and by turning the tap off while we brush we
can save 5-10 litres of water. If every adult in the UK did this then wed save enough water for 500,000
homes. So, kids - lets show them how its done!
Bottle in your loo What? Put a bottle in your loo? Thats right. If it will fit, fill up a lemonade or cola
bottle with water and pop it into your loos water tank. Then when you flush and the water fills back up
youll save a bottles worth every time.
Rain Gain Collecting rainwater in a water butt in your garden is a great way of collecting and reusing
the water to keep plants healthy in the summer.
Reuse Share bath water with your family to reduce costs and water use. Or, set yourself a challenge
to cut down your shower time by 1 or 2 minutes.


For more information take a look at our fun free magazine download called The Yippittee - this issue is
all about water, where it goes and what happens to it after it disappears down the plughole and more.


Rubbish

Lets start with a fact. Every year the UK produces 280 million tonnes of waste - thats about the same
as 700,000 fully loaded airliners. We throw away unwanted food, glass bottles, plastic bottles, cans,
wrappers, paper and cardboard. Can you think of anything else?

Many of these things are made up of natural resources such as trees, coal, oil and aluminium and one
day some of these resources will be used up completely.

Over the last ten years the whole of the UK has come together to do more about this. 40%of all
household waste is now recycled compared to just 11%in 2000. Do you recycle at home and at school?
Why recycle? Well, this takes us back to the topic of energy. Recycling glass, paper, cardboard and
plastic should save the energy it would take to make new paper, glass bottles and plastic containers

According to RecycleNow, recycling in the UK saves more than 18 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a
year equivalent to taking 5 million cars off the road. Recycling isnt a new thing either. During World
War II, the British people recycled everything they could to help. Toys were made with scraps of fabric
and metal pots and pans were melted down to be reused. So, is all our rubbish really rubbish?

Detectives - Weve seen some great projects where schools have collected all of their waste and
weighed it every week - the results over 1 school year can be shocking! Why not see how much your
school, class or family chucks out and try and set targets to reduce the waste.

How to help:
Thinking more about what we waste helps to protect the environment by saving energy, reducing
pollution, cutting costs and preserving our natural resources.

Sort it out! Not all of our recycling is taken by helpful dustmen. Unwanted or leftover food such as
tea bags and potato peelings can be added straight to a compost heap. Plenty of minibeasts will be on-
hand there to help! Little insects help break down food and plant matter and make it into scrumptious
soil that plants, trees and other animals love. Many local councils now include compostable waste in
their recycling collections.
Recycle Bank Some councils dont collect plastics or cardboard but there is always somewhere nearby
with big recycling banks where you can take them.
Save trees Save trees by recycling your own paper. Paper with a clean side can be made into
notepads with a simple staple or a hole to tie a piece of string. These are great for doodles and notes. If
you are buying paper, buy recycled paper.
Fashion Statement Give any unwanted clothes to charity shops or to a Salvation Army recycling bank.
A lot of our unwanted clothes go to the homeless to keep them warm or alternatively, the clothes are
sent to developing countries. Theres always someone who will want that knitted jumper!
Would you like a bag? If you can carry your shopping home without a bag then carry it home. If you
cant why not take a bag you already have with you. Re-using bags is the cool way to shop!
Packaging Packaging is a big problem for the environment because once the product is open you
dont need it and its thrown out or, if its lucky, recycled. So avoid buying products that have a lot of
paper and plastic around them.
Shout out - Tell Friends of the Earth what products or companies you think highlight the problem of
our trashed planet. To let them know what you think click here.


For more information on waste download this free magazine 'What a load of rubbish'.

For more facts and figures on waste visit DEFRAs website.

Rainforests (Deforestation)

Julien HarneisRainforests are valuable habitats. About half of all the species of animals and plants in the
world live in rainforests and thousands of rainforest plants contain substances that can be used in
medicines. The tribal people of the forests have great knowledge of them. Rainforests are also
important because the huge number of plants and trees there provide us with oxygen through a process
called photosynthesis and help to regulate the world's climate and atmosphere. This is why they are
often referred to as the lungs of the earth.

Yet despite their value, an area of rainforest the size of Britain is destroyed every year, and this is called
deforestation. One and a half acres are cleared every second, an area about the size of a football pitch.
Rainforests now only cover 6%of the world as we cut down the trees for materials such as paper and
wood and use the land for farming and crops.

Sometimes they're burnt down to make space to grow soya which is an animal feed and to grow palm
oil. Palm oil is a bio-fuel used as an alternative to petrol and diesel, as well as being in 33%of products
in your local supermarket! Everyone can do their bit to help reduce the need for deforestation, just
follow our tips below.

We have lots of resources on rainforests. Check out these factsheets for more information - Rainforests,
Rainforest Animals, Rainforest Tribes and download our free fact-filled and fun magazine for free -
Conservation Education

You can also download our cool online magazine on Rainforests for free.

How to help:

Good wood Tropical hardwoods such as teak and mahogany are grown in rainforests and take
hundreds of years to grow so avoid any products made with these woods. It is better have products
made with pine, beech, ash or oak. These trees dont come from the rainforest and can be more easily
replaced as they grow a lot faster.
Flowers Orchids are popular in florists, but many come from the rainforest. The UK imports millions
of flowers every year and despite checks some orchids may have been taken from the wild. Check that
any orchids have been grown in Britain or the EU before buying.
Protected Pet? Some parrots and macaws are unfortunately still being imported into the country to
be sold as pets. If you want a parrot as a pet, make sure it has been hatched in Britain.
Save trees Save trees by recycling your own paper. Paper with a clean side can be made into
notepads with a simple staple or you can punch a hole to tie sheets of paper together with a piece of
string. These are great for doodles and notes. If you are buying paper, buy recycled paper, whether it is
writing paper or toilet paper!

Mongabay is an excellent website with hundreds of resources about rainforests. Here are some of their
tips:

Some steps for saving rainforests and, on a broader scale, ecosystems around the world can be
abbreviated as TREES:

Teach others about the importance of the environment and how they can help save rainforests.
Restore damaged ecosystems by planting trees on land where forests have been cut down.
Encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment
Establish parks to protect rainforests and wildlife
Support companies that operate in ways that minimize damage to the environment
The protection and preservation of environment is integral to the culture and religion of most human
communities; nature is seen as an essential part of the society at large.

Good environment is also essential to ensure basic human rights, even the right to life, for no human
right can be secured in a degraded environment.

An example will highlight the importance of a green and healthy environment.

Misuse of our natural resources, a key environmental issue, has direct impact on fundamental human
rights such as right to food, right to water, right to air and right to life itself.

It is important to draw linkages between environment and human rights to further build bridges
between legislations relating to the two.

This article discusses such linkages between human rights and environment protection as are relevant in
the context of sustainable human development.

It also studies existing human rights and the ways in which they can contribute to the present laws
surrounding the protection of environment in India.

Importance of Human Rights
Human rights are fundamental, ethical principles that empower citizens and communities to experience
freedom and dignity in their lives.

They have been defined to include civil and political rights such as the right to life, liberty, and security;
right to property, right to freedom of speech and expression; and the right to live without
discrimination.

Human rights also include socio-economic and cultural rights: the right to an adequate standard of living
and decent work; right to health, right to an education; and the right to ones own culture, language,
and religion.

All these rights have an essential relationship with the environment of a human being.

If we look at society from a historical perspective, the importance of protection and preservation of
environment integral to the cultural and religious ethos of humanity can be ascertained.
Nature was worshipped by ancient Hindus, Muslims, Parsis and members of other religions around the
world in the belief that it emanated the spirit of the God.

Hinduism declared in its dictum that (t)he Earth is our mother and we are all her children.

Islamic law regards man as having inherited all the resources of life and nature and having certain
religious duties to God in using them.

APPROACHES TO ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Article 48 (A) of the Indian Constitution incorporated environmental protection and improvement as
part of state policy through the forty-second amendment.

The Environment Protection Act, 1986, imposed a similar responsibility on every citizen to protect and
improve the natural environment including forests, trees, rivers and wildlife, and to have compassion for
all living creatures.

Article 51A(g) under Article 21 and the right to life of the constitution have been used in diversified
manner in India, including the right to survive as a species, quality of life, the right to live with dignity
and the right to livelihood.

They all relate to environment protection and basic human rights.
The Supreme Court has also dealt with issues relating to the environment and ecological balance in rural
litigation and entitlement the Kendra v.

State of U.P .was one of its earliest cases relating to environment protection. The apex court had
expanded the concept of the right to life in the Francis Coralie Mullin v. Union Territory of Delhi , where
it set out a list of positive obligation on the state as part of its duty correlative to the right to life.

In this case, the court showed assertiveness in adopting an expanded understanding of human rights.

The constitution bench of the Supreme Court in the Charan Lal Sahu vs.

Union of India and similarly in Subash Kumar vs.

State of Bihar cases had observed that the right to life guaranteed by Article 21 includes the right of
enjoyment of pollution-free water and air for full enjoyment of life.

The court had addressed the link between environment quality and right to life.

The court also recognized that the right to wholesome environment was an essential part of the
fundamental right to life. The municipalities and a large number of other concerned government
agencies could no longer rest content with unimplemented measures for abatement and the prevention
of pollution.

In this case they may be compelled to take positive measures to improve environment, the court had
ruled.

ENFORCEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS
The environment rules and regulation are enforced by the concerned administrative authorities.

They act upon the direction of the court and the pollution control boards (PCBs).

Different approaches, ex-post & ex-ante, are playing an active role in improvement of environment
quality in the county.

To prevent environment degradation through formulation of standards, insurance of consents for the
establishment and operation and closure orders to rogue industries by PCBs are other important steps
being taken.

To protect and improve the natural environment including river, forest and wildlife, and to have
compassion for living creatures, is imposed as a duty on every citizen by clause (g) of Article 51A.

This and Article 48A have cumulative effect that the 'state' as well as the 'citizen' are under
constitutional obligation to conserve, perceive, protect and improve the environment.

In both the Articles, the words protect and improve' appear to contemplate affirmative agreement
action to improve the quality of environment and not just to preserve the environment in its degraded
form.

There are plenty of legislations on the subject but more relevant enactments for our purpose are: The
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution)
Cess Act, 1977; The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; The Environment (Protection)
Act 1986; The Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991; The National Environment Tribunal Act, 1995; The
Environment Protection Rules, 1986; The National Environment Appellate Authority Act, 1997; The
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

CONCLUSION
Connecting human rights and environment is a valuable sourcebook that explores the uncharted
territory that lies between environmental and human rights legislation.

Human beings can ensure fundamental equality and adequate conditions of life in an environment that
permits a life of dignity and well-being.

There is an urgent need to formulate laws keeping in mind the fact that those who pollute or destroy
the natural environment are not just committing a crime against nature, but are violating human rights
as well.

Indeed, health has seemed to be the subject that bridges gaps between the two fields of environmental
protection and human rights.

The advancement of the relationship between human rights and environment would enable
incorporation of human rights principles within an environmental scope, such as anti-discrimination
standards, the need for social participation and the protection of vulnerable groups. - See more at: