Environmental Issues In India

Contributed articles presented at a workshop convened at Department of History, Delhi University in September 2005.

The Essays In This Volume Are Of Interest Not Only To Readers Concerned With Indian Environmental Issues But Also To Persons Concerned With Environmental Issues Around The World.

This book introduces readers in the environmental policy-making and management process in India by examining various dimensions of environmental challenges faced by the nation. These are: environmental policy development, institutional mechanisms, legal and regulatory questions, cultural and spiritual aspects, and international environmental concerns influencing India. The book is divided into four parts.

This book examines the interplay between urban growth and the environmental issues in India. The contributors, who are coming from diverse disciplines, examine socioeconomic, administrative, and environmental threats emanating from urbanization (e.g. climate change, health governance, energy issues, pollution, and e-waste management) and suggest various measures for dealing with the challenges of rapid urbanization. Offering a valuable resource for all those interested in understanding the multifaceted dimensions of urban growth, the book appeals to researchers, students, and policymakers, interested in the development studies and urban studies.

This longue durée survey of the Indian subcontinent's environmental history reveals the complex interactions among its people and the natural world.

India: Environmental, Political and Social Issues first highlights the environmental conditions of Uttarakhand such as relief, structure, drainage, climatic conditions and forest types, as well as the influence of these aspects on aspects of demographic structure such as population distribution, growth, sex ratio and literacy.The authors go to present findings indicate that the Tropical Lowland Rain Forests in Sri Lanka are capable of recovery, in terms of biodiversity and stature, if sufficient recess is provided following land use practices such as selective logging and chena cultivation in spatial and temporal contexts.As a desert state, the climate of Rajasthan is uniquely characterized by low rainfall, dryness and extreme temperature. Fauna of this region are specifically adapted to this hostile environment. In this compilation, threats to fauna of Rajasthan are assessed.Later, after presenting a short introduction to the historical and cultural background, the authors narrate Karunanidhi's most decisive film, Parasakthi (Supreme Power, 1952). It challenges certain cultural stereotypes such as the sexual exploitation of women, social discrimination, corruption, religious superstition and so on.The closing study examines the effects of socio-economic determinants on child malnutrition in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous and malnourished state of India. Using data from NFHS-4, this study highlights district-wide variations in the nutritional status of children less than five years old in the state.

Environmental problems have impacted and attracted attention of every community and nation of the world. Global warming, ozone layer depletion and numerous other phenomena has made globalisation of environmental problems. Therefore, efforts are made worldwide to find solutions that are global in nature, require international cooperation and a scientific and political consensus. This has resulted in evolution of various approaches and techniques toward solution of these problems and sustainable development.

Meeting the needs of upper level students, this book treats global environmental problems as complex issues with a network of human and biophysical causes. Each chapter interlinks human demands on the Earth's resources to natural biophysical change - not simply a 'cause and effect' treatment of global issues and environmental change Includes coverage of contemporary hot topics such as biodiversity, urbanisation and sustainable development Global case studies (two per chapter) contextualise theory for students "This book should have considerable appeal among undergraduate and postgraduate students in a broad range of disciplines. Frances Harris has assembled a team of well-qualified authors, who between them consider such important environmental issues as climate and sea level change, biodiversity, GM crops, energy supply, urbanization, pollution and sustainable development. The style is clear and non-technical, the coverage is global and the text is supported by numerous figures and illustrations. Boxed case studies provide useful exemplification of general issues. I have no doubt that this book will be very popular with my own students, in providing detailed analysis of a range of key environmental issues which are frequently reported in the media." Tony Binns, University of Sussex, UK "This book usefully realises that environmental issues are a complex blend of contested science, broader socio-political contexts and the concerns, values, attitudes and livelihoods of individuals. Written by internationally recognised authors, it covers major global issues such as pollution, energy, climate change, sea level rise, food production, urbanisation and sustainability in an informative way, with abundant case studies and illustrations, which clearly exemplify just how complex the facets of the issues can be. It does not offer easy solutions but it is a good exercise in awareness for the reader." Stephen Trudgill, Robinson College, University of Cambridge, UK