1. SOCIAL ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENT
Chapter - 6
SOCIAL ISSUES AND ENVIRONMENT
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2. Sustainable Development
The term sustainable development refers to the development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs.

3. Measures for Sustainable Development
Effective planning for population control
Reducing per capita demand of natural resources
Using efficient technological devices
Following the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, and recycling) approach
Promoting environmental awareness through education
Effective planning for regeneration of natural resources

4. Urban Problems Related to Energy
The energy requirement in urban areas is many times greater than that in rural areas because of the following reasons:
Activities that require large amounts of energy (industries, institutions, transportation, etc.) are concentrated in urban areas.
Urban people have a higher standard of living compared to rural people and hence demand more energy for comfortable living.

5. Water Conservation Water Conservation in Irrigation
Water Conservation in Homes

6. Rainwater Harvesting Objectives
Rainwater harvesting is a technique of water conservation in which the
recharge of ground water is increased through capturing and storing rainwater.
Objectives
To fulfil the demand of water in domestic, industrial, and agricultural sectors
To raise the water table by recharging ground water
To minimize ground water pollution
To reduce soil erosion, flooding, and run off
To reduce incidence of floods

7. Some Traditional Water Harvesting Techniques
Kunds of Rajasthan
Tanks in Gujarat
Temple Ponds
Talabs
Wadis

8. Watershed Management Objectives
Proper utilization of land and water resources for optimum production without
damaging the natural resources is known as watershed management.
Objectives
To minimize soil erosion and maintain moisture retention to ensure good productivity
To facilitate water conservation for domestic water supply, irrigation, hydropower generation, etc.
To minimize the risk of floods, droughts, and landslides.
To utilize the natural resources in sustainable agricultural practices with a view to improve rural economy of the region and socio-economic conditions of rural people

9. Benefits of Watershed Management
Ensure ecological balance
Stabilize income even under unfavourable weather conditions
Minimize the risks of drought, landslides, and floods and help to
reduce soil erosion and sediment production.
Enable proper utilization of marginal or waste lands through alternate land use systems
Maximize productivity per unit area, per unit time, and per unit of water
Rehabilitate the watershed through proper land use adopting conservation
strategies
Manage the watershed for beneficial developmental activities such as domestic
water supply, irrigation, hydropower generation, etc.
Develop rural areas in the region with clear plans for improving the economy
of the region

10. Resettlement and Rehabilitation
Reasons for Displacement of Human Habitation
Natural hazards – Earthquakes, cyclones, landslides, floods, drought,
volcanic eruptions, and epidemic diseases
Anthropogenic factors – Developmental activities such as construction of dams, roads, tunnels, etc., which increase the risks of calamities such as floods and landslides. Other factors include accumulation of wastes and environmental pollution

11. Problems Faced by Displaced People
The compensation for the lost land is often not paid or the payment is delayed.
Basic infrastructure and amenities are not provided in the new area.
Very often, temporary camps become permanent settlements.
Ethnic and caste differences make it difficult for the refugees to live peacefully with the communities already living in the area.

12. Environmental Ethics
Creating a moral sense of environmental conservation in each person
is called environmental ethics.

13. Environmental Equity and Priority Principle
The Contrasting Views
Utilitarian justification (also known as individualistic ethics)
Ecological justification (also known as moral justification)
Environmental Equity and Priority Principle
Always respect nature except in cases where strong human rights are at stake

14. Wasteland Reclamation
Utilizing wastelands for agricultural purposes is known as wasteland
reclamation.
Types of Wasteland
Culturable Wasteland
Non-culturable Wasteland

15. Strategies for Wasteland Reclamation
Social forestry and farm forestry approaches should be adopted.
Quickly harvestable, more-wood-producing tree species should be planted .
Tree crops may be mixed with leguminous plants which can also improve soil fertility.
Application of biofertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers should be preferred.
The wasteland development programme should be given a high priority for repair and restoration of both ecological and natural resource base of the country.
Public awareness, which can play an important role in sustainable ecological development of wastelands, should be created.