Problems and prospects of environmental pollution in India

Rapid industrialisation and urbanisa tion, population pressure, shifting culti vation, wanton burning and felling of trees and such other severe inroads into the forests have resulted in defore station which in its wake bring about an ecological imbalance and environ mental degradation resulting into massive erosion of Ozone layer, unpre dictable monsoon, greenhouse effect, siltation, flash floods, droughts, air pollution, energy crisis etc. In this way the global face undergoes a sea change and will continue to change unless it is checked by some drastic measures adopted on transnational lines.

The Indian scene is no better either. Forest destruction is matricide and matricide entails ecocide. The curse from which we suffer today looms large in our psyche. Intensive afforestation programmes coupled with strict restric tion on felling and burning of trees can solve many of our forest based needs and help maintain the ecological balance. In the words of Dr. Sisir kumar Ghose, "It is our self-image and world view that have to be changed first. Unless our philosophy of value changes the present conservation policy can hardly go beyond expensive, futile tinkering. We may not clean Ganga unless we believe her to be sacred". So, what we require today is a new app roach towards a fixed target of develop ment that integrates production with resource conservation. We also need to build up a world ethic which encour ages trans-territorial loyalties and inte rests, which realises that the problem with which we grapple today have global inter-connections.