ABOUT US  NEWS ARTICLES BLOGS VIDEOS WEBINARS EVENTS COMPANIES CONTACT US      

Follow us on Social Media

16K+ 26K+ 21K+ 8K+

GIS & Maps Earth Observation GNSS & Positioning LiDAR Location Tech UAVs BIM & Modeling Trending Tech Magazine  
Connect with us

Home  Articles  Environmental planning as a tool for environmental protection – The need and... For Advertisement:
ARTICLES GEOSPATIAL APPLICATIONS ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE GEOSPATIAL TECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS IN AGRICULTURE advertising@geospatialmedia.net
OVERVIEW
For Sponsored Content/Guest

Environmental planning as a tool for Post:

newsdesk@geospatialmedia.net

environmental protection – The need and For Media Partnership:

mahashreveta@geospatialmedia.net
the possibilities
By Geospatial World - 09/01/2009 Media Partners

 Share   

N. Raghu Babu
Environmental Engineer, Central Pollution Control Board, Parivesh Bhawan,
East Arjun Nagar, Delhi – 110 032

Introduction
In the process of development, the issues confronting today are achieving desired
development for economic or social reasons on one hand and safe guarding the
environment and maintaining good quality living conditions on the other. While taking up
developmental activities, the assimilative capacities of the environmental components i.e.,
air, water and land to various pollution are rarely considered. Also, lack of proper land use
control is resulting in poor land use compatibility. The developmental activities being
haphazard and uncontrolled are leading to over use, congestion, incompatible landuse and
poor living conditions. The problems of environmental pollution are becoming complex
and are creating high risk environment.

Conventionally, the environmental pollution problems are solved by introducing

environmental management techniques such as control of pollution at source, providing of
sewage treatment facilities etc. However, environmental risks are not being controlled
completely by such solutions. The environmental aspects are to be induced into each of
the developmental activities at the planning stage itself and are to be well co-ordinated
and balanced. Presently, the environmental aspects are not usually considered while Grab the Latest Magazine
preparing master plans or regional plans and the process is skewed towards
developmental needs. For all developmental activities, a crucial input is land and
depending on the activity a specific landuse is decided. The environmentally related
landuse such as trade and industry, housing construction, mining etc. are likely to have
some impact on the environment. These land uses need proper planning and integration
as some of the activites have interdependencies auch as industry with tranpsort, housing
etc.

The spatial planning tools can help in sustainable development. In India, presently spatial
planning approach is mostly limited to urban areas only and the regions are not normally
considered for planning purposes and for attaining balanced development. The present
paper details the need for usage of environmental planning as a tool for environmental
protection and the priority actions needed to be taken.

Environmental Planning – The Need

Lack of spatial planning:

The country today lacks integrated spatial planning (national/state/regional/town level).
The planning is mostly limited to urban areas and even in these areas the master plans do Read our Latest Posts

not taken into consideration the environmetnal aspects and the developmental needs are Why 4D, Digital Space and digital twin is
not well reflected. Also, the master plans are several times are violated. Lack of planning important for digital construction
12/19/2019
is leading to unbalanced development thereby forming uneconomical agglomerations,
ecologically degraded areas and over exploitation of resources. The developmental Airbus-built CHEOPS satellite successfully
activities tend to be haphazard and uncontrolled thus leading to over use, congestion, launched on Soyuz
12/18/2019
poor land use compatibility etc.
Honeywell, iTRACE And SecureMarking
The planning solutions for achieving balanced and sustainable development had been combat counterfeit activity in aerospace
demonstrated to a good extent in some of the countries. Some of the major constraints with Blockchain
for introducing integrated spatial planning in India are: 12/18/2019

Arbe raises $32M to step up production of

In view of the existing social and living conditions, economic interests may tend to
rst HD radar chipset for ADAS and
over-ride the environmental aspects; autonomous vehicles
Ecosystem are already over-used in some areas; 12/18/2019

Introduction of spatial planning which involves highly complex nature of planning Qualitest acquires AI and ML company
activities is a daunting task particularly in a large country, like India; AlgoTrace
Lack of legal framework for spatial planning, dearth of financial resources, 12/18/2019

inadequate environmental awareness, shortage of manpower and limitations in

technical competence are among the constraints in integration of environmental
concerns in the development process. Browse our Featured Pages

Home
However, spatial planning based on assessment of existing environmental profiles as well
GIS & Maps
as potential assimilative capacity could help environmentally acceptable development and
resolve the conflicts which are otherwise confronted with. Planning of activities based on Earth Observation

assessment of local or regional environmental impacts could be a useful approach for GNSS & Positioning
introducing the concept of spatial planning in a limited manner under Indian conditions.
LiDAR

Absence of environmental considerations in planning: Location Tech

Presently, the environmental aspects are not usually considered while preparing master UAVs
plans and the process is skewed towards developmental needs. For all developmental
BIM & Modeling
activities, a crucial input is land and depending on the activity a specific landuse is
Trending Tech
decided. The environmentally relevant land uses are trade and commerce, housing
construction, transport facilities (road, rail and water), utilities (water – surface and Magazine
ground etc.), refuse/hazardous waste disposal facilities, wastewater installations, Read Latest Edition
quarrying and mining, power generation, forestry, recreation and tourism etc. These land
Download Media Kit
uses are likely to have impact on the environment. There is a need for assessment of the
Free Digital Magazine
land in terms of not only the economic aspects but also the environmental aspects and
the land uses are accordingly to be allocated so that the natural environment and Get Print Magazine
ecological balance is not disturbed. Geospatial World Editorial Calendar 2020

Inadequacy of conventional control techniques:

The environmental problems of concern and increased environmental risks are due to air
pollution from vehicular, industrial and domestic sources, noise pollution, water pollution –
lack of proper storm water drainage and sewerage system, improper and inadequate
garbage collection and disposal system, haphazard siting of industries/processes,
transportation, storage and handling of toxic or hazardous chemicals, lack of adequate
open spaces and green areas; etc. Conventionally, the environmental pollution problems
are solved by introducing environmental management techniques such as control of
pollution at source, providing of sewage treatment facilities etc. These measures are
proving to be inadequate because of the complexity associated with the dynamics of
development.

Inadequacy of conventional control techniques:

The environmental problems of concern and increased environmental risks are due to air
pollution from vehicular, industrial and domestic sources, noise pollution, water pollution –
lack of proper storm water drainage and sewerage system, improper and inadequate
garbage collection and disposal system, haphazard siting of industries/processes,
transportation, storage and handling of toxic or hazardous chemicals, lack of adequate
open spaces and green areas; etc. Conventionally, the environmental pollution problems
are solved by introducing environmental management techniques such as control of
pollution at source, providing of sewage treatment facilities etc. These measures are
proving to be inadequate because of the complexity associated with the dynamics of
development.

Increasing public awareness:

There is an increase in public awareness on pollution and its affects. The people today are
demanding good quality of life and living conditions. The increasing public interest
litigation (PILs) for relocating environmentally incompatible land uses is an indication that
there will be an increased need for proper planning of land uses and siting of industries
and other development projects.

Growing environmental costs:

It has been proved even with in our country that though the economic considerations tend
to bring in gains in a short term, the liabilities from neglecting the environmental aspects
are heavier in long run. The costs involved for cleaning up river Ganga or for introduction
of unleaded petrol or for shifting industries from Delhi are just a few examples. This
necessiates proper planning in advance so as to be prepared for the subsequent
consequences.

Constraints in the existing industrial siting procedures:

The targets for industrial development are fixed but the sites for these industries to
come up are rarely pre-determined thereby paving the way for haphazard siting of
industries.
The responsibility of selecting a site is primarily entrusted with the entrepreneurs
and this does not necessarily lead to objective assessment of environmental aspects.
The information base available for evaluating environmental impacts and taking
decisions on industrial siting is weak. Hence, it causes subjectivity in decision- making
process as well as lack of transparency and delay.
The environmental clearance by the regulatory authorities does not necessarily
imply zero pollution from an industry.

Hence, the major challenge is not just finding a site for an industry or a developmental
activity but is finding a solution for achieving sustainable development. It is being
increasingly realised that the developmental activities are to be planned in such a way
that the socio-economic objectives are fulfilled without causing adverse impacts on the
environment.?

The Possibilities
The possibilities for a suitable solution for the Indian conditions include introduction of
integrated spatial planning as a long term solution. In the context of spatial planning, the
planning models of other countries having similar conditions/constraints with respect to
population, resources etc. can be taken as an example for working out suitable solutions
for Indian conditions. For example, the German planning system in based on ‘co-
operation’ among various levels – federal, state, regional, local etc. and ‘balancing’ among
different sectors – industry, agriculture, forestry, environment etc. The prior interaction
with the lower level makes the guidelines more acceptable and the plans more
implementable on ground. At the same time, this helps achieve co-ordinated and
balanced development.

For the situations in our country, sectoral land use plans for all the environmentally
relevant activites such as those given below should be prepared keeping in view the
developmental needs/targtes and the environmental considerations and then these are to
be integrated into one plan that is binding on all:

trade and industry locations;

housing construction;
transport facilities (road, rail, water)
utilities;
refuse/haz. waste and wastewater installations;
quarrying/mining;
power generation;
agriculture;
forestry;
inland and coastal fisheries;
recreation and tourism;
water regulation and development;
tapping of groundwater; and
outfalls into surfacewater.

This helps individual sectoral authorities to meet their development targets while ensuring
that these targets are achieved in an environmentally compatible manner.?

Environmental Planning Initiatives by CPCB

Environmental planning is a relatively new tool for environmental protection in India.
Historically, the Central and the State Pollution Control Boards were entrusted with
environmental protection with emphasis on control and abatement of industrial pollution.

The prevailing situation of industrial siting and incompatible surrounding land uses
demands adoption of more reliable and long-lasting solutions. The need for environmental
planning was understood by CPCB and the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF),
Govt. of India. Consequently, certain pilot studies were taken up at Central as well as
State level. Experience with this type of studies, in particular in the Union Territory of
Pondicherry (1988) and for Hassan District in Karnataka (1991-1993), stimulated CPCB
and SPCBs to start a programme on developing necessary capacities for environmental
planning within the environmental administration.

The provisions for this strategic development are founded in the Environment (Protection)
Act, 1986, which authorises the Central Government “to take all such measures as it
seems necessary for the purpose of protecting and improving the quality of the
environment and preventing, controlling and abating environmental pollution” [Section
3(1)]. Measures under this clause may include “planning and execution of a nation-wide
programme for the prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution”
[Section 3(2)], (ii)). This task of environmental management includes also spatial
(geographical) aspects as explicitly mentioned under Section 3 (2) (v) “restriction of areas
in which any industries, operation or processes shall not be carried out or shall be carried
out subject to certain safeguards.”

The work in the first phase of the programme started in early 1995 with the conduct of
pilot studies on preparation of Zoning Atlas for Siting of Industries based on
environmental considerations in selected 19 Districts of 14 States. Based on the response
received, the programme had been expanded and intensified under the World bank
funded Environmental Mangement Capacity Building Project. The goal for the programme
has been formulated as follows:

“Technical, instrumental and institutional capacities needed for producing spatial

environmental assessments for planning purposes are established or strengthened in
order to produce the targeted studies whose results could be used to effectively promote
the environmentally compatible spatial planning in India”

This formulation reflects the thrust of the programme which not only includes capacity
building and strengthening but in particular the use of the capacities built-up in the
environmental administration of India to promote environmentally compatible spatial
planning.

The purpose of the programme has been formulated as follows:

“To strengthen and increasingly utilise competence, instruments and the institutional
basis for environmentally compatible, sustainable management of land and land based
natural resources, in order to harmonise spatial development and environment in India ”

The activites under the programme have been intiated at national and State levels for
preparing information base on environment and at the District level for zoning the areas
for sititn of industries, at microlevel (1:50,000) for identification of sites for industrial
estates and at the city level for preparation of enviroentnal mangement plans for
improvement of environmental quality.

The programme is being well received and it is hoped that the initiatives of CPCB will go a
long way in helping developmental objectives in an environmentally sound manner.

Previous article Next article

‘UNIGIS changing the landscape of geo- GIS and Visualisation Capabilities for
informatics’ Interlinking of Indian Rivers

Geospatial World
http://geospatialmedia.net

Geospatial World by Geospatial Media!

     

RELATED ARTICLES MORE FROM AUTHOR  

Why 4D, Digital Space Airbus-built CHEOPS

and digital twin is satellite successfully
Honeywell, iTRACE And
important for digital launched on Soyuz
SecureMarking combat
construction
counterfeit activity in
aerospace with
Blockchain

LEAVE A REPLY

Log in to leave a comment

© Geospatial Media and Communications Editorial Team About Us Download Media Kit Submit Press Release Privacy Policy
Contact Us