A STUDY FIVE YEAR PLAN IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT

AUTHOR:
R.S.PRAKASH RAJA
DEPARTMENT : BBA.LLB(HONS)
SAVEETHA SCHOOL OF LAW
SAVEETHA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL SCIENCES
(SIMATS)
CHENNAI - 77
EMAIL ID : rprakashraja02@gmail.com
CONTACT NO : 6369860361

CO AUTHOR:
Mr.CM SELVAMUTHU BA.,BL.,LLM., PGDIPL,
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR,
SAVEETHA SCHOOL OF LAW,
SAVEETHA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL SCIENCE(SIMATS),
SAVEETHA UNIVERSITY,
CHENNAI-77.
EMAIL ID :selvamuthu.ssl@gmail.com
CONTACT NO : 9943696361
 A STUDY FIVE YEAR PLAN IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
1
Author: R.S.Prakash Raja
Co author :Mr.C.M.Selvamuthu 2

ABSTRACT:

The study conducted an in-depth analysis of the Indian five-year plan and its impact on the
environment. The research revealed that the five-year plan has had a significant impact on the
environment, both positive and negative. On the positive side, the plan has resulted in the
development of renewable energy sources and the promotion of eco-friendly technologies.
However, on the negative side, the plan has led to deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and air and
water pollution. The study suggests that the government should prioritize environmental
conservation and sustainable development in the five-year plan to ensure a healthy and
prosperous future for the country. Positive outcomes include the development of renewable
energy sources and the promotion of eco-friendly technologies. However, negative impacts
include deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and air and water pollution. The study suggests that
the government should prioritize environmental conservation and sustainable development in the
five-year plan to ensure a healthy and prosperous future for the country. The researcher has
followed the empirical method with a convenient sampling method. The main object of the
study is to analyze the five year plan's impact on the environment.

KEY WORDS: five year plan; sustainability; development; environmental; impacts; pollution

1
SAVEETHA SCHOOL OF LAW, SAVEETHA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND TECHNICAL SCIENCES
(SIMATS), SAVEETHA UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI - 77, EMAIL ID: rprakashraja02@gmail.com, CONTACT NO:
6369860361.
2
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, SAVEETHA SCHOOL OF LAW, SAVEETHA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL AND
TECHNICAL SCIENCES (SIMATS), SAVEETHA UNIVERSITY, CHENNAI - 77, EMAIL
ID:selvamuthu.ssl@gmail.com, CONTACT NO: 9943696361.
INTRODUCTION

Environmental conservation and sustainable development are essential for India's

socio-economic development. The government has taken several initiatives to ensure that the
country progresses without harming the environment. One such initiative is the five-year plan
that outlines the country's developmental goals and strategies for the next five years. The Indian
Constitution guarantees its citizens the right to a clean and healthy environment. However, India
is one of the world's most polluted countries, and its development goals have often come at the
cost of the environment. The five-year plan is a crucial tool used by the government to outline its
developmental goals and strategies for the next five years. The study aims to assess the impact of
the five-year plan on the environment in India. India is a rapidly developing country that has
undergone significant economic growth over the past several decades. However, this growth has
also come at a cost to the environment. To address this issue, India has implemented a series of
Five Year Plans, which have included environmental objectives and targets aimed at promoting
sustainable development. These plans have had both positive and negative impacts on the
environment in India. While some progress has been made in areas such as afforestation and
renewable energy development, there are still significant challenges to be addressed, such as air
and water pollution, deforestation, and natural resource depletion. In this context, it is important
to evaluate the impact of the Five Year Plans on the environment in India to understand how the
country can best balance economic growth and environmental protection. And the aim of the
research is to analyze the study to identify the five years plan impact on the environment.

OBJECTIVES:

● To identify the environmental impact due to five year plan.

● To identify the negative effect of five year plan on the enviornment.
● To identify the positive effect of five year plan on the environment.
● To identify the public awareness on degradation of environment happen due to five year
plan
REVIEW OF LITERATURE:

(United States. Bureau of Mines)After world war 2, many emerging nations went to
monetary preparation. These plans, which typically last for five years, would look at how the
economy is doing and include plans for investments and expenditures in almost every sector,
including energy and transportation as well as agriculture and industry. When India gained
independence, its economy was in disarray.(National Climate Program: Five-Year Plan) Under
British rule, India's economy was severely hampered; Consequently, the founders of
development devised a five-year strategy for its development. The five-year plan in India is
monitored and evaluated by the Planning Commission of India. From 1947 to 2017, the Indian
economy was supported by the planning ideology. (Jiang et al.)Through the Five-Year Plans
(2015-2017), the Planning Commission (1951–2014) and the NITI Aayog created, implemented,
and supervised . (Song et al.)The Planning Commission, which was headed by Narendra Modi,
was disbanded by the new government. In 2014, he was elected, and the NITI Aayog took his
place. An economy's smooth operation relies heavily on good planning. The Planning
Commission was established by the government in 1950 to devise, develop, and carry out India's
five-year plans. (Zheng et al.)Planning is crucial to an economy's smooth operation. These
five-year programs had as their objectives modernization, economic self-reliance, economic
equity, full employment, and social justice. (Yang)The strategy's goal was to find the best way to
divide investment among productive sectors in order to boost economic growth over the long
term. It utilized novel applications of statistical models developed by the Indian Statistical
Institute, as well as cutting-edge methods from operations research and optimization.(Ebissa et
al.) The five-year plan accentuated expanding industry efficiency through mechanical headways.
The rapid industrialization that took place during the Soviet Union's Five-Year Plans was one of
the environmental impacts that stood out the most. (Liu et al.)The environmental impacts of the
Soviet Union's Five-Year Plans were not limited to heavy industry. (Beggs et al.)Agriculture was
also a significant focus of these plans, and the widespread use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides led to soil degradation and contamination of groundwater sources. (Beggs et al.;
Zhang et al.)Several studies have examined the long-term environmental impacts of the Soviet
Union's economic policies, including the Five-Year Plans. A study published in Environmental
Science & Technology in 2014 found that legacy pollution from Soviet-era industrial activities
continues to have significant environmental impacts in many parts of the former Soviet
Union.(Min. of Environmental Protection of RPC) Overall, it suggests that the Soviet Union's
Five-Year Plans had significant negative impacts on the environment, particularly in terms of air
and water pollution and soil degradation. However, it is important to note that the impact varied
depending on the specific plan and region, and that the environmental impacts were often not a
primary concern for policymakers at the time.(Sternfeld) The Soviet Union's nuclear energy
program during the Five-Year Plans had significant environmental impacts, including radioactive
contamination of water sources. (Xing)The Five-Year Plans in China had significant
environmental impacts, including air and water pollution, soil degradation, and deforestation.
(Basu)The Soviet Union's prioritization of heavy industry during the Five-Year Plans resulted in
significant greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global climate change. The environmental
impacts of the Five-Year Plans were often overlooked by policymakers in the Soviet Union, who
prioritized economic growth above environmental concerns. (Li et al.)The Five-Year Plans in the
Soviet Union led to significant ecological imbalances, such as the destruction of predator
populations and the proliferation of pest species. (Ma et al.)The Five-Year Plans in East
Germany had significant environmental impacts, including air and water pollution, and the
destruction of natural habitats. (Hu and Dong)The environmental impacts of the Five-Year Plans
were often felt most severely by marginalized communities, such as indigenous peoples and rural
populations. (Yi et al.)The Soviet Union's expansion of hydropower during the Five-Year Plans
had significant impacts on river ecosystems and fish populations. The Five-Year Plans in
Romania had significant environmental impacts, including deforestation and pollution from
chemical industries. (Qian et al.)The Soviet Union's prioritization of coal and oil production
during the Five-Year Plans had significant impacts on air quality and contributed to global
climate change.(He et al.) The environmental impacts of the Five-Year Plans are still being felt
in many regions of the former Soviet Union, such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. (Su et al.)The
Five-Year Plans in Poland had significant environmental impacts, including air and water
pollution, and habitat destruction. The Soviet Union's construction of large-scale infrastructure
projects during the Five-Year Plans, such as the Baikal-Amur Mainline, had significant
environmental impacts. (He et al.)The Five-Year Plans in Cuba had significant environmental
impacts, including deforestation and soil erosion, as the country attempted to rapidly
industrialize.
METHODOLOGY:

The research method followed here is empirical research. A total of 200 samples have been taken
through a random sampling method. The sample frame is general public. The independent
variables taken into account are age and gender.. The dependent variables are water pollution and
causes for water pollution .

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION:

FIG 1: AGE

LEGEND: The majority of the respondents are from the age group 18 to 35.
FIG 2: GENDER

LEGEND: The majority of respondents are male.

FIG 3: EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

LEGEND: The majority of the respondents have a U.G Degree.

FIG 4: OCCUPATION

LEGEND: The majority of the respondents were from the private sector.

FIG 5: ANNUAL INCOME

LEGEND: The majority of the respondents have an annual income of less than 1,00,000.
FIG 6: ON A SCALE OF 1-10, DO YOU AWARE THE DEGRADATION OF
ENVIRONMENT HAPPEN DUE TO FIVE YEAR PLAN?

LEGEND: Majority of the respondents have agreed that the degradation of the environment
happens due to five year plan.

FIG 7 : DO YOU AGREE THAT FIVE YEAR ONLY FOCUSES ON THE ECONOMY
AND NOT ON THE PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT?

LEGEND: Majority of the respondents have neutrality agreed that five year only focuses on the
economy and not on the protection of the environment.
FIG 8 : Do you think the five year plan is a part of the degradation of the environment?

LEGEND: Majority of the respondents have neutrally agreed that the five year plan is a part of
the degradation of the environment.

FIG 9 : According to you five year plan focuses on:

LEGEND: Majority of the respondents think that the five year plan focuses on the protection of
the environment.
RESULT:
The result of figure 6 shows that 0.35% of the female group and 13.15% of the male group
neutrally agreed with the statement. And 18.34% of the female group and 28.72% of the male
agreed with the statement. And 17.65% of the male agreed with the statement. And 3.46% of the
male group and 0.35% of the female group strongly agreed with the statement. The result of
figure 7 shows that 0.35% of the male group agreed with the statement. And 18.34% of the
female group and 15.92% of the male disagreed with the statement. And 43.25% of the male
neutrally agreed with the statement. And 21.80% of the male group and 0.35% of the female
group disagreed with the statement.The result of figure 8 shows that 7.58% of the female group
and 41.23% of the male neutrally agreed with the statement. And 3.23% of the female group and
15.17% of the male disagreed with the statement. And 26.07% of the male group and 6.64% of
the female group agreed with the statement. The result of figure 9 shows that 18.34% of the
female group and 36.68% of the male stated that the five year plan focuses on the economy. And
0.35% of the female group and 0.69% of the male stated that the five year plan focuses on the
society. And 43.94% of the male group stated that the five year plan focuses on the protection of
the environment.

DISCUSSION:
Figure 1 we can infer that most of the female respondents are aware of the concept than the
mele respondents at the rate of 9, whereas male respondents are slightly aware of the concept and
have given rate of 4 on their awareness where the rest of the male respondents are aware of the
concept. Figure 2 we can infer that most of the respondents who belong to the category of
schooling are highly aware of the concept than the at the rate of 9, whereas it is followed by the
respondents who belongs to the category of UG graduates , on going with the response of the
PG graduates that are slightly aware of the concept and have given rate of 4 on their awareness
where the rest of the male respondents are aware of the concept. From Figure 3 we can infer
that most of the respondents who belong to the age category of 21-30 and below 20 are highly
aware of the concept than the at the rate of 9, whereas it is followed by the respondents who
belongs to the age category of 31 to 40 , on going with the response of the people who belong to
the age category of 41-50 and above 50 they are slightly aware of the concept and have given
rate of 4 on their awareness where the rest of the male respondents are aware of the concept.
Figure 4 is obtained when the researcher compared the question with independent variable
occupation where samples are categorized as private sector, public sector,self employed and
unemployed.Most of the answers were from the private sector Side and more ratings were given
on the scale as 4 and 7. Figure 5 we can infer that the people who belong to the age category of
21-40 points out that when there is a procedure the life of the individuals can be deprived where
by which is supported by people who belong to the age category of 31-40 as well, next to it
national security has been pointed out by the people who belong to age category of 41-50 and
minimal number of people points out public order as the circumstance. Figure 6 shows the
various age group people pertaining to their gender and their awareness on the degradation of
the environment due to the five year plan. Majority of the respondents have agreed that
degradation of the environment is due to the five year plan. Figure 7 shows the various age
group people pertaining to their gender and their agreeability that the five year only focuses on
economy and not on the protection of environment. Majority of the respondents have neutrality
agreed that five year only focuses on the economy and not on the protection of the environment.
Figure 8 shows the various age group people pertaining to their gender and their opinion that
the five year plan is a part of the degradation of the environment. Majority of the respondents
have neutrally agreed that the five year plan is a part of the degradation of the environment.
Figure 9 shows the various age group people pertaining to their gender and their opinion that
the five year plan focuses on society, economy, and protection of the environment. Majority of
the respondents think that the five year plan focuses on the protection of the environment.
SUGGESTION:

India has implemented five-year plans to achieve socio-economic development since 1951. The
impact of these plans on the environment has been a mixed bag, with some positive and negative
effects.

Positive impacts:

Forest cover: The five-year plans have prioritized afforestation and reforestation efforts, leading
to an increase in forest cover from 40.48 million hectares in 1951 to 80.73 million hectares in
2019. Renewable energy: The plans have also aimed to increase the share of renewable energy in
the energy mix. This has led to an increase in the use of solar, wind, and hydro power, reducing
the dependence on fossil fuels and thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Water
management: The plans have focused on water management, including the construction of dams,
canals, and other water infrastructure, leading to improved irrigation facilities and increased crop
yields.

Negative impacts:

Air pollution: The rapid industrialization and urbanization driven by the five-year plans have led
to a significant increase in air pollution, particularly in major cities such as Delhi and Mumbai.
Water pollution: Industrial growth and agricultural practices have led to water pollution, with
many rivers and lakes in India being severely contaminated with chemicals and pesticides.
Deforestation: Despite efforts to increase forest cover, deforestation remains a major concern,
particularly due to mining and industrial activities, as well as agricultural expansion. Overall, the
impact of five-year plans on the environment in India has been mixed, with both positive and
negative effects. While efforts have been made to promote sustainable development and address
environmental issues, there is still much work to be done to mitigate the negative impacts of
rapid industrialization and urbanization
CONCLUSION:

India has had 13 Five Year Plans since its independence in 1947. The plans have included
various environmental objectives, such as promoting afforestation, reducing pollution, and
conserving natural resources. However, the impact of these plans on the environment has been
mixed. Some positive impacts of the plans include an increase in forest cover, the development
of renewable energy sources, and improvements in wastewater treatment. The expansion of
industrial production during the Five-Year Plans in India had significant environmental impacts,
including air and water pollution, and habitat destruction. The use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides in agriculture during the Five-Year Plans led to soil degradation and groundwater
contamination. The Soviet Union's emphasis on heavy industry during the Five-Year Plans led to
significant deforestation and habitat destruction. The environmental impacts of the Five-Year
Plans were not limited to the Soviet Union, as neighboring countries were also affected by
pollution from Soviet factories. The Soviet Union's focus on industrial production during the
Five-Year Plans resulted in significant water shortages and depletion of water resources in some
regions. However, the plans have also been criticized for their focus on economic growth at the
expense of environmental protection, resulting in deforestation, air and water pollution, and the
depletion of natural resources. Heavy industry like steel production, mining, and chemical
manufacturing expanded as a result, which had a significant impact on the environment. These
industries' emissions, for instance, contributed to acid rain and air pollution, while factories' and
mines' wastewater polluted lakes and rivers. Overall, while the Five Year Plans have had some
positive impacts on the environment in India, there is still much work to be done to ensure
sustainable development and protect the country's natural resources.
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PLAGIARISM: