UNIT – V SOCIAL ISSUES AND THE ENVIRONMENT

URBAN PROBLEMS RELATED TO ENERGY

Energy is one of the major pillars of economic development of the society.

Urban means belonging to or relating to a town or city.
Energy is the power especially electricity, that is gotten from coal and gas to run lights, machinery,
heating etc.
Urban areas like towns and cities use large amount of energy.
Urban centers use enormous quantities of energy. In the past, urban housing required relatively
smaller amounts of energy than we use at present.
Economic growth along with a growing population will obviously consume a lot of energy.
Houses in urban areas are now made of more heat sensitive materials such as metals (iron, steel and
aluminium) glass and concrete instead of heat insensitive substances such as wood and bricks.
Until the 1950s urban kitchens are isolated from rest of the house and were based on fuel wood or
charcoal.
Once the apartment culture was started the fuel wood and charcoal are replaced by kerosene, now a
day it is replaced by electricity.
Urban cities in hot climates need energy for cooling. The early system of fans changed into air
conditioners, which consumes enormous quantities of energy.
To make these houses comfortable, we use air conditioners or room heaters run by electricity.
Apartments need extra electricity to run lifts and lights.
Urban transportation depends on energy, mainly from fossil fuels.
 Most urban people use their individual transport rather than a public one. No proper drainage
system in the cities and more traffic and pollution from industries and vehicles. Most urban
people use their own motor cycle or car rather than public buses or autos and this leads to traffic
problems, increase in the concentration of CO, waste of time etc.
Every urban family use electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to cook their food in place of
fuel wood, coal and kerosene.
Tree cutting for road widening so that less greenery.
Similarly, each and every step in an urban centre needs energy in some form or other.
To meet the enormous energy needs and for long term sustainability we should be more specific
about the most efficient and cost effective manner of energy use.

This can be achieved through the use of more renewable energy resources than non renewable energy
resources in addition to steps such as
 Urban problems related to energy can be solved by the following methods:
o Public transport must be used.
o Renewable (non-conventional) energy resources (like solar energy, wind energy etc.)
must be used in place of fossil fuels like diesel, petrol, LPG, coal etc.
o The electricity must be used very carefully in houses, offices and industries etc.
The ministry of Non- conventional energy sources, Government of India is involved in the
implementation of these programmes for the development, demonstration and utilization of renewable
energy based technologies such as solar and thermal and green technologies such as,
1. Solar photovoltaic

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 2. Wind power generation and water pumping.
3. Solar power.
4. Geothermal energy.
5. Energy recovery from municipal and industrial waste.
6. Fuel cell
7. Alternative fuel for transportation.
8. Biomass combustion.
9. Hydro electricity.
Today, India is in a position to solve its own energy crisis and offer these green technologies to other
developing countries too.

WATER CONSERVATION

It is nothing but saving and protecting the water.

People are not getting enough clean water worldwide hence conservation of water is more important
in present position.
Our wells and hand pumps become dry due to decrease in underground water level.
This happens, when the rain water is not absorbed by soil to increase underground water level.
The underground water level is decreased by
1. Deforestation (cutting of trees)
2. Desertification (change of productive land into desert land)
3. Change in soil structures ( decrease in soil porosity)
The following methods are used for conservation of water.
1. Stop running water (water run-off):
o The losses of running water can be stopped by putting soil walls perpendicular to the
flow of water.
o This walls slow down the movement of water in order to increase ground water level.
o This method is mostly used in hilly areas.
o The water flow can be stopped by growing trees in hilly areas and waste lands.
2. Decrease of agricultural losses:
o In this method, the water is supplied to the crops in needed quantities as follows:
 Supplying water drop by drop near the roots of plants rather than covering the whole
land in water and this method is called drip irrigation.
 Supplying water to the crops at early morning or late evening.
 Putting different types of crops that use less water during their growth.
 Water leakes must be stopped immediately.
3. By stopping wastage of water:
o Taps present in houses, shopping complexes and public places must be closed, when not
in use.
o Repairing water leaks and using small volume flush tanks in toilets.
4. Re-use of water:
o The purified waste water can be used in lawns, gardens, for washing cars, motor cycles and
floors of the buildings.

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 Rain water harvesting
It is the storing of rain water on the top part (roof) of buildings in order to use it dry seasons (when
the rainy season is over)
Objectives of rain water harvesting is:
o It stops the rain water flow (run-off) and flooding
o It decreases the water problems
o It increases ground water level
o It increases the quality of ground water
Rain water harvesting techniques:
o These are two types
1. Storage of rain water on the surface
2. Recharge of ground water
o Storage of rain water on the surface:
 It is a very old method and these are like ponds, lakes, tanks etc.
o Recharge of ground water:
 It is a recent (short time ago) method
 The following structures are used in this
1. Pits
2. Trenches
3. Dug wells
4. Hand pumps
o Pits:
 Pit is a large hole having 2m wide and 3m deep and it is dug in the ground.
 This hole is filled with small round shaped rocks and then sand.
 It is used to recharge small subsoil aquifers
o Trenches:
 Trench is a narrow passage having 1m wide, 1.5m deep and 20m long and it is
dug in the ground.
 This trench is filled with small round shaped rocks and then sand.
 It is used to recharge small subsoil aquifers
o Dug wells:
 Dug well is the hole in the ground from which a supply of water is taken.
 It is used to recharge small subsoil aquifers.
 But the water should be passed through filter before putting it into the dug well.
o Hand pumps:
 It is used to recharge small subsoil aquifers.
 But the water should be passed through filter before putting it into the dug well.

{OR}

Water is the most precious and indispensable resource on earth.

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 The scarcity of fresh water has become a common problem everywhere because of erratic and
irregular rainfall and fast depletion of underground water resources. The excessive use of water in
domestic, irrigation, and industrial sectors is the main cause of water scarcity.
In order to solve the problem of water scarcity, it is very essential that we use the available water
resources carefully and adopt various ways and methods to conserve it for a long time.

Water conservation in irrigation:

Agriculture sector is one of the prominent consumers of water. Hence by adopting suitable
agricultural practices, we can contribute to conservation of water. Some common methods of water
conservation in agriculture are
1. The use of organic or inorganic materials such as plant debris, etc. slows down surface run offs,
reduces evaporation losses, and helps in water conservation.
2. Use of efficient watering systems, such as drip irrigation and sprinklers, reduces the water
consumption by plants and reduces evaporation loses
3. Fog and dew contain substantial amounts of water that can be used directly by adapted plant
species. Artificial surfaces, such as netting surfaces, traps or polythene sheets, can be exposed to
for and dew.
4. Interlinking water systems through canals helps in transfer of water from water many areas to
water deficient areas.
5. In semi-arid and arid areas, dry land farming techniques should be adopted.
6. Growing of crop varieties with low water requirements and tolerance to saline water helps in
conservation of water
7. Irrigation in early morning or evening reduces evaporation losses. Irrigating field in noon increases
evaporation losses and hence this should be avoided.
Water conservation in homes:
1. Bathrooms: install a low flow showerhead that restricts the flow of water from the shower to 2.5
gallons per minute. Using a bucket to fill up water for bathing causes less wastage of water.
2. Install a low flow toilet that uses only 1.6 gallons of water per flush.
3. Test toilets for leaks. And needs to be repaired.
4. Use a toilet tank water displacement device, such as a toilet dam or bag. These devices will
reduce the volume of water in the tank but will still provide enough for flushing.
5. Never us the toilet as a trash can to dispose of bugs, or other items.
Kitchen:
1. Never run the dishwasher without having a full load.
2. Keep a container or drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running water from the
tap until it is cool.
3. Keep conservation in mind when working in the kitchen.
Laundry: wash only a full load when using the washing machine.
Outdoors: Water lawns early in the morning during the hot summer
1. Use of sprinkler that throws large drops of water rather than a fine mist.
2. Use of drip irrigation
3. Use mulches to help reduce soil moisture losses.
4. Do not use running water to clean the driveways or sidewalks, us a broom instead.
5. Do not let water runoff on the streets, sidewalks, and driveways while watering lawns.
6. Use a bucket of soapy water instead of using running water for washing cars.

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 RAINWATER HARVESTING
Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and intensive agricultural practices have increased the
demand for water and caused severe depletion of ground water.
The combined effect of the increasing ground water depletion rate and depletion of the freshwater
aquifers is resulting in the lowering of the freshwater table.
Under such circumstances, harvesting of rain water by adopting suitable methods revives the
hope of recharging of underground water.
Rainwater harvesting is a technique of water conservation by increasing the recharge of ground
water through capturing and storing rain water.
This can be done by constructing special structures such as dug wells, percolation pits, lagoons,
check dams, tanks, etc.
Rainwater harvesting is not only useful for low rainfall regions but also for rainfall rich areas.
It is an age old method of collecting rain water on the roof tops and then using it directly or
storing it for use when the rainy season is over.
In the present age, with the decrease in natural forest cover, increase in concrete jungles and the
decrease in exposed earth, very little open ground is left for water to percolate and increase the
ground water table.
So artificial recharging of the ground water through rain water harvesting is extremely essential.

The objectives of rainwater harvesting are,

1. Rainwater harvesting fulfils the demand of water in domestic, industrial and agricultural
sectors.
2. It helps to raise the water table by recharging ground water
3. It helps in minimizing ground water pollution
4. The proper harvesting of rain water reduces soil erosion, flooding and runoff
5. It reduces the incidence of floods
6. Rain water when absorbed by the land becomes the main source of raising the water table and
stores more ground water
Rainwater harvesting is an age old practice. Water harvesting techniques were highly developed
in ancient Indian civilizations.
Following are some of traditional water harvesting techniques:
1. Kunds of Rajasthan:
A Kunds consists of a saucer shaped catchment area with a gentle slope towards the centre
where a tank is situated. Openings or inlets for water to go into the tank are usually guarded
by a wire mesh to prevent the entry of floating debris, birds and reptiles. The water which is
collected in these kunds during rains is used later in the drier months.
2. Tanks of Gujarat:
Rain water from the roof was drained during the monsoon months and diverted these
underground tanks. Water from these tanks was then used during the summer months when
there was scarcity of water.
3. Temple ponds:
Ponds or tanks were built in temple compounds to store water during the dry seasons, water
from these tanks was utilized by the community
4. Talabs:

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 Talabs refer to reservoirs. These are natural or man make (such as the lakes in Udaipur) these
reservoirs are used for irrigation as well as drinking purposes. The water in these reservoirs
dries up just a few days after the monsoon, the pond beds are then cultivated with rice.
5. Wadis:
Wadis are earth basins that form a water saving bowl. Rain water flows from the sides to the
centre of each planting bed. Each basin is surrounded by a ridge of earth about 15 cm high. In
flat fields, the basins have an area 2 sq.m. They are smaller on sloping land.
6. Pits:
Pits for recharging shallow aquifers pits are constructed. These are one to two meter wide and
three meter deep and back filled with boulders, gravels and coarse sand to aid filtration before
percolation to the ground.

7. Trenches: about 0.5to one meter wide, one to 1.5mt deep and up to 20meters long trenches is
constructed where a permeable stream is available at a shallow depth.

8. Dug wells: existing dug wells may be utilized as recharge structures. The excess water should
be allowed to pass through a filter bed before putting it into the well.

9. Hand pumps: existing hand pumps may also be used as recharge structures for aquifers.

10. Recharge shaft, lateral shaft with bore wells, and spreading techniques are used.

11. In addition to these, in urban areas rooftop and road top collection of rain water is also used
to recharge aquifers.

WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

Watershed is a geographic area of land that collects, stores, and releases water.
The area collects water from rain, snow, etc. this collected water is stored in lakes and ponds. The
stored water is then released through streams, rivers, etc. thus a water shed means a land from
where water drains into a particular stream, lake, river, estuary and event the ocean.
Drainage basin or catchment basins are other terms used interchangeably with watershed.
Water shed is a natural system.
All lands, humans, wildlife and their activities are part of one or the other watershed.
When a watershed is kept in good condition, it provides sustainable benefits to humans, wildlife,
etc.
Water shed management refers to the conservation, protection and restoration of a watershed to
secure water- both in quantity and quality for drinking, sanitation and agriculture in a sustained
manner.

Strategies for watershed management

1. Cost benefit: do the cost benefit analysis of ecological effects of alternative actions
2. Usage goals: develop goals for use of water and land resources
3. Background: find out the present and historical structure and functions of the watershed
system among people of diverse social backgrounds and values.
4. Solutions for sustainability

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Action plan for watershed management:
1. Mapping of the watershed area, planting trees and grass for enhancing seeping of water to the
ground and for preventing water contamination, torrents and landslides. Thus plantation helps
in the recharging of ground water.
2. Construction a series of long trenches and mounds along hill contours to hold rainwater and
allowing it to percolate into the ground.
3. Making dams for preventing large amounts of water from rushing down the hillside. This
helps in recharging of an underground aquifer. Streams and rivers flow for the whole year.
Need of watershed management:
1. The misuse of Himalayan sloped are increasing. Our water regimes are threatened resulting in
the depletion of water resources.
2. The society is becoming unsustainable.
3. The damage to irrigation systems and reservoirs are increasing. Every year, during the rainy
season, costs for controlling floods is increasing.
Advantages of watershed management:
1. Watershed management reduces water shortage during summers by facilitating recharge of
ground water.
2. It provides wildlife and fish, food, habitat, and resting areas, etc., for sustainable survival.
3. It protects stream and river banks from erosion.
4. By retaining water and releasing it during summers, watershed management reduces chances
and associated damages of floods.
5. It provides good quality water and food for human use.

RESESSTTLEMENT AND REHABILITATION

Since ancient times, factors such as climate conditions, availability of natural resources and socio
economic displacement have been the most important determinants of human habilitation.
As a result of human population developed dense patches in separate and small limited areas.
However, the occurrence of disaster arising from natural as well as manmade sources cause large
scale destruction and disruption of infrastructure and services.
As a result, human life is paralysed and the economy as well as the environment is badly damaged.
Under such circumstances, rehabilitation of affected people becomes the prime political and social
responsibility of that nation.
The main reason for displacement of human habitation includes the following.

Natural hazards:
1. Earthquakes 5. Drought
2. Landslides 6. Volcanic eruptions
3. Cyclones 7. Epidemic diseases
4. Floods

Anthropogenic factors:
Developmental activities such as construction of dams, roads, mines, industries and power plants,
tunnels, etc., increase the risks of floods and landslides.

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 Across the globe nearly 10 million people per annum are affected by forced displacement due to
infrastructural projects such as dams, mines, roads, industries and power plants. They lose their
shelter and livelihood and some of them die due to hunger and poverty.
Accumulation of wastes and environmental pollution also sometimes become the cause of human
displacement.
Displacement refers to forced migration in which the migrants or displaced persons cannot go
back to their native place.
It has been estimated that 15 to 30 million people have been displaced in our country due to
various types of developmental projects.

The following are some of the hardships faced by displaced people:

1. The compensation for the lost land is often not paid or the payment is delayed and even if it is
paid, the amount is usually small.
2. Basic infrastructure and amenities are not provided in the new area.
3. Very often, temporary camps become permanent settlements.
4. Ethnic and caste difference make it difficult for the refugees to live peacefully with the
communities already living in the area.

Resettlement and rehabilitation and its concerns and problems:

Resettlement:
o It is a process of moving people to a different place to live, because they are no longer
allowed to stay in the area where they used to live.
Rehabilitation:
o It is the process of helping project-effected (or disasters or ill) people to live a normal life
again
Major projects (like dams, mines, roads or national parks) disturb the life of people who live there.
The people may need to be moved to other place and leaving their living area (uprooting) is a serious
problem.
It decreases their ability to get food and money; and it creates mind related (psychological) problems.
Especially, tribal people are dependent on their own natural resources and they cannot adjust in a new
place.
In the development of major projects, tribal people are forced to leave their home and natural
environment by the government.
In India, lakhs of people had been forced to leave their homes and natural environment.
Government had been not given any land and money for damaging their homes and natural
environment.
Government had been not done anything for their settlement.
Resettlement needs land, however in our over-populated country; there is no useful land easily
available.
Thus most project-affected persons are given unusable waste land
Hence tribal people lost their land and livelihood due to construction of major projects.
Ministry of rural areas and employment mad the land acquisition bill in 1998 for the rehabilitation of
displaced people
According to this bill, people eligible for rehabilitation should apply to claim it.

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The bill was changed in 2004 by the ministry of rural areas and employment.
Resettlement and rehabilitation is the responsibility of the individual states.
But only 3 states-Karnataka, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have separate laws
NTPC (national thermal power corporation) and coal India Ltd. have separate policies for
rehabilitation.
This bill does not give justice to the project-affected people because rehabilitation benefits are also
difficult.
For example: a person displaced by canal or irrigation work gets lesser benefits than those affected by
the construction of a dam.

ENVIRONMENTAL ACTS

The Environmental (Protection) Act

After the Bhopal gas tragedy in1984, environmental (protection) act was made as law in 1986 by
central government of India.
Through this act the central government has gotten the following legal rights
1. Fixing standards for release of pollutants from different sources to maintain environmental
quality.
2. Limited area for setting up of industries to protect human health and environment.
3. Fixing safety procedures (guide lines) for stopping accidents and fixing curative actions to be
taken in case of accidents.
4. Fixing safe procedures for very dangerous (hazardous) substances usage (handling).
5. Passing instructions to any person, officer or authorities
a) for closing, stopping or controlling any industry and its working
b) To stop the supply of electricity or water or any other services.
6. Collecting samples of air, water, soil or any other substances from any factory in order to
analyze these samples.
This act also gives legal rights to a person to put a case in court against the person who breaks
environmental protection act (environmental law-breaker (violator)).
A violator of the Environmental Protection Act can be put in jail up to five years and a fine of up
to Rs One Lakh.

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1981)

This act was made as a law in 1981 by parliament of india.
The main aims of this act are:
1. To prevent and control of air pollution
2. To setup central and state boards for the prevention and control of air pollution
3. To give and decide legal rights and functions to the central and state boards to improve
the quality of air.
4. This Act regulates and controls emission from automobiles and industrial plants.
5. This body determines the standards of air quality.
This Act controls release of gases into air from automobiles (like cars, motorcycles etc.) and
factories.
The functions of central Board and state boards:
o These two boards have rights to prevent and control of water pollution

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 o These two boards decide the standards of air quality by coordinating to each other.
The state government may announce an area within the state as :
1. Air pollution control area.
2. Stop the use of any fuel in the area of pollution.
3. Nobody can run any factory in air pollution control area without the permission of
the state Board.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Act (1974)

This was the first national law of India on pollution control.
This act defines water pollution and determines penalties.
The water pollution Board at the central and state levels has been set up for the prevention and
control of water pollution in all sources of water under its jurisdiction.
They also determine the permissible and impermissible levels of water pollution.
This act was amended in 1977 and 1978 to improve the financial condition of the state boards
through implementation of water tax for use of water by industries and local authorities.
This act was made as law in 1974 by parliament and it was corrected (amended) in 1988.
The main aims of this act are:
1. To prevent and control water pollution
2. To setup central and state boards for the prevention and control of water pollution
3. To give and decide legal rights and functions to the central and state boards to protect the
quality of water.
The central and state boards decide the allowable levels of water pollution and penalties for those
who break the water pollution act rules.
This act was corrected (amended) in 1988 to improve the financial condition of the state boards
by collecting water tax for use of water by industries and house hold water connections.
Functions of central board and state board:
o To advice the central and state governments in prevention and control of water pollution
o To train pollution control board employees
o To fix the standards for a steam or well water
o To conduct training program for the control of water pollution in public and industry
persons
o To identify test laboratories for analysis of polluted water samples.

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

This Act was made as a law in 1972 by Indian government.
Indian board of wild life was established and the head of this is prime minister of India.
The main aims of this act are:
1. Formation of wildlife advisory board in each state.
2. Controlling the hunting of wild animals and birds.
3. Fixing the procedures for selection of areas for sanctuaries and national park.
4. Controlling the possession, acquisition and trade (having, collecting, gaining and
business) of wild animal and wild products.
5. Preparation of lists of endangered, rare and threatened species by botanical survey of
India (BSI) and Zoological survey of India (ZSI).
6. Giving rights to zoo authority for control and breeding of the endangered species
7. Giving rights to local police or forest officers to take control of all weapons (like guns,
knifes etc.), tools and vehicles used for killing and catching wild life.

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 Different wild life parks and sanctuaries were created.
Projects were started to save endangered species like lions (1972), Tigers (1973), Crocodiles
(1974) and brown antlered deer (1981).
India became a party to the convention of international Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna
and Flora (CITES) in 1976.
 Amendment 1991:
o Bird trade was stopped
 Amendment 2006:
o The creation of a National Tiger Conservation Authority
The wildlife protection Act, (1972), was enacted to provide protection to wild animals and birds
by:
1. Constitution of wildlife advisory board in each state.
2. Regulating the hunting of wild animals and birds.
3. Specifying the procedures for declaring areas of sanctuaries and national park
4. Regulating the possession, acquisition and trade of wild animal products.

Forest conservation Act:

The act was made as law in 1980 by Indian government.
The act deals with the conservation of forests and related aspects
The important points of this act are:
1. Prevention of deforestation
2. Giving legal rights to the state government
o to use the forests for only sturdy (forestry) purpose
o to announce any forest or waste land as reserve forest
3. Encouraging afforestation (growing trees in very large amount) on non-forest land.
4. Control of shifting cultivation (change in agricultural lands) and stopping control of forest
lands by other persons (like contractors etc.)
5. Protection of hilly and sloppy areas
6. Any illegal non-forest activity within in a forest area can be immediately stopped under this
act.
Amendment in the forest act:
1. Wild life sanctuaries, national parks etc are totally prohibited for any exploration under this
act without the prior approval of central government even if no tree filling is involved.
2. Cultivation of tea, coffee, spices and rubber plats which are cash crops are included in non
forestry activity and not allowed in the reserve forests. [Cultivation of tea, coffee and rubber
plats, mulberry plants and spices (like cardamom, pepper, cloves, coriander seeds, cumin
seeds, dill and poppy) are not allowed in the reserve forests.]
3. Plantation of mulberry for rearing silk worm is considered a non forestry activity.
4. Mining is also stopped without the permission of central government.
5. Mining is a non forestry activity and prior approval of central government is mandatory.
6. Removal of stones, large rounded rock (boulder) etc from river beds located within the forest
area fall under non forestry activity.
7. Thus, the forests act made ample provisions for conservation and protection of forests and
prevent deforestation.

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 Issues involved in enforcement of environmental legislation or
role of judiciary
The judiciary is the branch of authority in a country and it is related with the law and legal
system.
The role of the judiciary is to make sure that the people should follow all environmental acts in
order to protect environment.
Environmental legislation (law) try to enforce (put into execution) all environmental laws
It is possible when citizens and states do their duties correctly.
For successful enforcement of environmental legislation, collection of related data, its processing
and final submission to the enforcement agency and this must be done honestly.
If the environmental law is broken (violated) by a person or an institution and this is to be
punished according to law.
Every information of crime must reach the law enforcement officials from the related person or
people.
If the person is not satisfied with actions taken by enforcement agency, the effected person must
file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for the protection of environment.
There are many non government organizations (NGOs) in the country like Bombay Natural
History Society (BNHS), World Wide Fund for Nature - India (WWF-I), etc.
These organizations take environmental problems to the court.
Anyone can request these organizations to help in such environmental problems.
There are also environmental layers like M.C. Mehta, He filed many PILs and he fought for
protecting Tajmahal; cleaning the river Ganga; and stopping shrimp forming in coastal areas.
The person who breaks law tries to bribe enforcement officers or may put the officer under
danger for covering up his crime.
Thus, the general public must be careful about any crime related to environment.

Public environmental awareness

How public environmental awareness is useful in conservation and preservation of
environment
Environmental awareness means making people know about the physical, social and beauty
nature of environment.
Environment awareness is the useful tool to fight and face the environmental serious problems.
It changes man’s attitude towards the protection of nature.
As environment belongs to all, everybody should try to protect environment.
Therefore, all people of society should be made aware about conservation and protection of the
environmental in the following ways:
1. To make students environmentally aware, environmental education should be given at all
stages of education right from school to university level.
2. Environmental awareness among public can be spread through mass media like news
papers, radio, TV, cinema, street plays, stories etc.
3. Environmental training programs should be conducted to planners, decision makers etc.
4. NGOs can also help in spreading environmental awareness among a large number of people

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These are some methods to be followed to protect environment in different levels:
Biodiversity conservation methods:
1. Plant more local trees around your home and your work place and encourage your friends
to do so.
2. If your garden too small for trees, plant local shrubs and creepers (winding plants)
3. Buy recycled paper products for your home like sheets of paper, envelops, etc.
4. Donate used books and magazines to schools, hospitals or libraries.
5. And son …………………
Soil conservation:
1. Cover the soil in your garden with a layer of old leaves, small pieces of wood to stop soil
erosion in the rains and to maintain soil moisture.
2. Add organic matter like kitchen scraps to increase the nutrients of your garden soil
3. Set up a compost pit in your college or garden to decrease amount of waste.
4. Do not use poisonous pesticides in your garden
5. And son …………………
Water conservation:
1. Decrease the amount water used for daily works
2. Reuse the water coming from vegetable washing for plant and potted plants in your garden
3. Soak the dishes before washing them to decrease water and detergent usage.
4. Always water the plants early in the morning or evening to minimize vaporization.
5. And son …………………
Energy conservation:
1. Turn off the lights, fans and Air-conditioners when not necessary.
2. Use energy saver bulbs as they consume less electricity.
3. In summer, close the windows, curtains and doors early in the morning to keep the house
cool.
4. Use pressure cooker as much as possible to save energy.
5. And son …………………

Environmental ethics
Explain how environmental ethics educate people about the protection of
environment
Environmental ethics tells about the rights of each human being and living things like plant and
animals
Important points of environmental ethics are truth, honesty, justice, responsibility, trust etc.
The whole world concentrates on the protection of environment so that environmental ethics is
very useful in the protection of environment.
Environmental ethics always tells to maintain and protect natural resources as these are the large
sum of money.
Some of the environmental ethical guidelines are:
1. The earth is the natural environment (habitat) of all living plants and animals and not of
human beings alone.
2. Natural resources and fossil fuels are decreasing fast, hence we must protect them.
3. Everybody should know environmental changes and developments

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4. Everybody must take care of the earth and enjoy the feeling of a responsible man.
5. Respect nature, you are the part of it.
6. Live as simple as possible, try to protect depleting (decreasing in amount) resources for
future generations
7. Take part (participate) in environmental movement and try to change the behaviors of the
people towards the environment.
8. Think of the world wide (global) cause and try to solve it at local level first.
9. We must be cooperative, honest, loving and polite to society and nature.

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