Development, Environment and Sustainabilty–the triumvirate on Geographical Frame

Organized by—
Department of Geography
Haringhata Mahavidyalaya, Nadia
Collaborators —
Institute of Landscape, Ecology and Ekistics,
West Bengal State University, and
Geographical Society of India.
‘
Development, Environment and Sustainabilty – the
triumvirate on Geographical Frame
2-Day UGC Sponsored National Seminar
on
Environment and Sustainability – a
geographical perspective
21 – 22 April, 2017

Development may be viewed as -
— a state (or condition) : a static concept
— a process (or course of change) : a dynamic concept
M. P. Todaro (1977): viewed ‘development’ not only as an economic
phenomenon but rather a multi-dimensional process that involves complete
reorganization and reorientation of the entire economic and social system.
Simply, it is the process of improving the quality of all human lives with the
following equally important concerns —
1. Raising peoples’ standard of living, i.e. incomes and consumption, levels of
food and nutrition, access to medical services and education facilities
through relevant growth processes.
2. Creating conditions conducive to the growth of peoples’ self-esteem
through the social, political and economic systems and institutions.
3. Increasing peoples’ freedom to choose by enlarging their range of choice,
e.g. varieties of goods and services.

A. L. Mabogunje (1983): viewed ‘development’ as ̶
1. economic growth that emphasizes commodity output in
measuring growth (GNP).
2. modernization that emphasizes processes of social change
needed to produce economic advancement
e.g., wealth-oriented behavior and values in individuals, profit-
seeking motive rather than subsistence and self-sufficiency ̶ a
shift from ‘commodity’ to ‘human’ approach with investment in
education and skill training).
3. distributive justice that views development as improving our
basic needs.
Interest in social justice has raised three issues —
a) nature of goods and services provided by Govt.,
b) access of these to different social classes, and
c) how burden of development can be shared among these
classes.
Target Group = {small farmers, landless, under-employed and
unemployed people}

K. Marx (1848) viewed ‘development’ with emphasis on mode of
production through labour.
Capitalist (market economy) mode bases on the processes of labour that
produces surplus which is accumulated and appropriated by the employer
resulting in class-conflicts in capitalist societies.
Neocolonialists (Singer, 1949; Prebisch, 1949; P.A. Baran, 1957; dos Santos,
1995): view that ‘development’ has —
1) a regional (geographic location), and also
2) a historical dimensions,
Underdevelopment is due to historical evolution of ‘an unequal international
capitalist system’ of ‘rich country-poor country’ relations producing
“center (developed countries) – periphery (developing countries)”
contrast.
Note:
1) This kind of relationship acts as constraints to become self-reliant and progressive.
2) Certain elites of the developing world (e.g., landlords, entrepreneurs, merchants)
 enjoy high income, social status and political power,
 perpetuate inequality and conformity, and
 are often rewarded by -
 the international power groups (like MN Firms, Assistance Agencies,
e.g., World Bank, and other agents) they serve.

Underdevelopment
1. characterized by:
low /capita income, low literacy and educational attainment, lack of basic
services, e.g., water and power.
2. caused by:
certain physical environments, and particular cultural traditions and
value systems (environmental and cultural determinism).
Why has Japan succeeded?
1) strong cooperation between government and business,
2) adaptation to physical situations and acquiring a maritime prowess,
3) early development (Meiji restoration) of transport and banking systems,
4) high literacy, and 5) niche development (technology driven).
G. Myrdal (1957): Economic Theory and Underdeveloped Regions
development ⇋ cumulative causation
Complex web of interlocking vicious circles each of which constitutes a chain of
cause-and-effect relations where one unfavorable circumstance leads to another,
thereby producing a downward spiral.
High Birth Rate → Large Families → Low PCI → Poverty → Low Output/
Worker → Low Productivity → Poor Health → Inadequate Housing → Poor
Sanitation
Remedy → Downward Spiral not reversible without Massive Aid from OUTSIDE

Over the last Century,
the so-called Development
has been associated with:
Exponential Pattern of Growth —
(1) Human Population
(2) Resource Consumption

Solution (!!):
We need a very clear Understanding
of OUR ENVIRONMENT with a
Scientific Geographical Mind
Practice Sustainability
Life and Economy = f (Solar Capital, Natural Capital)
1) Solar Capital (Source = Sun):Solar Energy and
2) Natural Capital (Provider = Earth) =
Natural Resources (Material and Energy) +
Natural Services (Functions of Nature, e.g.,
purification of air and water through Nutrient
Cycling)
Thus, ‘sustainable living’ means living off earth’s natural income
without depleting or degrading its natural capital.

Principle – 1: Reliance on Solar Energy
Sun warms the planet and supports photosynthesis – a
complex chemical process used by plants to provide the
nutrients, or chemicals that the organisms need to stay
alive and to reproduce.

Principle – 2: Nutrient Cycling
Circulation of chemicals from environment through
organisms and back to the environment.

Principle – 3: Biodiversity (functional, ecological, species,
genetic)
The outstanding variety of organisms, the natural system
in which they exist and interact and the natural services
they provide.

Global Scenario –
developed vs. developing nations
Natural Capital Degradation

Measuring Environmental Impacts
(1) Ecological Footprint (Biological Capacity to replenish Resources and absorb/ adsorb
Waste/Pollution)
(2) /Capita Ecological Footprint (Use of Renewable Resource/Capita)
Total Ecological Footprint (m ha) and Share
of Global Ecological Capacity (%) Ecological Footprint (ha/person)
Projected Footprint
Ecological Footprint
Earth’s
Ecological
Capacity

The IPAT Identity defines the Environment ⇋ Development Relationship
I = f (P, A, T)
where, I = environmental impacts, P = population, A = affluence, and T =
technology (environmental impacts or resource consumption/ unit GDP).
Therefore, the foundation of ‘green development / environmentally sustainable
development ‘ means improving our eco-efficiency).

Empirical Relations related to 6
Developed Nations
Source: CDIAC,2008; Maddison,
2008
GDP vs Carbon Emission Intensity GDP vs Carbon Emission /Capita
GDP vs Total Carbon Emission

Empirical Relations related to 6
Developed Nations
Source: CDIAC,2008; Maddison,
2008
GDP vs. SO2 Emission
GDP/capita vs. SO2 Emission

Curves of Environmental Impacts
1) Inverted U-shaped
2) Evolutionary Trend
3) 3 Peaks at
a) 3 particular times
b) 3 particular levels of
economic development
 Peak of EI /unit of GDP
 Peak of EI /capita
 Peak of Total EI Curve
The 3 Peaks divide the Evolution into 4 Stages —
1) Stage – 1: Pre-peak or Materialization stage driven by Growth in Resource
Consumption and Technology (proliferation and application)
2) Stage – 2: Stage between the 1st and 2nd Peaks driven by Economic Growth
3) Stage – 3: Stage between 2nd and 3rd Peaks driven by Technological
4) Stage – 4: Stage of steady decline of Total EI Progress in Resource
Conservation/ Pollution Reduction
Fluctuations (including ‘rebound effect’) may occur due to the impact of factors
like economic fluctuation, structural adjustment, policy or system change, upper
limit for technology or economy and uncertainties etc.

Note
1) The smaller the REPI
value, the higher the
resource productivity
or eco-efficiency
2) REPI = 1:
eco-efficiency equals
to that of the world
average
3)REPI >1:
eco-efficiency lower
than that of the world
average
4) REPI <1:
eco-efficiency greater
than that of the world
average

Source: 73 Countries UNEP,2011; CSDR,2012

Q. How are our Ecological Footprints affecting our Earth?
With steadily growing our Ecological Footprints, we are continuously
depleting and degrading our Earth’s Natural Capital.
Natural Resources
Perpetual – renewed continuously (solar energy)
Renewable – hours to decades (water, air, forest, grasslands)
Sustainable Yield : Optimum use while maintaining supply
Environmental Degradation: Use exceeds Natural Replacement Rate
Non-renewable – fixed quantities (fossil fuels, minerals)
Recycling
Substitution
Reuse
Q. How can Environmentally Sustainable Societies grow Economically?
Societies can become more environmentally sustainable through economic
development dedicated to improving the quality of life for everyone without
degrading the earth’s life-support systems.

Preventing Pollution is ‘more effective and less costly’ than ‘cleaning up pollution’
Pollution Prevention Input Control : Front-of-the-pipe
Pollution Cleanup Output Control : End-of-the-pipe
Disadvantages of Output Control
1) Temporary and Costly
Growth in consumption may offset technology
2) Moves pollutant from one place to another
Burial
Incineration
3) Dispersed pollutants costly to clean up
Population Growth Unsustainable
Resource Use
Poverty Excluding
Environmental Cost
from Market Price
Trying to Manage
Nature without
adequate
understanding

Alarming Poverty The 4 Basic Elements of Sustainability: Nature
has sustained itself for billions of years by using
–
1) solar energy,
2) biodiversity,
3) population regulation, and
4) nutrient cycling.
Lessons from Nature:
we can also apply these to our lifestyles and
economies.
Sustainable Living - Green Approach
Current Emphasis Sustainability Emphasis
Pollution Cleanup Pollution Prevention
Waste Disposal Burn/ Bury Waste Prevention
Protecting Species Protecting Habitat
Environmental Degradation Environmental Restoration
Increasing Resource Use Less Resource Waste
Population Growth Population Stabilization
Depleting and Degrading
Natural Capital
Protecting Natural Capital

Levels of Organization Two Views of Economics
Resource Depletion - Degradation
Exponential Growth

Factors of Sustainability
1. Vision
1. Vision is created within communities that reflects its needs and priorities
2. Partners or stakeholders reach consensus on vision and outcomes and are ready to act
3. Vision and outcomes are articulated in logic model
4. Desired outcomes are defined and used to develop/refine strategies
2. Community Ownership
1. Initiative is led and/or supported by community members
2. Priorities reflect needs of community residents and strategies are asset-based
3. Key stakeholders are involved in developing and implementing strategies
4. Institutional home exists that ensures continuity of essential functions (e.g. health
department, community organization, or trusted local entity)
3. Leadership
1. Champions with skills in strategic thinking, communication, facilitation and influence
support initiative
2. Leadership includes respected community leaders and the residents are shared
3. Members of leadership team bring influence, commitment and support of their institutions
4. Leadership is diverse, has learning orientation, defined roles and respects different views
5. Plans exist for recruiting and orienting new members, as well as succession of formal
leaders

4. Distributed Action
1. Organizations work differently due to partnership, i.e., change missions, strategic plans,
budgets, contracts and other activities that address community priorities
2. Partners influence others outside of coalition to do their work differently and share ideas
for change
3. Partners influence actions of their family, friends and neighbors to create healthy
communities.
5. Strategies Implemented
1. Prioritized community change strategies focus on policy, systems and environments
2. Short- and long-term wins maintain momentum and engage community while working to
change systems
3. Leaders seek solutions that leverage efforts of different sectors and focus on win-win
strategies
6. Funding
1. Plan is created to secure resources needed to enact Community Action Plan
2. Commitment to multi-year funding
3. Consistent, long-term funding e.g. public / corporate sources, agency budgets,
commercial revenue
4. Leaders leverage in-kind and other funds, including resources from other sectors
5. Leaders coordinate with funders to maximize flexibility and use committed/ potential
resources
6. Based on agreed upon criteria, decisions are made about what should continue to be
funded

7. Learning Orientation
1. Evaluation data is used to demonstrate progress, improve/modify programs and decide
what to sustain
2. Information from community helps identify opportunities/risks, make adjustments and test
assumptions
3. Evidence base is reviewed periodically to ensure that community action plans utilize best
practices
8. Implementation
1. Key non-health stakeholders (e.g., community planners, environmentalists and city/county
officials) responsible for implementation help plan strategies
2. People with appropriate skills, authority and resources to do the work are identified
3. Structure exists for sharing work with action teams, connecting them to leadership, and
gathering feedback for quality improvement
4. Coalition plans meetings, makes decisions, resolves conflict and communicates effectively
5. Outside technical expertise/assistance is secured as needed
6. Communication network exists for regularly sharing vision, objectives and progress to
key stakeholders
7. Based on agreed upon criteria, decisions are made about which efforts to continue,
9. Sustainability Planning
1. Shared understanding of sustainability is created to develop priorities and identify key
stakeholders
2. Sustainability plan exists with agreement on outcomes
3. Decisions are made about what should be continued and prioritized
4. Leaders determine how they will continue efforts that deliver on pre-determined priorities

1. The UN Bruntland Commission (1992): “sustainable development is the one
that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs.”
2. Sustainability is a complex concept: defined as “how biological systems
endure and remain diverse and productive”.
3. In the 21st-century, the sustainable models are “necessary for both the
human race and planet Earth to survive”.
4. Therefore, it is a balancing act.
In 2000, the Earth Charter included the idea of a global society “founded on
respect for nature, universal human rights, economic justice, and a culture of
peace.”
1. To achieve these goals, we need to re-examine the existing policies on:
1. Environmental protection.
2. Social responsibility.
3. Economic practice
2. The Old Models of Consumption and Industrialization will not support the
World’s growing Population.
3. If humans wish to have the water, materials and natural resources needed to
thrive, a new approach to living is called for.

Sustainability requires
A Need for Conservation and Energy
Economic growth and energy have come at the cost of environmental
degradation. To meet this challenge, experts are looking at ways in which we can
slow or prevent pollution, conserve natural resources and protect environment.
Developing a Sustainable Society
A sustainable society is founded on equal access to health care, nutrition, clean water,
shelter, education, energy, economic opportunities and employment. Man live in
harmony with his natural environment, conserving resources not only for him, but also
for his children’s children. Each enjoys a high quality of life with equitable social justice.
Supporting Sustainable Business
Businesses are facing a new paradigm: do more to respect the environment, the well-
being of employees and the prospects of future generations; and also to improve
profitability, fund innovation and market share for the stakeholders.
Advances in Sustainable Technology and Development
New technologies and urban infrastructures, built with environmentally sound practices,
can support a sustainable, healthy and happy population.
Investigating Climate Change
Climate change is a major issue of sustainability. Debates on its impact continue to
dictate government policies, corporate decisions and individual actions.

Sustainable Development
A process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the
direction of investments, the orientation of technological
development and institutional change are all in harmony and
enhance both current and future potential to meet human
needs and aspirations .
It is a dynamic process which enables people to realise their
potential and improve their quality of life in ways which
simultaneously protect and enhance the earth's life support
systems.
It is about five key principles:
1. quality of life;
2. fairness and equity;
3. participation and partnership;
4. care for our environment and
5. respect for ecological constraints - recognising there are 'environmental
limits'; and thought for the future and the precautionary principle".

Environmental
Sustainability
Economic Sustainability Social Sustainability
Improvements in the
standard of living that
do not cause long-
term damage to
environment.
1. Development includes
everyone.
2. Everyone has the
right to economic
improvement.
3. Development should
be long-term without
corruption and burden
of debt.
1.Development is inclusive and
ensures an improvement in
the standard of living for all.
2.It incorporates everyone and
ensure equal access to
healthcare, education,
resources, etc. while
respecting individual cultures.
It includes:
1.Protecting
Biodiversity
2.Stopping Man-
induced Climate
Change
3.Eliminating Acid Rain
4.Eliminating Damage
to Ozone Layer
5.Reducing Pollution
(air, water, noise)
6.Management of
Resources e.g. Fish,
Water
It includes:
1. Access to Finance
2. No Corruption
3. No Absolute Poverty
4. No Extortion
5. No Nepotism
6. Debt Removal
It includes:
1. Freedom of Speech
2. Health and Safety at Work
Place
3. Access to Clean Water and
Sanitation
4. Access to Food, Dress and
Shelter
5. Access to Education
6. Access to Health Care
7. Equality between Sexes,
Religions, etc.
8. Right to Vote
9. Access to Justice
10. Safety from Crime
11. Respect of Cultures

Social Sustainability
1. It is a must for the preservation of mankind in the future.
2. The peace and sovereignty of the human societies must be maintained.
3. The law and order must be preserved and everyone should live by the social
values.
4. It helps to maintain the human sustainability in a proper society in future.
5. Failure will certainly lead to chaos and extinction of societies.
Environmental Sustainability
1. We depend on natural resources for everything and its continuous depletion exerts a
massive impact on environment.
2. Nature must be allowed time to re-generate to avoid degradation and scarcity of the
natural resources.
3. Growing pollution and waste materials degrades the environment.
4. Environmental sustainability is a must to prolong the life of earth and everything in it.
Economic Sustainability
1. It is having enough capital for a designated period of time.
2. Consumers should make sure that the capital lasts until the end of that time.
3. The main objective is to preserve the resources for future.
4. Production and regeneration of resources must be faster than the rate of
consumption, or at least equal to it.

Human Sustainability
1. It is the maintenance of human life, needed for reproduction and child-
bearing.
2. They should provide proper education, take care of their health and safety
and equip them with knowledge to sustain their own way of life.
3. When a child is fully functional and is able to sustain his own life, he
becomes a part of the cycle and thereby preserve human sustainability
1. All four types are interlinked.
2. As human, we exist within the economy,
which exists within the society, which
exists within the environment.
3. Humans are individuals with knowledge,
skills and actions to maintain the realms
of sustainability.
4. The concept emerged solely due to our
desire to survive on earth with future
generations.
5. Maintaining sustainability falls under our
own responsibilities, as benefits are
entirely for us.

Integrated Approach: “sustainable development embodies integration, and
understanding and acting on the complex interconnections that exist between
the environment, economy, and society”
Integrated Governance Integrated Business Model
Implementing Integrated
Sustainability

Waste Disposal leading to River Water Pollution
Thick Haze and Smoke along the Upper/Middle Ganga
Plain caused by –
1) aerosols from biomass burning in the NW India,
2) air pollution from large cities in Nn India, and
3) dust from deserts in Pakistan and Middle East.
Roadside Waste Disposal
INDIAN SCENARIO

Floods cause:
Soil Erosion,
Wetland Destruction,
Migration of Wastes
Public Dumping of Rubbish
along a Road
A Chulah pollutes air
resulting in health
hazards
The Taj Mahal
beside the Polluted Yamuna R.
Noise Pollution

India:Challengesof the21stCentury
Air Pollution, Poor Waste Management, Growing Water Scarcity, Falling GWT,
Water Pollution, Biodiversity Loss, Public Health Hazards, Livelihood Security for
the Poor, Natural Resource Depletion, Land / Soil Degradation.
Reasons are:
1. rampant burning of fuel wood and biomass as the primary source of
energy,
2. lack of organized waste removal services,
3. lack of sewage treatment operations,
4. lack of flood control and monsoon water drainage system,
5. diversion of consumer wastes, industrial effluents, etc directly into rivers,
6. cremation practices near major rivers,
7. Govt. protection of highly polluting old public transport, and
8. continued operation of Govt.-owned, high-emission plants built before 1980.
Some says that ─
India's Growing Population adds Stress/Pressure to Environmental Issues and
its Resources.
Others believe that ─
Economic Development is the key to improving India's Environmental
Management and preventing Pollution.

A Growing Population exerts pressure on Agricultural Land —
(1) causing Environmental Degradation, and
(2) forcing Cultivation of Land of poorer and poorer quality.
Eventually, this –
1) reduces yield and food availability,
2) causes famines, diseases, and death, and
3) acts as a major cause of air, water, and solid-waste pollution.
However, these can be mitigated through Economic Growth and Modern
Technology —
(1) increase in human knowledge,
(2) rapid increase in productivity,
(3) innovation and application of knowledge,
(4) improvements in farming methods (industrial agriculture),
(5) mechanisation and automation (to increase efficiency),
(6) use of chemical fertilizer / pesticides / and HYV seeds (wheat and others:
Green Revolution).
Population Density has little correlation to environmental quality and quality of life.
In 2011, India = 368 /km2 Singapore = 7148 /km2
Hong Kong =6349 /km2 England = 395 /km2
Lombardy =417/ km2 Japan =337/km2

Air Pollution
Domestic Fuel
1. 100+m HH use chullahs every day, 2–3 times/day, thereby producing smoke and
numerous indoor air pollutants at concentrations 5 times higher than coal.
2. Traditional fuel (fuelwood, crop residue and dung cake) dominates domestic energy use
in rural (90%) and also in urban India (24%).
3. Together, these release 165+m tons of combustion products into air every year, causing
health hazards.
Vehicle Emission
worsened by (a) fuel adulteration and (b) poor combustion efficiencies from traffic
congestion, poor road condition, low density of fuel, and very low high-speed road
network /’000 persons.
Cremation is another major factor for air pollution in India.
In 2009, India emitted –
1) 1.4 tons of gas/person (USA = 17.0, World = 5.3),
2) 1.65 Gt of CO2 /year (China = 6.9, USA = 5.2),
3) 5% of CO2 emission (China = 24%).
Although, the Prevention and Control of
Pollution Act was passed in 1981, in 2012 out
of 132 countries India ranked as one of the
poorest based on ‘environmental performance
index’.

Water Pollution
In India, major sources are: untreated sewerage and industrial effluents from cities and
industries. Major rivers are heavily polluted despite long-standing efforts by the government
and communities.
Poor Waste Management
1. Indian cities alone generate more than 100+m tons of solid waste a year.
2. Street corners are piled with trash.
3. Public places and sidewalks are despoiled with filth and litter.
4. Garbage is directly dumped into rivers / canals.
5. Solid waste landfills are overflowing, being sources of GHG emissions and breeding
sites for disease vectors, like flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches, rats, and other pests.
6. India's waste problem points to a stunning failure of governance
In 2000, Supreme Court directed all Indian Cities to implement a comprehensive ‘waste-
management programme’.
However, till now: about 40% of municipal waste remains uncollected, and even medical waste
is routinely dumped with regular municipal garbage.
In 2011, Cities, e.g., New Delhi embarked on waste-to-energy projects (Germany, Switzerland
and Japan). However, these are being opposed by waste collection workers and local unions
who fear changing technology may deprive them of their livelihood and way of life.
Cities like Pune are introducing privatization of solid waste collection, street cleaning operations
and bio-mining to dispose the waste through PPP-based Approach.

Ashoka’s View on Environment and Biodiversity
Animals were declared to be protected —
parrots, mainas, aruna, geese, wild ducks,
nandimukhas, gelatas, bats, queen ants,
terrapins, boneless fish, vedareyaka,
gangapuputaka, sankiya fish, tortoises,
porcupines, squirrels, deer, bulls, okapinda, wild
asses, wild pigeons, domesticpigeons and all 4-
footedcreatures that are neither useful nor
edible.
Also protected were —
nanny goats, ewes and sows which are with
young or giving milk to their young, and so are
young ones less than six months old.
Cocks are not to be caponised, husks/ forests not to
be burnt.
One animal is not to be fed to another. Our king killed
very few animals."
— Ashoka's Seven Pillar Edicts
Even, in MAHABHARATA, Bhisma suggested the Pandavas (while in forest exile) ―
1. not to remain in one place throughout the year
2. while living on hunting and food gathering they should change places with
seasons
3. prakriti or dharitri mata will get enough time to restore her own system.

Environmental Legislation in India
The British Regime
1) The Shore Nuisance (Bombay and Kolaba) Act of 1853,
2) The Oriental Gas Company Act of 1857,
3) The IPC (1860):
a) imposed a fine on anyone who voluntarily fouls the water of any
public spring or reservoir,
b) penalised negligent acts.
4) the Bengal Smoke Nuisance Act of 1905,
5) the Bombay Smoke Nuisance Act of 1912.
Thus, the British-enacted legislations pioneered the growth of environmental
regulations in India.
Post-independence Period
1) India adopted a constitution containing numerous British-enacted laws
2) India amended its constitution in 1976:
Article 48(A) of Part IV: The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the
environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
Article 51 A(g) imposed additional environmental mandates on the Indian state.
3) Enacted:
a) the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974,
b) the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, and
c) the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981 (after Stockholm Conference).

In 1985, Indian Govt. created the MoEF for regulating and ensuring environmental
protection.
The Bhopal Gas Tragedy triggered the enactment of Environment Protection Act (1986).
Since late 1980s, the Supreme Court of India has been pro-actively engaged in India's
environmental issues by
a) laying down new principles to protect the environment,
b) re-interpreting environmental laws,
c) creating new institutions and structures, and
d) conferring additional powers on the existing ones through a series of
directions and judgments.
Despite legislation, the environmental quality mostly worsened between 1947-1990:
a) most of Indian economy was nationalised and owned by India,
b) regulations were mostly ignored by state run enterprises.
c) rural poor had no choice, but to sustain life in whatever way possible.
d) air emissions increased, water pollution worsened, and forest cover
decreased.
1) This prompted Civil Society Groups to file PIL with the Courts for suitable remedies.
2) Since 1990s, reforms were introduced, and since then major air pollutant
concentrations shows decline in every 5 year period.
3) Enactment of a set of Noise Pollution (Regulation & Control) Rules (2000).
4) Between 1992 - 2010, satellite data confirms India's forest coverage has increased
for the first time by over 4 million ha (+7%).

The Supreme Court has delivered a new ‘normative regime of
rights’.
It insisted that the State cannot act arbitrarily but must act
reasonably and in public interest.
But, it produced some adverse consequences:
1. PILs are repeatedly filed to block infrastructure projects, e.g., water works,
expressways, land acquisition for projects, and power generation
projects.
2. The litigation routinely delays such projects while rampant pollution
continues.
3. Even after a stay is vacated, new issues become grounds for court notices
and new public interest litigations.
Thus, judicial activism has made —
1) state-directed economic development ineffective and
2) a failure to reduce environmental pollution.

Thus, the need of the moment –
is
Sustainable Development/ Green Development
to
satisfy our basic human needs and improve our quality
of life.
by
 helping the poorest who are left with no option but to exploit their
local habitat/ environment for survival
 executing the idea of self-reliant development with natural capital
 applying the cost effective development that won’t degrade
environment
 considering the issues of health control, appropriate technologies,
food self-reliance, clean water and shelter for all, and

Geography has 5 Fundamental Themes —
Location: position on the earth’s surface
Place: physical and human characteristics
Relationships within Places: man – environment
Movement: human interaction on the earth
Regions: how they form and change
Earth – in relation to – Man: Physical Geography
Man – in relation to – Earth: Human Geography
It seeks —
1.to classify, compare, and generalize phenomena
1.to ascend from effects to causes, and in doing so,
2.to trace the Laws of Nature and
3.to mark their influences upon man.
This is simply 'a description of the world‘.
It is thus a Science of ‘Argument and Reason’, of ‘Cause and Effect’ as
well.

Description: of Spatial Organization of Man-Environment
Interactions on the Earth Surface.
Essentially, it concerns the issues related to the Habitat, Economy
and Society of Man.
Hence, the “development and its sustainability on space-time
frame” constitute the obvious goals of any ‘geographical
analysis’.
As human, we have the fundamental right to freedom, equality and
adequate conditions of life, in an environment of equality that permits a
life of dignity and well-being with dualism and dichotomies ̶
1. Conservation versus Growth.
2. Freedom versus Control.
3. Centralization versus Decentralization.
4. Reformism versus Revolution.
In the end,
We will conserve only what we love,
We will love only what we understand, and
We will understand only what we are taught to protect Life on our Planet Earth.

Thank You All
Prof. Ashis Sarkar, M.Sc., W.B.S.E.S.
Editor-in-Chief: Indian Journal of Spatial Science
editorijss2012@gmail.com
www.indiansss.org
profdrashis@gmail.com
+91 98365 52173

Development, Environment and Sustainabilty–the triumvirate on Geographical Frame

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