Environmental Degradation: Issues and Concerns in India

CM Lakshmana, PRC unit ISEC

Degradation of the environment today not only impacts human health but also has a negative influence on the global environment. Rapid population growth has been the main cause of environmental degradation. For instance due to the rapid increase of motor vehicles in India, the emissions have grown with the population. India has only 2.4 per cent of the total land area of the world, but, is home to 16.7 per cent of the world’s population. With this in mind, an attempt has been made in the present investigation to understand the environmental degradation causes by the growth of the population in India and its States. The three major aspects like deforestation, growth of industries and growth of registered motor vehicles have been selected for the study. A detailed investigation has been done to understand the state-wise environmental degradation and to link it with population growth. Further an attempt has been made to prepare an environmental degradation index (EDI) by using appropriate methodology.