Environmental Management

Programme: B. Tech
Course Code: BCEOE802
 Syllabus: Module 1

• Ecosystem Concepts
• Environmental Concerns in India
• Principles of Environmental Management
• Policy and Legal Aspects of Environmental Management
• Environmental Policies, Laws and Legislations
 Sir Arthur G. Tansley coined the term
ecosystem in 1935

An ecosystem is the basic functional unit and Environment vs Ecosystem

consists of both biotic and abiotic components;
each influencing the properties of other and are • Environment refers to the surroundings, whereas,
necessary for sustenance of earth. The abiotic ecosystem is the interaction between the environment
component consists of the various organic and the living organisms.
compounds, inorganic elements and compounds • Environment is the area where living organisms live.
Ecosystem is the community where the biotic and
such as air, water, oxygen, carbonates, phosphates,
abiotic elements interact with each other.
etc.
 Biotic

Primary Producers Consumers

Autotrophs Heterotrophs

Primary Secondary Tertiary Decomposers

Herbivorous: Cow, deer, goats, etc. Omnivores/ Top Carnivores: Lions, Detrivores: Consists of
Depend upon green plants for food Carnivores: Crows, Tigers, etc. & prey bacteria/fungi which
foxes, dogs, etc upon the herbivores & decompose dead to nutrients
omnivores for assimilation by plants
Energy flow: It is movement of energy through an ecosystem from the external
environment through a series of organisms and back to the external environment.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_flow_%28ecology%29#/media/File:Diagram_of_Trophic_Layers_&_Energy_Transfer_in_an_Ecosystem.svg
 Food Chain

A food chain is a linear diagram describing the flow of

energy through an ecosystem. It shows only one pathway
out of the many possibilities in a specific ecosystem.

There are two types of food chains:

• The grazing food chain, beginning with autotrophs, and

the detrital food chain, beginning with dead organic
matter. In a grazing food chain, energy and nutrients
move from plants to the herbivores consuming them, and
to the carnivores or omnivores preying upon the
herbivores.
• In a detrital / detritus food chain, dead organic matter
of plants and animals is broken down by decomposers,
e.g., bacteria and fungi, and moves to detritivores and
then carnivores.
 Food Web

Food web offers an important tool for investigating the

ecological interactions that define energy flows and
predator-prey relationship. It describes the relationship —
links or connections — amongst the species in an
ecosystem,

Applications:

• Food web could be utilized to describe species

interactions (direct relationships) through feeding
relationships.
• Food webs can be used to illustrate indirect interactions
among species.
• Food webs can be used to reveal different patterns of
energy transfer in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems
 Environmental Concerns in India
• Population explosion and its associative strain which negates the positive impacts of various development
schemes.
• Rapid growth of domesticated animals and simultaneous loss of area under grasslands and pastures.
• Land degradation caused due to wind, water, salinity, river action which renders land unusable. Such cases
require special treatment to restore them for productive use.
• Decrease in forest area due to over exploitation, over grazing both for commercial and personal benefits,
encroachments, unsustainable practices and development activities such as roads, buildings, irrigation and power
projects. ?
• The wetland area which are rich in marine ecology and bird life are facing tremendous problems due to pollution
and exploitation.
• Major rivers are facing problems of pollution load (makes water unfit for human consumption) and siltation.
• Coastline under stress due to erosion, uncontrolled construction activities (for tourism and fishing) and waste
discharge. Additionally, the mangrove forests are also facing extinction.
• Quality of ground water getting deteriorated due to percolation of pollutants and over use leading to depletion of
ground water reserves with no availability of ground water recharge systems.
• Pollution arising from toxic wastes and non-degradable waste products are leading to detrimental health
problems, pollution and land degradation.
• Liberalization of the economy has led to increased domestic consumption which leads to stress and depletion of
the natural resources
 Environmental Management
Environmental management discusses such activities which improve the beneficial links and
minimize adverse effects in the resource system and their environments. It also simultaneously
seeks to attain a desirable environmental state which is in line with the community
perceptions and desires, under prevailing socio­economic and technological conditions.

OR

It can be defined as a process to improve the relationship between the human beings and the
environment, which may be achieved through check on destructive activities of man,
conservation, protection, regulation and regeneration of nature.

Example: Consider an industry discharging toxic pollutants into the environment. (on the
contrary provides employment, raw materials, etc.). How do we manage it ?
Shall it be closed ?
Shall it be running ?
Objective: Environmental Management
The environmental management has a very wide scope of application as it covers both
the stability of biosphere/ecosystem as well as the associated socio-economic factors

• Identify and find solution to an environmental problem.

• Formulate laws for the implementation of environmental protection and
conservation.
• Restrict/Regulate the exploitation/utilization of natural resources.
• Control/monitor environmental pollution and regenerate the degraded
environment.
• Assess the impacts of proposed projects and activities on the environment.
• Identifying environmentally sound technologies or policies.
Principles: Environmental Management
These are some guiding principles of environmental management and are
helpful in environmental decision making.

• Polluter Pays Principle

• User Pays Principle
• Precautionary Principle
• Principle of Effectiveness and Efficiency
• Principle of Responsibility
• Principle of Participation
• Principle of Proportionality
• Polluter Pays Principle (PPP)
 It suggests entities discharging polluting effluents to the environment should be made to pay a
price for such discharges which should be proportional to the amount of environmental damage
caused. Thus it includes environmental costs as well as direct costs to people or property.

 In fact, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggests PPP as
one of the basis for environmental policy making.

 According to OECD “The principle to be used for allocating costs of pollution prevention and
control measures to encourage rational use of scarce environmental resources and to avoid
distortions in international trade and investment is the so-called Polluter Pays Principle.”

• The User Pays Principle (UPP)

 It is considered as a part of the PPP. This principle states that all resource users should pay for
the full long-run marginal cost of the use of a resource and related services, including any
associated treatment costs. It is applied when resources are being used and consumed.
 Example: Industries involved in mineral excavation, Pharma Industries utilizing water
resources
• The Precautionary Principle
 The main objective of the precautionary principle is to ensure the prevention of any
substance or activity posing adverse effect towards the environment, even if there is no
conclusive scientific proof of linking that particular substance or activity to environmental
damage. The words ‘substance’ and ‘activity’ are the results of human intervention.

 The Rio Declaration emphasizes on this principle, wherein it is provided that where there
are threats of serious or irreversible damage. Lack of full scientific certainty shall not be
used as a reason for postponing cost effective measures to prevent environmental
degradation.

• Principle of Effectiveness and Efficiency

 It is considered as a part of the PPP. This principle states that all resource users should pay
for the full long-run marginal cost of the use of a resource and related services, including
any associated treatment costs. It is applied when resources are being used and consumed.
 Example: Industries involved in mineral excavation, Pharma Industries utilizing water
resources
• The Principle of Responsibility
 It is the responsibility of all persons, corporations and states to maintain the ecological
processes. Further, access to environmental resources carries responsibilities to use them in an
ecological sustainable, economically efficient and socially fair manner.

• The Principle of Participation

 It is the duty of all the persons to participate in collectively environmental decision making
activities. Some participation areas are

 The first issue relates to the use of trees and other plants, minerals, soils, fish
and wildlife for purposes such as materials and food as well as for
consumptive and non-consumptive recreation. These resources should be
utilized in a sustainable manner for the society to develop as a whole.
 The second issue concerns solid waste i.e. garbage, construction and
demolition materials and chemically hazardous waste etc.
 The third issue of participation is related to pollution generating activities.
• The Principle of Proportionality: The principle of proportionality is based on the concept of
balance.
 Balance should be maintained b/w economic development and environmental protection.
 No development is possible without some adverse effects on ecology. Therefore, it is essential
to adjust the interest of the people as well as the necessity to maintain the environment.

Green and sustainable development should be priority

Development

Environment
 Environmental Policy
• The commitment of the Government on abatement of pollution for preventing deterioration of the
environment is called as Environmental Policy.
• The policy elements seeks to shift emphasis from defining objectives for each problem area towards
actual implementation including long term vision document to forecast the sustainable utilization of
natural resources.
Need

Establish the organizational commitment towards

Environmental improving its environmental performance
Problems Communicate the organization's mission, vision and
beliefs towards the environment to the staff and other
Air Water Soil Biodiversity interested parties
Provide a framework for guiding the organization's
ongoing environmental improvement efforts.
Objectives

 Prevent pollution at source.

 Encourage, develop and apply the best available technical

solutions.

 Ensure that the polluter pays for the pollution and control
arrangement.

 Focus protection on heavily polluted areas and river

stretches.

 Involve the public in decision making.

 Environmental Standards

The present standards are based on the concentrations of pollutants in

effluents and emission. The norms will be revised to lay down mass-based
standards, which will set specific limits to encourage the minimization of
waste, promote recycling and reuse of materials as well as conservation of
natural resources.

Standards will not merely be a regulatory tool but will be a mechanism to

promote technological upgradation to prevent pollution, conserve resources
and regulate waste. For this purpose, code of practice and guidelines will be
evolved for specific processes.
The environmental effects from production to disposal of
product that are hazardous and toxic will be taken into
account in the regulations.

Regulations of liability and compensation for damages will

supplement standards to promote greater care and caution,
particularly the management of hazardous wastes and
remedial action in case of contamination of soil and ground
water.
Fiscal Measures

This is another step to give industries and consumers clear signals about the
cost of using environmental and natural resources. The expectation is that
market-oriented price mechanisms will influence behaviour to avoid excessive
use of natural resources.

There are several fiscal incentives for installation of pollution control

equipment and for shifting polluting industries from congested areas. The
items for which excise and customs rebate are allowed will be reviewed. This
will stimulate the advancement of abatement technologies and create
increased demand for the products.

These instruments will also have a distributive effect as the revenues will be
used for enforcement, collective treatment facilities, research and promoting
new investment.
Integration

Critical pollution areas for control of pollution come under different departments and levels
of Government. Sectoral Ministries, state government, local bodies and agencies responsible
for planning and implementation of development projects will be required to integrate
environmental concerns more effectively in all policy areas.

Policy making, legislation and law enforcement influence each other. The increase in the
number of regulations increases difficulties in enforcement. Legislation regulating particular
activities will be amended to incorporate and eliminate clashes with environmental criteria.

Traditional instruments for monitoring of compliance and investigation of offences are

becoming over-burdened. An integrated overview and organizational structure for
decentralized environment impact assessment and environmental law enforcement based on
cooperation with local authorities will be sought.
Environmental Audit

Industrial concerns and local bodies should feel they have a responsibility for
abatement of pollution.

The procedure of an environmental statement will be introduced in local bodies,

statutory authorities and public limited companies to evaluate the effect of their policies,
operations and activities on the environment, particularly compliance with standards and
the generation and recycling of waste.

An annual statement will help in

identifying and focusing attention on areas of concern
practices that need to be changed and
plans to deal with adverse effects.
Environmental Statistics
The collection and integration of environmental, economic and health data will be
done to determine the status and to develop a concise set of environmental indicators
for monitoring the effects of pollution. Information and access to the public are
essential so that everyone knows what is happening to the environment.

Public Partnership
The public must be made aware in order to be able top make informed choices.

A high governmental priority will be to educate citizens about environmental risks, the
economic and health dangers of resource degradation and the real cost of natural
resources.

A system of certification of goods that are environmentally friendly will set up to make
available information to encourage environmental consciousness amongst consumers.

Greater emphasis will be placed on promoting awareness.

Environmental laws

In the Constitution of India it is clearly stated that it is the duty of the state to ‘protect and improve the
environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country’.

It imposes a duty on every citizen ‘to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers,
and wildlife’.

Reference to the environment has also been made in the Directive Principles of State Policy as well as the
Fundamental Rights.

The Department of Environment was established in India in 1980 to ensure a healthy environment for the country.
This later became the Ministry of Environment and Forests in 1985.

The constitutional provisions are backed by a number of laws – acts, rules, and notifications.

The EPA (Environment Protection Act), 1986 came into force soon after the Bhopal Gas Tragedy and is
considered an umbrella legislation as it fills many gaps in the existing laws. Thereafter a large number of laws
came into existence as the problems began arising, for example, Handling and Management of Hazardous Waste
Rules in 1989.
 Environmental Policy In India
National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning was set up in 1972 which was later evolved
into Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) in 1985.

MoEF along with the pollution control boards (CPCB i.e. Central Pollution Control Board and SPCBs
i.e. State Pollution Control Boards) together form the regulatory and administrative core of the sector.

The Policy Statement for Abatement of Pollution and the National Conservation Strategy and Policy
Statement on Environment and Development were brought out by the MoEF in 1992.

The EAP (Environmental Action Programme) was formulated in 1993 with the objective of improving
environmental services and integrating environmental considerations into development programmes.
 National Environment Policy, 2006

It the first initiative in strategy-formulation for environmental protection in a comprehensive

manner.

It undertakes a diagnosis of the causative factors of land degradation with a view to flagging
the remedial measures required in this direction.

It recognizes that the relevant fiscal, tariffs and sectoral policies need to take explicit account
of their unintentional impacts on land degradation.

Scrutinizes the solutions offered to tackle the problem and facilitates adoption of both, science-
based and traditional land-use practices, pilot-scale demonstrations, large scale dissemination,
adoption of Multi-stakeholder partnerships, promotion of agro-forestry, organic farming,
environmentally sustainable cropping patterns and adoption of efficient irrigation techniques.
Following is a list of the environmental legislations that have come
into effect:

General

1986 - The Environment (Protection) Act authorizes the central

government to protect and improve environmental quality, control and
reduce pollution from all sources, and prohibit or restrict the setting and
/or operation of any industrial facility on environmental grounds.

1986 - The Environment (Protection) Rules lay down procedures for

setting standards of emission or discharge of environmental pollutants.
1989 - The objective of Hazardous Waste (Management and Handling) Rules
is to control the generation, collection, treatment, import, storage, and handling of
hazardous waste.

1989 - The Manufacture, Storage, and Import of Hazardous Rules define the
terms used in this context, and sets up an authority to inspect, once a year, the
industrial activity connected with hazardous chemicals and isolated storage
facilities.

1989 - The Manufacture, Use, Import, Export, and Storage of hazardous

Micro-organisms/ Genetically Engineered Organisms or Cells Rules were
introduced with a view to protect the environment, nature, and health, in
connection with the application of gene technology and microorganisms.
1991 - The Public Liability Insurance Act and Rules and Amendment,
1992 was drawn up to provide for public liability insurance for the purpose
of providing immediate relief to the persons affected by accident while
handling any hazardous substance.

1995 - The National Environmental Tribunal Act has been created to

award compensation for damages to persons, property, and the
environment arising from any activity involving hazardous substances.

1997 - The National Environment Appellate Authority Act has been

created to hear appeals with respect to restrictions of areas in which
classes of industries etc. are carried out or prescribed subject to certain
safeguards under the EPA.
1998 - The Biomedical waste (Management and Handling) Rules is a legal
binding on the health care institutions to streamline the process of proper
handling of hospital waste such as segregation, disposal, collection, and
treatment.

1999 - The Environment (Siting for Industrial Projects) Rules, 1999 lay
down detailed provisions relating to areas to be avoided for siting of
industries, precautionary measures to be taken for site selecting as also the
aspects of environmental protection which should have been incorporated
during the implementation of the industrial development projects.
The Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules, 2000 apply to
every municipal authority responsible for the collection, segregation, storage,
transportation, processing, and disposal of municipal solid wastes.

2000 - The Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules have
been laid down for the regulation of production and consumption of ozone depleting
substances.

The Batteries (Management and Handling) Rules, 2001 rules shall apply to every
manufacturer, importer, re-conditioner, assembler, dealer, auctioneer, consumer, and
bulk consumer involved in the manufacture, processing, sale, purchase, and use of
batteries or components so as to regulate and ensure the environmentally safe disposal
of used batteries.
2002 - The Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) (Amendment) Rules lay
down such terms and conditions as are necessary to reduce noise pollution,
permit use of loud speakers or public address systems during night hours
(between 10:00 p.m. to 12:00 midnight) on or during any cultural or religious
festive occasion

2002 - The Biological Diversity Act is an act to provide for the conservation of
biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable
sharing of the benefits arising out of the use of biological resources and
knowledge associated with it
Forest and wildlife

1927 - The Indian Forest Act and Amendment, 1984, is one of the many
surviving colonial statutes. It was enacted to ‘consolidate the law related to
forest, the transit of forest produce, and the duty leviable on timber and other
forest produce’.

1972 - The Wildlife Protection Act, Rules 1973 and Amendment 1991
provides for the protection of birds and animals and for all matters that are
connected to it whether it be their habitat or the waterhole or the forests that
sustain them.

1980 - The Forest (Conservation) Act and Rules, 1981, provides for the
protection of and the conservation of the forests.
Water

1882 - The Easement Act allows private rights to use a resource that is, groundwater,
by viewing it as an attachment to the land. It also states that all surface water belongs
to the state and is a state property.

1897 - The Indian Fisheries Act establishes two sets of penal offences whereby the
government can sue any person who uses dynamite or other explosive substance in
any way (whether coastal or inland) with intent to catch or destroy any fish or
poisonous fish in order to kill.

1956 - The River Boards Act enables the states to enroll the central government in
setting up an Advisory River Board to resolve issues in inter-state cooperation.
1970 - The Merchant Shipping Act aims to deal with waste arising from ships
along the coastal areas within a specified radius.

1974 - The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act establishes an

institutional structure for preventing and abating water pollution. It establishes
standards for water quality and effluent. Polluting industries must seek
permission to discharge waste into effluent bodies. The CPCB (Central Pollution
Control Board) was constituted under this act.

1977 - The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act provides
for the levy and collection of cess or fees on water consuming industries and
local authorities.
1978 - The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Rules
contains the standard definitions and indicate the kind of and location of
meters that every consumer of water is required to affix.

1991 - The Coastal Regulation Zone Notification puts regulations on

various activities, including construction, are regulated. It gives some
protection to the backwaters and estuaries.
Air
1948 – The Factories Act and Amendment in 1987 was the first to express concern for the
working environment of the workers. The amendment of 1987 has sharpened its
environmental focus and expanded its application to hazardous processes.

1981 - The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act provides for the control and
abatement of air pollution. It entrusts the power of enforcing this act to the CPCB .

1982 - The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Rules defines the procedures of the
meetings of the Boards and the powers entrusted to them.

1982 - The Atomic Energy Act deals with the radioactive waste.

1987 - The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Act empowers the
central and state pollution control boards to meet with grave emergencies of air pollution.

1988 - The Motor Vehicles Act states that all hazardous waste is to be properly packaged,
labeled, and transported.