The state of India’s environment:
reflecting its underdevelopment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v8n3.2017.27461Abstract
This essay takes stock of major environmental problems of contemporary India, and speculates on the relationship between economic (underdevelopment) and environmental outcomes. The continuation of the poverty and underdevelopment in the country seem to have shaped the nature of environmental problems that are faced by India. Open defecation and burning of biomass for cooking continue to be major sources of pollution. On the other hand, India’s economic growth is driven by service-sector, and hence industry-led pollution has not increased to a level that can be expected in a developing country which has witnessed an above 5 percent economic growth during the last three decades. The paper concludes with a relook at the possible relationship between human development and environment, and possible strategies which are needed for sustainable development.
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