MEV 017: Unit 08 – General Laws and Programmes for Environmental Protection

-

 UNIT 8: GENERAL LAWS AND PROGRAMMES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

8.1 Introduction

Environmental protection is not limited to specific environmental laws alone. A comprehensive legal framework includes both direct and indirect laws and public health programmes that contribute significantly to the goal of a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. In India, various general laws and national programmes have been enacted to address environmental and public health issues. These include food safety laws, pest control, sanitation, and disease control initiatives that indirectly or directly help in protecting the environment and ensuring ecological balance.

8.2 Objectives

After studying this unit, you will be able to:

  • Understand the indirect or general laws that contribute to environmental protection.
  • Analyze the role of public health programmes in environmental and human well-being.
  • Evaluate key laws such as the Food Safety Act, Insecticide Act, and Fertilizer Control Order.
  • Examine environmental labelling and quarantine regulations.
  • Appreciate the integrated approach of law and policy toward environmental sustainability.

8.3 Environmental Laws

While India has specific laws like the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Air Act, and Water Act, there are also general laws that, although not originally framed for environmental protection, have significant environmental relevance.

8.4 General Laws for Environmental Protection

These laws help reduce environmental degradation by regulating the use of chemicals, ensuring food safety, and preventing contamination.

8.4.1 Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954

  • Aimed at protecting the public from consuming contaminated, unsafe, or misbranded food.
  • Prevents the use of harmful additives, pesticides, and other toxic substances in food.
  • Promotes hygiene in food manufacturing and distribution.
  • Although a public health law, it indirectly controls environmental pollution by setting limits on toxic substances.

8.4.2 Essential Commodities Act, 1955

  • Empowers the government to regulate the production and supply of essential goods.
  • Helps prevent hoarding and black-marketing.
  • Environmental relevance: ensures safe and legal handling of food, fuels, fertilizers, and other materials that may pollute land and water if mismanaged.

8.4.3 Insecticides Act, 1968

  • Regulates the import, manufacture, sale, and use of insecticides.
  • Seeks to ensure the use of pesticides does not cause harm to humans and the environment.
  • Mandates labelling, testing, and licensing of insecticide products.

8.4.4 Fertilizer Control Order, 1985

  • Introduced under the Essential Commodities Act.
  • Ensures fertilizers meet quality standards and are safe for agricultural use.
  • Prevents contamination of soil and water due to substandard or excessive use of chemical fertilizers.

8.4.5 Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006

  • Replaced the older Food Adulteration Act.
  • Establishes the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI).
  • Sets scientific standards for food articles and regulates their manufacture, storage, distribution, sale, and import.
  • Directly contributes to environmental safety by monitoring food chain contamination and encouraging organic and eco-friendly farming.

8.5 Programmes for Environmental Protection

In addition to legal frameworks, various health and environmental programmes have been launched by the Government of India to address pollution, public health, and environmental sustainability.

8.5.1 National Health Policy, 2002

  • Aimed at providing equitable access to healthcare services.
  • Emphasizes sanitation, clean water, and air as essential health determinants.
  • Supports environmental sustainability through preventive healthcare strategies.

8.5.2 National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)

  • Launched in 2005 to provide accessible and affordable healthcare in rural India.
  • Promotes environmental hygiene, safe drinking water, and improved sanitation.
  • Addresses vector-borne and waterborne diseases through environmental interventions.

8.5.3 National Vector-borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP)

  • Focuses on diseases like malaria, dengue, and chikungunya that thrive in poor environmental conditions.
  • Implements environmental control methods like fogging, water management, and waste disposal.

8.5.4 National Tobacco Control Programme (NTCP)

  • Aims to reduce the health and environmental hazards of tobacco.
  • Addresses air pollution caused by tobacco smoke and littering of tobacco products.

8.5.5 National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis

  • Targets health issues due to excess fluoride in drinking water.
  • Works on environmental purification and access to clean water.

8.5.6 National Iodine Deficiency Disorders Control Programme

  • Ensures iodized salt availability to prevent goitre and related disorders.
  • Promotes healthy nutrition and supports environment-friendly food production and distribution systems.

8.6 Plant Quarantine and Animal Quarantine

Quarantine regulations help in preventing the spread of pests and diseases that can have disastrous effects on local ecosystems.

  • Plant Quarantine: Prevents entry of exotic pests that could damage native flora and agriculture.
  • Animal Quarantine: Regulates livestock movement to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases.

These measures ensure that environmental integrity is maintained by regulating biological imports and exports.

8.7 Environmental Labels

Environmental labelling allows consumers to make informed decisions about eco-friendly products. It also encourages industries to follow sustainable practices.

8.7.1 Ecomark

  • Introduced in 1991 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).
  • A voluntary certification scheme that labels products meeting specific environmental criteria.
  • Covers products like cosmetics, detergents, paper, food items, etc.
  • Promotes sustainable consumption and green product manufacturing.

8.8 Let Us Sum Up

Environmental protection in India is not limited to pollution control acts. A wide network of general laws and public health programmes contributes significantly to environmental conservation.

Key general laws like the Food Safety Act, Insecticides Act, and Fertilizer Control Order help regulate substances that could pollute the environment. Similarly, national health programmes improve public health by addressing environmental determinants like clean water, sanitation, and disease control.

Quarantine measures and eco-labelling systems add to the nation’s multi-layered environmental governance structure. Together, these frameworks aim to ensure sustainable development, ecological protection, and the health of present and future generations.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

Jcert Class 8 Daffodil Chapter 1a: The Naive Friends Solutions

-
Chapter 1a : The Naive Friends Answer the following questions: 1. Which questions made Keshav and Shyama curious about the egg? Ans.         How did the chick come out? How big would the eggs? How many? What colours would they? What did they eat? Such types of questions made Keshav and Shyama curious about the egg. 2. What three things did the children do to protect the eggs? Ans.         The children done three things are: (i)          Adjustment of food. (ii)        Adjustment of water. (iii)      Adjustment of roof. 3. Why did Keshav think of making a cushion for the eggs? Ans.         When Keshav saw the egg on direct sun light, he thaught making a cushion for the eggs. 4. What excuse did Keshav give for not showing the eggs to Shyama? Ans.     ...
Read more

Jcert Class 8 भाषा मंजरी Chapter 3 मित्रता Solutions

-
अध्याय - 3 : मित्रता 1. आप किस प्रकार कह सकते हैं कि मित्रों के चुनाव की उपयुक्तता पर हमारे जीवन की सफलता निर्भर करती है? उ. मित्रों के चुनाव की उपयुक्तता पर हमारे जीवन की सफलता निर्भर करती है क्योंकि संगति का गुप्त प्रभाव हमारे आचरण पर पड़ता है और यदि हमें अच्छी संगति, अच्छे मित्र मिलते हैं तो वे हमें सफलता की ओर ले जाते हैं जबकि बुरी संगति हमारे जीवन को खाक में मिला देती है।  2. 'विश्वासपात्र मित्र जीवन की एक औषध है।' आशय स्पष्ट कीजिए। उ. 'विश्वासपात्र मित्र जीवन की एक औषध है'- ऐसा इसलिए कहा गया है कि यदि हमें विश्वासी मित्र मिल गया तो हम अपने जीवन में चाहे जैसा भी कदम उठाएँ, उस कदम की आलोचना करके वह हमें सही दिशा की ओर उन्मुख करेगा। हम अपनी गलती रूपी बीमारी को उसकी आलोचना रूपी औषधि से दूर कर सकेंगे।  3. मित्र का चुनाव करते समय हमें किन बातों का ध्यान रखना चाहिए? उ. मित्र का चुनाव करते समय हमें निम्नलिखित बातों का ध्यान रखना चाहिए हमारे अच्छे विचारों (संकल्पों) को दृढ़ करने वाला हो। हमें दोषों और त्रुटियों से बचाए। हमारे सत्य, पवित्रता ...
Read more

Jcert Class 8 भाषा मंजरी Chapter 8 अमरूद का पेड Solutions

-
अध्याय - 8 : अमरूद का पेड 1. लेखक को क्यों लगता है कि इन सब पिछड़े खयालातों का हमारे घर में गुजर नहीं हो सकेगा। उ. अमरूद के पेड़ को देखकर सबसे पहले बाबू कन्हैयालाल की बूढ़ी पत्नी ने एक दिन टोका कि पश्चिम की तरफ अगर मकान का मुखड़ा हो और सामने ही अमरूद का पेड़ तो 'राम-राम बड़ा अशुभ होता है और माँ के चेहरे पर थोड़ा-सा भय दिखा पर लेखक को विश्वास था कि इन सब पिछड़े खयालातों का हमारे घर में गुजर नहीं हो सकेगा क्योंकि उसके घर के लोग आधुनिक विचारधारा के थे उसकी माँ सत्याग्रह के दिनों में अजमेर में लम्बा जेल कर चुकी है। पिताजी खुद राजनैतिक सामाजिक उदारता वाले आदमी थे। बुआ ने विवाह नहीं किया था, पढ़ने-लिखने में ही अपनी सम्पूर्ण जिन्दगी लगा दी और समाज कोई चुनौती देने का साहस नहीं कर सका। साथ ही परिवार के सभी लोगों में पिछड़ेपन के प्रति भर्त्सना का भाव था। 2. अमरूद के पेड़ की छाया किस प्रकार लेखक को उनके भाई-बहनों के साथ जोड़ती है ? उ. अमरूद के पेड़ की छाया लेखक को उसके भाई-बहनों के साथ जोड़ती है। वे सभी अमरूद की छाया में बेंत की कुर्सियों पर बैठ चर्चाएँ करते थे जिससे उनके बीच...
Read more