Prof M. Junaid Jazib
Industrialization, urbanization, technological advancement, increased productivity, infrastructural layouts, improved basic amenities, higher levels of facilities, etc. are believed to be the indicators as well as the tools of man’s socio-economic development which refers to improving the overall welfare of a people by raising their living standard. The landmark Industrial revolution of 18th century (and the technological advancement thereafter) has proved to be a boon for the entire humanity. It not only made our life much comfortable and relaxed but had changed the pace and style of our life altogether. Similar is the case with all other dimensions of the development (be it in agricultural sector, power generation, communication or any other form of advancement) and with each one of them man has been provided with added essence of life and reduced sufferings. The Development or the progress (in the field of science and technology in particular, and in socioeconomic spheres in general) is thus indispensable for our reverential survival and wellbeing. Analytically, the process of development is an outcome of the directed human activities in and essentially involving various elements of his natural environment. It thus requires inputs of two types of resources viz., human resources and environmental resources which are directly associated with man’s survival and his socioeconomic development. Environmental factors/resources involved in the process of development consist of renewable and non-renewable natural resources. In other words it is but exploration and exploitation of environmental resources (this being not a newer phenomenon, rather man is drawing all his sustenance, since his existence on the planet, from his environment). Nature has been generously providing man with all his needs and necessities, purifying itself of the impurities added to it, undoing the losses and reversing the repairable damages done to it by man. In fact man’s survival and his socio-economic development is not possible without proper, perfect and proficient use of environmental resources, thus rendering it mandatory for humans to use and utilize the natural resources they are endowed with by the Almighty but not to be exploited greedily, haphazardly and dishonorably. They require to be utilized justly, honestly, honorably and fairly so that the objective of human survival as well as human welfare is met aptly and gracefully. In the past, notwithstanding ample availability of resources in nature, man also respected and valued the environment and whatever it contains (i.e. all other forms of life) and despite drawing his subsistence from it he never harmed it to the extent beyond the scope of nature’s self-repairing-mechanism.
But with the new trends in our developmental outlook and drastic changes in our attitude and approach towards natural resources (including land, water and air i.e. environment), we started, in near past, the exploitation of our environment recklessly, forgetting all ethics and moral codes which prevailed in the past. We are ruthlessly using these resources in the name of so called development ( and that too) in such a manner that it brings less advantage and more nuisances in the form of various kinds of pollutions and waste generation besides resulting in the scarcity of natural resources.
In our context (in the state of J&K) lot of changes have been brought about under the banner of so-called development since independence. Be it infrastructural layout, industrial growth, technological adaptations, mining, power generation, urbanization or any other developmental aspect; on every front we have advanced, but each of such activities has also brought severe environmental problems of one kind or the other. As developmental dimensions are varied, their environmental impacts are also diverse in nature and magnitude. Lush green forests have been cleared for agricultural, infrastructural, constructional and number of other purposes. River Tawi in Jammu and Jehlum in Srinagar are being used as sinks for municipal and industrial wastes, which include large amounts of hazardous substances. Air and water pollutions are on a regular rise in both the cities. Vehicular pollution is no less significant. Dal and Wular lakes have receded to less than the half of their original areas and encroachments are widening on all sides. The state of Jammu and Kashmir has diverse climatic and geographic regions and hence represents a mini world of biodiversity. The much highlighted Mughal Road across the Pir Panjal range is paving the way for the removal of leftover treasure of biodiversity in the area. Besides, with spreading urbanization there are originating innumerable health and sanitation problems. One need to give a thought that what sort of development it is which ostensibly aims at human welfare but factually endangers his existence by eliminating his life-sustaining resources and destroying/polluting his abode and environs
Undoubtedly development is as essential as any other life-sustaining-activity. Natural resources are meant to be explored and exploited. If they are not accessible for man’s use, they need no more be called as resources. But environmental safety is equally (or perhaps more significantly) important. Future generations must not inherit pollution and resource-depletion but instead should reap the fruits of development in the real sense.
The challenge before us is to find out and to adopt the developmental paths which are environmentally safe and sustainable. For maximizing the human welfare we have to set environmental priorities along and at par with developmental priorities. Need of the hour is, therefore, to integrate the environmental considerations with the process of development.
Of course there is no escape to industrialization if any state has to grow economically. But it should be achieved through optimal, judicious and sensible utilization of natural resources and minimum waste generation. No doubt we have to progress in agricultural sector but should not attain it by clearing the remaining portions of forests and altering the biogeochemical cycles. We must make use of biofertilizers and biofriendly techniques in our agriculture. Install primary infrastructures and power generation plants but compensate be-fittingly (by planting more trees) for every single tree felled. We need to revise our developmental approach to make it more responsive and beneficial in real sense. Environmental Impact Assessment should be carried out well in advance for every proposed (developmental) project, and the recommendations based on it be followed strictly and honestly. Environment protection laws need to be formulated and implemented in letter and spirit. Encouraging environment friendly technologies (at user as well as manufacturer’s levels), reviving safer traditional technologies and incorporating them in developmental processes may help reorient present developmental approaches. Adopting safety measures, following environment ethics, shunning unlimited greed for materialistic gains, etc. are obligatory for a sustainable development
It’s not advocated to say goodbye to progress and development but the point to be insisted on is about integrating the ecological considerations to our developmental outlook. We have to devise, at socio-cultural and political levels, the new strategies of development that are environmentally safer and economically viable. And only such an environmentally corrected development will lead to the welfare of the people in true sense.
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