labels: world bank, economy - general, environment
World Bank warns of severe environment impact of India''s growth news
11 April 2007

A World Bank report released yesterday has warned of unprecedented pressures on the country''s land, water, air, soil and forestry resources as a consequence of the Indian growth story, riding on the back of sustained over 8-per cent annually growth in the past two years.

The report cautions, "Rapid economic growth and the resulting changes in consumption patterns are drastically changing the nature and scale of impact on the country''s environment and natural resources."

Industries like electronics and information technology, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and basic chemicals, belong to the "red category" of major polluting processes, it warned, as these sectors pollute water and air to a significant degree and cause more hazardous waste.

The report also pointed out that increased investment in the construction, mining and iron and steel sectors had led to the proliferation of brick-making units, iron plants and steel mills, many of which use highly polluting processes.

"The result is a visibly deteriorating environmental quality in many industrial townships," the report said.

Citing the example of Singrauli, which until the 1960s was an isolated rural region in Central India, the report said it was now dotted with massive open-cast coal mines, thermal power stations and several large industries.

This development had brought disruption to traditional ways of life, and displaced up to 300,000 people amid a lack of adequate infrastructure and public amenities, the study said.

"Air and water pollution are of great concern, especially the presence of mercury in the food chain and other chemicals and heavy metals in water resources," it added.


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World Bank warns of severe environment impact of India''s growth