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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