UGC NET/TNSET PAPER 1
UNIT-9 (Session 2)
(PEOPLE AND ENVIRONMENT)
Professor Academy
1
Topics to be covered
• Environmental laws
• Energy resources
• Waste management
• Disaster management
ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION
Professor Academy
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
UN conference on Human Environment - Stockholm,1972
National Council for Environmental Policy and Planning - 1972
Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) – 1985
Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) - 2014
42nd Amendment Act, 1976
Protection of Wild Animals, Birds
and forest
(State Concurrent List)
INDIAN CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS
Fundamental duties
(Part IV A) Article 51A
Citizen - duty to protect & improve natural
environment
Directive Principles of State Policy
(Part IV) Article 48A
State will protect the environment, forests &
wildlife
ACT/RULE YEAR
Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act 1977
Forest (Conservation) Act 1980
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981
Environment (Protection) Act 1986
Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules 2000
Ozone Depleting Substances (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000
Energy Conservation Act 2001
Biological Diversity Act 2002
National Green Tribunal Act 2010
E-Waste (Management and Handling) Rules 2011
1972 Act
WILDLIFE – 6 schedules
PROTECTION
ACT,1972 2022 amendment
– 4 schedules
ENERGY RESOURCES
ENERGY RESOURCES
Based on regeneration potential,
2 categories:
Non-Renewable & Renewable
Based on usage,
2 categories:
Conventional & Non-conventional
FEATUR RENEWABLE NON-RENEWABLE
E ENERGY ENERGY
Replenish over time Finite
Source
Inexhaustible Exhaustible
Coal, Oil, Natural Gas,
Solar, Wind, Tidal , Wave
Examples Biofuels, Hydropower Nuclear energy, Metals &
Geothermal, Biomass Minerals
High carbon emissions
Environ. Low carbon emissions
More air pollution & climate
impact Less pollution
change
FEATURE CONVENTIONAL NON-CONVENTIONAL
Character In use for a long period of time New and Emerging
Mostly non-Renewable Mostly Renewable
Nature (exception: Biomass and (exception: Nuclear energy)
Hydropower)
NON- RENEWABLE ENERGY
RESOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
Anaerobic digestion of
dead plants and animals
- buried underground for
millions of years
Coal, Petrol and diesel
PETROL AND DIESEL
VEHICLES
PETROL DIESEL
FEATURE
VEHICLES VEHICLES
PM emissions Lower Higher
NOx emissions Lower Higher
CO2 & CO emissions Higher Lower
Energy density Lower Higher
Fuel efficiency Less fuel-efficient More fuel-efficient
Rich air-to-fuel ratio Lean air-to-fuel ratio
(Less amount of air: (Higher amount of air:
Air-to-fuel ratio
Diesel engines Higher levels of pollutants
1. Particulate matter (PM)
So, cause
2. Nitrogen oxides (Nox)
Respiratory and
3. Black carbon (soot)
Cardiovascular
4. Benzene
diseases
5. Formaldehyde
Cancer risk
BS STANDARDS
IN INDIA
Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards
Set of regulations Vehicular emissions
Base - European emission standards
BS-VI (Latest and strictest) ↓ Air pollution - 80%
All new vehicles sold in India Comply with BS-VI
Existing vehicles upgrade BS-VI by April 2024
EMISSION STANDARDS
ENGINE EXHAUST GAS BS IV BS VI %
TYPE DECREASE
CO (in mg/km) 1000 1000 -
Petrol HC (in mg/km) 100 100 -
NOx (in mg/km) 80 60 25%
PM (in mg/km) - 4.5
CO (in mg/km) 500 500 -
HC + NOx (in 300 170 43%
Diesel mg/km)
NOx (in mg/km) 250 80 68%
PM (in mg/km) 25 4.5 82%
RENEWABLE ENERGY
RESOURCES
SOLAR ENERGY
Derived from Radiation of the sun
Most Secure, Clean & Sustainable
Secure energy source - India
TECHNOLOGIES
FOR HARNESSING SOLAR ENERGY
1. Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) / Solar Thermal Power Plants
2. Solar Dish Cooker / Solar Cooker / Solar Oven
3. Solar Pond/ Solar Salt Pond
4. Solar Water Still
5. Photovoltaic (PV) Systems/ Solar Panels
WIND ENERGY
Wind Farm/ Wind Park
Large-scale installations of multiple wind turbines in a
single location
Wind turbines: Kinetic energy of wind
Electricity
Wind energy Intermittent source of energy
Challenges:
1. Intermittency (wind does not blow consistently)
2. Availability & variability of wind
3. Transmission infrastructure
HYDROPOWER/HYDROELECTRIC
POWER
Relies on the water cycle & gravity
Conventional
Cost-Efficient
Potential energy of stored water Kinetic energy
HYDRO POWER PLANTS
CAPACITY
TYPE
Micro (Smallest category) Upto 100 KW
101 kW to 2 megawatts
Mini
(MW)
Small 2 MW to 25 MW
Medium 25 MW to 100 MW
Large > 100 MW
Mega > 500 MW
Small hydropower plants > than large hydropower
plants
Less Environmental Impact
Faster Implementation and Lower Costs
BIOMASS
Energy from
organic matter
BIO-FUELS
[Link]
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Gasohol - Blend of Gasoline + Ethanol
BIOFUEL BLENDING
Mixing biofuels with fossil fuels
National policy on Biofuels
India target - Blending 20% ethanol with petrol by 2025-26
CBG (Compressed Bio-Gas)
• CBG is obtained after purification and compression of bio-
gas, which has a high methane content (>90%)
• Other components of CBG include – CO2 (<4%), Hydrogen
Sulphide (<16 ppm), Nitrogen (<0.5%), Oxygen (<0.5%), and
Moisture (<5mg/m3).
CBG Blending Obligation (CBO)
Mandatory blending of CBG in
Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) (Transport) & Piped Natural
Gas (PNG)
Aim: To promote production & consumption of Compressed
Bio-Gas (CBG) in India
Targets:
CBO - voluntary till FY 2024-2025
Mandatory blending - from FY 2025-26
CBO shall be kept as 1 %, 3 % and 4 % of total CNG/PNG
RENEWABLE ENERGY INDIA’S TARGET (GW)
SOURCE By 2030
Solar power 280
Wind power 140
Hydropower 60
Biomass 20
Small hydro 15
Waste-to-energy 10
Total 500
INDIA’S VISION (Panchamrit – COP 26)
1. Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2070
2. Renewable energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030
3. 50% of energy from renewable sources by 2030
4. 1 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions reduction by 2030
5. 45% reduction in emissions intensity of India's GDP by
2030
DISASTERS
DISASTERS – 2 TYPES:
NATURAL DISASTER
• Earthquake
• Volcanic eruption
• Tsunamis
• Floods
• Droughts
• Landslides
• Forest Fires
MAN-MADE DISASTERS
• Mass Gatherings (Crowd)
• Forest Fires
• Chemical Disasters
• Nuclear disasters
• Biological Disasters
• Urban Flooding
EARTHQUAKES
Most unpredictable & highly destructive
Tectonic activity within earth’s crust /
Volcanic activity
Sudden release of energy Seismic
waves Earth movements
EARTHQUAKES
TERMINOLOGIES
Focus/Hypocentre
Point of origin of seismic waves
Epi-centre
Point on earth’s surface, directly above focus
Focal depth
Distance between Hypocentre & Epicentre
Modified
Mercalli
Scale
(MM
scale)
Richter scale
VOLCANOES
Opening on earth crust eruption of
molten rock, gases, ash, steam from the
Earth's mantle
Cause: Movement of tectonic plates
RING OF FIRE (in pacific ocean) - 75% of the world's volcanoes
and 90% of its earthquakes - Boundary of several tectonic plates
Barren Island - Andaman Sea - India's only active volcano
Recent eruption - 2018
TSUNAMI
Tsu – harbor, Nami – waves
Causes?
1. Volcanic eruptions
2. Underwater landslides
3. Earthquake
Seawater Powerful wave Enters land Destruction
Features:
Deep waters - Speed ↑ (800 kmph), Long Wavelength, Height ↓
Shallow coastal areas - Speed ↓ & Height ↑ (wave shoaling)
Important tsunamis:
• Indian Ocean tsunami - 2004
• Japan tsunami - 2011
CYCLONE / HURRICANE/ WILLIE-
WILLIE/TORNADO
Large-scale atmospheric disturbance
At least 26.5°C or 80°F
TROPICAL CYCLONE
Forms over tropical waters (Equator)
CYCLONE
Low pressure - center
Inward + upward spiraling winds
Northern hemisphere - Anti-clockwise direction
southern hemisphere - Clockwise direction
FLOODS
Water inundates dry land
Causes :
1. Heavy Rainfall
2. Snowmelt
3. River Overflow
4. Storm Surges
TYPES OF FLOODS:
1. Riverine Floods (rivers overflows)
2. Flash Floods (< 6 hrs – damage)
3. Coastal Floods
4. Urban Flooding
DROUGHT
Extended period of abnormally low rainfall
FAMINE
Severe & prolonged food shortage hunger, malnutrition, &
death (starvation)
LANDSLIDES
Downward movement of a mass of rock, loose soil or
debris along a slope (gravity) – Slope failure
13.17% - India’s Geo. area
susceptible to landslides
Sikkim – Highest
NUCLEAR DISASTERS
Release of dangerous amounts of Radioactive material
Major E.g.,
1. Chernobyl Disaster - April 26, 1986 - Ukraine
2. Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster - March 11, 2011
– Japan (massive earthquake and tsunami)
BIOLOGICAL DISASTERS
Introduction, spread, or impact of infectious agents
Harm human health, ecosystems, or agriculture.
Includes Biological Warfare & Bioterrorism
Malaria Bird flu Covid-19, Spanish flu
Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL)
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Highly toxic gas - Methyl isocyanate (MIC)
OIL SPILL
Release of a petroleum / crude oil into
environment
Causes of oil spills:
• Equipment break down
• Illegal dumping
• Natural disasters like hurricanes, etc.
Oilzapper and Oilivorous-s – For oil sludges and oil- spill
removal
DISASTER MANAGEMENT ACT, 2005 – 3 tier
1. National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) – Head - PM
2. State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMA) – Head - CM
3. District Disaster Management Authorities (DDMA) - Head -
District Magistrates/ District collector
4 main phases:
1. Mitigation
2. Preparedness
3. Response
4. Recovery
UNDDR – 1999
HQ:Geneva
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
Under UNGA
Specialized agency of UN - Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
SENDAI FRAMEWORK
FOR DISASTER RISK REDUCTION
2015–2030
When? March 15, 2015
Where?
3rd UN Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction -
Sendai, Japan
WASTE
Substance/object- abandoned, not useful or valuable
Recyclable or Non-Recyclable
Solid or Liquid or Gas
Degradable or Non-biodegradable
NON-
BIODEGRADABLE
FEATURE BIODEGRADABLE
WASTE
WASTE
Can be broken down by cannot be broken
Definition
bacteria down by bacteria
Food scraps, grass, Glass, metal, plastic,
Examples Leaves, paper, cardboard, rubber, Styrofoam,
wood and electronics.
Aspect Hazardous Wastes Non-Hazardous Wastes
Wastes posing significant
Wastes not posing significant
Definition health/environment
health/environment risks
risks
Ignitable, corrosive,
Characteristics Typically inert, non-toxic
reactive, toxic
Industrial solvents,
Household waste, food scraps,
Examples battery acids, pesticides,
glass, paper, plastic
radioactive materials
Listed
Meaning Examples
wastes
wastes that have a nonspecific
source, but are produced from Dioxin-bearing wastes
F-List
manufacturing and industrial Spent solvent wastes
processes
Iron and steel production
Petroleum refining
Specific wastes that have specific
K-List Inorganic pigment
industry sources
manufacturing
Explosives manufacturing
P-List
& Commercial chemical products in
-
U-List an unused form
CHARACTERISTIC WASTES
Flammable / Ignitable Waste
Can catch fire & burn easily (Flash point < 60 °C)
E.g., Naphtha, Lacquer Thinner, Epoxy Resins, Adhesives, Oil Based Paints
Reactive Waste
Can undergo chemical reactions hazardous byproducts
Chlorine Gas (Cl2), Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2),
Potassium (K), Sodium (Na)
Corrosive Waste
pH < 2 or pH > 12.5
E.g., Strong acids & Alkali - Sulfuric Acid (H2SO4),
Hydrochloric Acid (HCl), Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
Toxic Waste
Toxic to humans & environment
E.g., Chemicals, Heavy metals, Pesticides
ELECTRONIC WASTE
(e-WASTE)
Discarded electronic devices
Hazardous – contain Heavy metals
Lead, Mercury, & Cadmium
MEDICAL WASTE
Hospitals, clinics, & laboratories
(Infectious waste, Needles,
syringes, bandages,
pharmaceutical waste, bodily
fluids)
COLOURED DUSTBINS
Dustbin
Waste Type Recycle Biodegradability
Color
Wet,
Green Organic No Yes
waste
Blue Dry waste Yes No
Hazardous
Red No* No
waste
WASTE WATER TREATMENT
(Activated Sludge Treatment)
1. Primary Treatment
2. Secondary /Biological Treatment
3. Tertiary /Advanced Treatment
4. Sludge Treatment
5. Effluent Discharge or Reuse
WASTE DUMPING PLACES/
LANDFILLS/ DISPOSAL SITES
Facilities safely contain & isolate waste
To prevent pollution
1. Sanitary Landfills (Most common)
2. Secure Landfills (Hazardous waste)
3. Dumping Grounds
Leachate - Liquid runoff from waste
Effluent: Wastewater discharged into the environment from a treatment plant
COMPOSTING
TYPE OF
C:N RATIO EXAMPLES
MATERIAL
Fruit and vegetable scraps, grass
Green
Low clippings, coffee grounds, tea
Materials
leaves, yard trimmings
Shredded paper, cardboard,
Brown
High sawdust, wood chips, fallen
Materials
leaves
Ideal C:N Ratio - 30:1
TYPE OF
DESCRIPTION E.g.
COMPOSTING
Common type
Pit composting
Break down organic
In-vessel
Aerobic matter by
composting
microorganisms in
Vermi-composting
presence of O2
TYPE OF
DESCRIPTION E.g.
COMPOSTING
Organic waste break down
Sealed
absence of O2 Biogas
Anaerobic Anaerobic
(Methane + CO2)
digesters
Large-scale treatment
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