Developing to Death

This article discusses how Goa is developing but has not taken into account how such development impacts the environment. Here we see that policy needs to be created so that India doesn't develop at an unsustainable rate.  Please see the article  

at http://www.oheraldo.in/news/Local%20News/Morjim-at-crossroads-study-warns/44986.html

Animals and their contribution to global warming

This article discusses ways in which the animal population in India, which is huge, is contributing to Global warming. Please visit the link at 

 http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1890646,00.html

Animal overpopulation

A dog sits at the steps of a Mosque in Delhi, Photo by Graham Salinger, December 2010

One of the first thing that a visitor to India will notice is the amount of  stray animals  running  around.  From stray dogs to stray cattle, animals are everywhere and like the over population of people the over population of animals put stresses on the environment. For more on this please visit the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations at http://www.fao.org/agriculture/lead/lead/networks/india0/en/. Additionally please view the following video on the effects of the increasing cattle population  at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKzWMf77u8I.

 

The ride to Agra reveals the troubling pollution patterns

China and India- Tension and a Monk

There is an interesting article in the New York Times today about a monk and the greater issue of the Indian/Chinese border dispute. The article, centered around the story of Ogyen Trinley Dorje, a Tibetan Buddhist monk revered as a reincarnated Lama who secretly fled China in 2000 and is now in India. He is sought by the Chinese government and distrusted by the Indian's a case that has stirred unease about the relations between the two states.

The story is contemporary, as the monk has attempted to purchase Indian land to be a monastery. Many in India distrust the Lama and worry about his purchasing of land in the border area as a Chinese land grab. In addition the article examines the possible changing of opinion in India towards the Tibetan exiles, from an asset to a security concern.

Below is the link to the article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/world/asia/08tibet.html?_r=1&hp

Population Issues

In addition to being one of the most polluted nations in the world, India is also one of the most populous. Over population can lead to issues of sanitation, water supply shortages, pressure on eco systems  and it contributes heavily to climate change. While India has had population control policies since the 1950’s, India remains one of the largest populations in the world and will pass China as the most populous country in the world within the next 4o years.

 

 

For more on population problems and policies please see

 

"National Commission on Population ." Indian Government, Web. 6 Feb 2011. .

 

 

Krock, Lexi. "World in the Balance." PBS Online April 2004: Web. 6 Feb 2011. .

 

LaMahapatrast, Dhananjay. "India misses population control targets for 2010, 2016." Times of India July 11 2008: n. pag. Web. 6 Feb 2011. . 

World most ECO friendly bus?

The bus reads " Delhi Transport Corporation Worlds Largest Eco Friendly GNG Bus" . India is one of the most polluted countries in the world. 

The Taj Mahal

Built by Shah Jahan in homage of his 3^rd wife the Taj Mahal in Agra is one of the  most recognizable sites in the world. It has survived centuries of war , but as carbon continues to pollute the air the Taj Mahal faces a knew challenge to its existence as it's marble fights against the effects of air pollution. 

A Hazy looking Delhi, picture by Graham Salinger December 2010

For more on water and air pollution please visit

 

Nagdeve , Dewaram Environment and Health in India . "Environment and Health in India ." International Institute for Population Sciences (2002): 23. Web. 3 Feb 2011. .

 

"Water Pollution." Minister of Environment and Forest. Government of India, Web. 6 Feb 2011. .

 

"Air Pollution." Minister of Environment and Forest. Government of India, n.d. Web. 3 Feb 2011. .

 

Introduction to India's environmental problems

Picture by Graham Salinger December 2010

A picture taken from atop the Red Fort in Delhi India. As you can see the water is filled with garbage. Water pollution creates water issues for the population by reducing the amount of fresh water that is available and by putting the population at risk of catching diseases from polluted water.  Such trashing of the environment was common for Delhi. 

Upon arriving to India one of the first things a visitor will notice is the smell that characterizes India. While India is known world wide for its history, culture, cuisine and monuments such as the Taj Mahal , it has also gained a reputation as one of the most polluted countries in the world. Through out this section of the website , which focuses on environmental innovations and policy in India, we will look at environmental challenges facing India, including air pollution, water pollution, over population, an overpopulation of animals and many more issues. We will also look at what the government has  been doing to address these issues and we will evaluate the effectiveness of such policies. We will look at what innovations have taken place in the private sector.  In doing, so we will look at what role India hopes to play in the global “green economy” as it gears its development strategy towards the knowledge economy. This provides us with several questions within the context of  India’s technological innovations, as some developed countries push for a "green economy" will India, with its poor environmental standards, be left behind? Can India's knowledge economy, with its focus on technological advancements , use such knowledge to advance environmental standards and thus catch up to other countries?