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Environmental planning as a tool for environmental protection - The need and the possibilities
Absence of environmental
considerations in planning:
Presently, the environmental aspects are not
usually considered while preparing master plans and the process is skewed
towards developmental needs. For all developmental activities, a crucial input
is land and depending on the activity a specific landuse is decided. The
environmentally relevant land uses are trade and commerce, housing construction,
transport facilities (road, rail and water), utilities (water - surface and
ground etc.), refuse/hazardous waste disposal facilities, wastewater
installations, quarrying and mining, power generation, forestry, recreation and
tourism etc. These land uses are likely to have impact on the environment. There
is a need for assessment of the land in terms of not only the economic aspects
but also the environmental aspects and the land uses are accordingly to be
allocated so that the natural environment and ecological balance is not
disturbed.
Inadequacy of conventional control techniques:
The
environmental problems of concern and increased environmental risks are due to
air pollution from vehicular, industrial and domestic sources, noise pollution,
water pollution - lack of proper storm water drainage and sewerage system,
improper and inadequate garbage collection and disposal system, haphazard siting
of industries/processes, transportation, storage and handling of toxic or
hazardous chemicals, lack of adequate open spaces and green areas; etc.
Conventionally, the environmental pollution problems are solved by introducing
environmental management techniques such as control of pollution at source,
providing of sewage treatment facilities etc. These measures are proving to be
inadequate because of the complexity associated with the dynamics of
development.
Inadequacy of conventional control techniques:
The environmental
problems of concern and increased environmental risks are due to air pollution
from vehicular, industrial and domestic sources, noise pollution, water
pollution - lack of proper storm water drainage and sewerage system, improper
and inadequate garbage collection and disposal system, haphazard siting of
industries/processes, transportation, storage and handling of toxic or hazardous
chemicals, lack of adequate open spaces and green areas; etc. Conventionally,
the environmental pollution problems are solved by introducing environmental
management techniques such as control of pollution at source, providing of
sewage treatment facilities etc. These measures are proving to be inadequate
because of the complexity associated with the dynamics of development.
Increasing public awareness:
There is an increase in public
awareness on pollution and its affects. The people today are demanding good
quality of life and living conditions. The increasing public interest litigation
(PILs) for relocating environmentally incompatible land uses is an indication
that there will be an increased need for proper planning of land uses and siting
of industries and other development projects.
Growing environmental
costs:
It has been proved even with in our country that though the
economic considerations tend to bring in gains in a short term, the liabilities
from neglecting the environmental aspects are heavier in long run. The costs
involved for cleaning up river Ganga or for introduction of unleaded petrol or
for shifting industries from Delhi are just a few examples. This necessiates
proper planning in advance so as to be prepared for the subsequent consequences.
Constraints in the existing industrial siting procedures:
- The targets for industrial development are fixed but the sites for these
industries to come up are rarely pre-determined thereby paving the way for
haphazard siting of industries.
- The responsibility of selecting a site is primarily entrusted with the
entrepreneurs and this does not necessarily lead to objective assessment of
environmental aspects.
- The information base available for evaluating environmental impacts and
taking decisions on industrial siting is weak. Hence, it causes subjectivity in
decision- making process as well as lack of transparency and delay.
- The environmental clearance by the regulatory authorities does not
necessarily imply zero pollution from an industry.
Hence, the major
challenge is not just finding a site for an industry or a developmental activity
but is finding a solution for achieving sustainable development. It is being
increasingly realised that the developmental activities are to be planned in
such a way that the socio-economic objectives are fulfilled without causing
adverse impacts on the environment.
The Possibilities
The
possibilities for a suitable solution for the Indian conditions include
introduction of integrated spatial planning as a long term solution. In the
context of spatial planning, the planning models of other countries having
similar conditions/constraints with respect to population, resources etc. can be
taken as an example for working out suitable solutions for Indian conditions.
For example, the German planning system in based on 'co-operation' among various
levels - federal, state, regional, local etc. and 'balancing' among different
sectors - industry, agriculture, forestry, environment etc. The prior
interaction with the lower level makes the guidelines more acceptable and the
plans more implementable on ground. At the same time, this helps achieve
co-ordinated and balanced development.
For the situations in our
country, sectoral land use plans for all the environmentally relevant activites
such as those given below should be prepared keeping in view the developmental
needs/targtes and the environmental considerations and then these are to be
integrated into one plan that is binding on all:
- trade and industry locations;
- housing construction;
- transport facilities (road, rail, water)
- utilities;
- refuse/haz. waste and wastewater installations;
- quarrying/mining;
- power generation;
- agriculture;
- forestry;
- inland and coastal fisheries;
- recreation and tourism;
- water regulation and development;
- tapping of groundwater; and
- outfalls into surfacewater.
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