How was environment treated earlier ? What has been the change in perception?(4 marks)
Answers
Answer:
Ans: Environment was treated as a free entity. Any industry could pollute the air and water without any restrictions. Whether it was our rivers, air, groundwater, the environment was being polluted and the health of people was completely ignored.
In recent years, and particularly after the Bhopal gas tragedy, the issue of environmental pollution came to the forefront. The Bhopal gas tragedy brought change in perception. Now, the perception has completely changed and people have understood that the environment will be shared by people in the future. There has been an increasing awareness among all that a clean environment is a public facility that cannot be destroyed merely for industrial development. The courts also gave a number of judgments upholding the right to a healthy environment as intrinsic to the Fundamental Right to life.
Nowadays, the Indian government introduced new laws on the environment. Henceforth, the polluters were to be held accountable for the damage done to the environment. The government can punish or fine those who do not follow laws pertaining to the environment. The government also provides incentives to those who use renewable energy. The use of recycled products is encouraged. There is a greater number of environmental campaigns and efforts. Hence, to plant more trees there is greater participation by people in protecting the environment.