Movement’s Role Nani Palkhivala | Class 11 English Notes

Environmental Laws and Their Enforcement in India

Article 48A of the Indian Constitution mandates that the State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country. Despite this constitutional provision, enforcement of environmental laws in India remains weak. The text highlights the irony that laws intended to abolish social evils like casteism and bonded labour continue to be flouted, similarly environmental laws are often ignored. A parliamentary Estimates Committee report revealed near catastrophic depletion of India's forests over four decades, with a loss rate of 3.7 million acres per year. Many areas designated as forest land are virtually treeless, and actual forest loss is estimated to be eight times higher than official statistics. A United Nations study using satellites and aerial photography warns that environmental deterioration is critical in many countries, including India. This lack of effective enforcement exacerbates environmental degradation and threatens the country's ecological balance.

📊 Diagram: No diagrams are provided, but the section references satellite imagery and aerial photography studies.

🧪 Activity: Students are encouraged to discuss the statement 'Laws are never respected nor enforced in India' in groups to understand challenges in environmental governance.

🔗 Connection: This section leads to the discussion on population growth and its impact on environmental sustainability.