UNIT-III
Energy and Environment
Content:
Renewable and non-renewable resources: Coal, Petroleum, Solar energy, wind
energy, hydrothermal energy, nuclear energy, Tidal energy, Bioenergy etc. Role of
individual in conservation of natural resources for sustainable life styles. Use and
over exploitation of Forest resources, Deforestation, Timber extraction, Mining,
Dams and their effects on forest and tribal people. Use and over exploitation of
surface and ground water resources, Floods, Drought, Conflicts over water, Damsbenefits and problems. National green hydrogen mission. FAME India Scheme.
NATURAL RESOURCES
 Resources that occur in our nature are known as Natural Resources.
These can not be produced by our man-kind.
Examples: Sun light, Minerals, Coal etc.
Natural Resources can be classified into TWO categories:
1.Renewable resources
Resources that can be regenerated naturally in the course of time.
Resources that can never exhaust.
e.g. Forests, wind energy, solar energy, hydro energy etc.
2. Non-Renewable resources
Resources that can’t be regenerated naturally in the course of time.
Available in fixed quantity.
Resources that can exhaust after certain time.
e.g. Coal, petroleum, minerals etc.
Renewable Resources : Examples
Sun ; Solar Energy
The energy obtained from sunlight is solar energy. The sun is
the ul mate natural resource for all living beings on the
earth.
Advantages of solar energy are:
Clean: It is considered to be the cleanest form of energy as there is no
carbon dioxide emission like in the case of fossil fuels which is one of the
causes of global warming.
Renewable: There is ample energy available on earth as long as the sun
exists.
Reliable: The energy can be stored in the batteries, so there is no
unreliability.
Free energy because it can be trapped easily.
Disadvantages of solar energy:
The production is low during winters and on cloudy days.
Installation and the initial cost of the materials are expensive.
Space consumption is more.
Types of Solar Energy
Solar energy can be classified into two categories depending upon the
mode of conversion and type of energy it is converted into. Passive solar
energy and active solar energy
Passive solar energy refers to trapping the sun’s energy without using
mechanical devices.
Active solar energy uses mechanical devices to collect, store, and
distribute energy.
Solar thermal energy: This energy is obtained by converting solar
energy into heat.
Photovoltaic solar power is the energy obtained by converting solar
energy into electricity.
Wind Energy
Wind is used to produce electricity by conver ng the kine c
energy of air in mo on into electricity. In modern wind
turbines, wind rotates the rotor blades, which convert kine c
energy into rota onal energy. This rota onal energy is
transferred by a sha which to the generator, thereby
producing electrical energy.
Wind Energy in India has been the fastest-growing
renewable energy source in the country.
 As the country has a vast coastline, Wind Power Plant in
India is onshore and offshore.
 As of 30 September 2022, wind energy in India has an
overall installed power capacity of 41.666 GW.
Tamil Nadu is the largest producer of wind energy in
India,

Advantages of Wind Energy
 Cleaner source of energy.
Once installed minimum maintenance, no fuel is required.
 power generation is less expensive.
Disadvantages of Wind Energy
 Space requirement
 Inadequate technology.
 Expensive installation.
 Not reliable
Hydrothermal Energy
Hydrothermal Energy refers to the electricity or heat energy
produced from hydrothermal heat. In a geothermal power
plant hydrothermal heat is used to produce steam, which
then drives turbines connected to electricity generators.
Geothermal energy is considered to be sustainable because the heat
extracted is so small compared to the Earth's heat content.
In addi on, hydrothermal energy is a clean and renewable energy
source, with li le to no greenhouse gas emissions, making it a more
environmentally friendly alterna ve to fossil fuels.
Nuclear energy
Nuclear energy is a form of energy released from the nucleus, the core
of atoms, made up of protons and neutrons. This source of energy can
be produced in two ways: fission – when nuclei of atoms split into several
parts – or fusion – when nuclei fuse together
Tidal energy
Tidal power or dal energy is harnessed by conver ng energy
from des into useful forms of power, mainly electricity using
various methods. Although not yet widely used, dal energy
has the poten al for future electricity genera on. Tides are
more predictable than the wind and the sun.
Biomass Energy
Biomass is the fuel developed from organic ma er waste of
living organisms like plant waste, animal waste, forest
waste, and municipal wastes.
In biological terms, the word biomass refers to the organic plant ma er,
which is converted into fuel and used as an energy source. Biomass fuel
is considered to be of great importance as it plays the role of a
renewable and sustainable source of energy. For example, biomass is
used for the produc on of electricity. Due to this, biomass is capable of
replacing fossil fuels.
NATURAL RESOURCES
A natural resource can be defined as any component of the natural
environment that can be utilised by man to sustain his life and promote
his welfare.
Resources like air, water, food and land are important because with
out them life can not be sustained.
But the amount of natural resources decreasing very rapidly.
Rapid rate of consumption may lead to complete depletion or loss of
natural resources
REASONS FOR RAPID RATE OF CONSUMPTION OF NATURAL
RESOURCES
1.POPULATION INCREASE
About 80 million people are added every year to the worlds
population
Global population may double every 30 years or so
This exponential growth of human population is causing a grate
pressure on our resources and resulting a steady impoverishment of
biological systems
2. INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
Fundamental change in mans relationship with the nature began with
scientific and industrial revolution.
Growth and development through science, technology and industrial
expansion.
This marked the beginning of the exponential rate of consumption of
natural resources
INDIVIDUALS ROLE IN CONSERVATION OF NATURAL RESOURCES
1. WATER CONSERVATION
The measures to conserve water resources include
Not keep water taps running.
Check water leakage and repair.
Adopt minimum water use patterns
Installing water saving toilets that use optimum water per flush
Adopting rain water harvesting devices in your
house to conserve water for future use
Collect waste water in your home and use it for watering kitchen
garden
Filling water in washing machine to the level required for the cloths
to be washed.
Watering lawn and kitchen garden plants in the evening to minimise
evaporation losses and not watering them in the mid day
Save wetlands ,lakes,ponds,wells,etc.
2. FOREST CONSERVATION
The measures to conserve forest resources include:
No cutting the trees in forests ,farms, roads,or houses if they are
green
Not uprooting the existing trees while constructing a house but
planting fast growing plant species in open area of the house.
Planting ornamentals,herbs,shurbs,or suitable trees in and around
the house
Maintain lawn and garden in open place in your house ,if possible.
Participating in community plantation programmes
Encourage mass scale tree plantation programmes
Cooperate with NGOs engaged in saving trees
Plant trees generously in barren fields
Tag tree plantation with year ceremonies such as birth day, marriage
anniversary etc.
Observe July 1-7 as vanmahotsava week
3. CONSERVATION OF MINERALS
The measures to conserve mineral resources include:
Minimise the use of minerals which are likely to be depleted or
exhausted
Minimise use of jewellery to conserve scarce minerals
Recycle and reuse minerals and glasses
Buy durable products that lasts long
Buy efficient vehicles
Repair and reuse bicycles
Use recyclable utensils
4. CONSERVATION OF FOOD RESOURCES
Some of the measures to achieve food security are
Sustainable use of food and not wasting it
Eating only as much as required for sustenance of life
Consuming local and seasonable vegetables and so as to save
energy on their transportation, storage and preservation.
Discourage packed ,canned and preserved food
Shift from non vegetarian to vegetarian
Observe October 16 as world food day
5. CONSERVATION OF ENERGY
The measures to conserve energy resources include:
Turning off lights ,fans, or other electric appliances when not in use
Replacing tube lights with CFLs and LED s
Construct buildings in such a way that maximum amount of sunlight
can be obtained
Try to dry cloths in sunlight instead of drier of washing machine
Using solar cookers for cooking food
Buying energy efficient appliances, always checking energy
consumption figure
Minimise use of automobiles by using bicycles, public transport, car
pooling etc.
Trying to reside near the place of work, if possible
Keeping vehicles tuned for low consumption of fuel
Checking fuel consumption data while buying a new vehicle
Following the advice given by petroleum conservation research
association
Forest Resources: Uses and over exploitation
One of the most important renewable natural resource on
earth.
The term “forest ”is derived from the latin word “foris”
meaning outside.
Originally
,it is uncultivated
and un
inhabitated village boundary consisting of natural plants, i.e.,
trees and grasses .
It means an association of plants , natural or cultivated,
predominantly trees.
In the words of Allen and Shorpe, “Forest is a community of
trees and associated organism covering a considerable area,
utilizing air, water and minerals to attain maturity and to
reproduce
and
capable
of
furnishing
indispensable products and services”
mankind
with
Ideal forest cover should be 33% but in India we have only 21.02% as
per 2009 data.
The total forest cover in India is 690899 Km2
Uses of Forest Resources:
1.Water shed protection (run off water, flash floods, soil
erosion, ground water)
2. Atmospheric Balance( O2-CO2 balance, local climate)
3.Prevent Soil erosion.
4.Land Bank
5.Industrial use (Furniture, paper industry)
6.Medicinal plants
7.Domestic Use
Causes of Over Exploitation of Forest Resources.
Increase in Population.
Industrial Revolution.
 Need for Agriculture land: Expansion of agriculture, more
forest have been cleared for agriculture.
Urbanization: Large area of forest lands have been cleared
for urbanization and human settlement.
Commercial exploitation of forest.
Forest fires .
Mining activities in forest areas.
Forest diseases are also partly responsible for depletion
forest.
Large Govt. Projects
Overgrazing by animals.
Adverse effects of Over Exploitation of Forest
Resources.
1. Global Warming
2. Climate Change
3. Increased rate of soil erosion
4. Increase in Floods.
5. Loss of soil productivity.
6. Loss of biodiversity.
7. Extinction of several species of plants and animals.
8. Imbalance in ecosystem.
9. Endangered Tribal life.
10.Effect on economy.
Deforestation,
Timber extraction,
Use and over exploitation of surface and ground water resources
Mining
The process of digging the earth to extract minerals, fossil fuels etc.
Mining is of two types;
1. Surface Mining(to extract shallow deposits)
2. Sub surface mining(to extract deep deposits)
In India, about 80000 Ha of land is under the pressure of mining
Mining is always associated with deforestation, removal of soil,
rocks etc.
Adverse effect of Mining
1.Degradation of soil
2.Water Pollution(discharge of highly mineralized mine water)
3.Air Pollution (release of CO2 and methane during mining)
4.Fire hazards
5.Accidents due to increased trnasportation.
6.Effects on tribal people
7.Noise pollution
8.Deforestation
Case study:
1.33% forest cover has been reduced in Mussorie and Dehradun
Valley.
2.Coal mining in Jharia, Raniganj, caused deforestation and pollution.
3.Copper , chromite and bauxite mining have destroyed flora-fauna in
westeral ghat area.
The study employed a cross-sectional, observational and community-based study involving
150 respondents from three different communities through questionnaires and interview data
collection. The study also made use of secondary data which included data on water quality
from 2017 to 2021, air pollution dataset from blasting (August 2021-July 2022), and health
facility record dataset from 2018 to 2021.
The study revealed that mining activities have resulted in major
environmental impacts, including land degradation. In addition, there is
pollution which has affected mainly water resources in the municipality.
Air and noise pollution were also evident in the area. The combined effects
of environmental problems have ended in health implications with an
associated high prevalence of diseases such as malaria, respiratory tract
infections and skin diseases. The study found the effects of mining on the
health of the local population are dependent on their proximity to the actively
mined area. It also found that efforts by authorities to manage the mining
impact on air, water and land were unsatisfactory. Lead (Pb) concentration in
water sources was above the WHO guidelines for drinking water for most
communities. About 92% of respondents agree that the mining activities were
to blame for the disease prevalent in their area, with only 4.7% disagreeing.
Interestingly, the study established that respondents’ years of staying in the
community influenced their knowledge of the effect of mining on the
environment (p = 0.00132). The study recommends a review of the
environmental management policy of Kenyasi-Ahafo Mines restoration
efforts and intervention measures, which include afforestation, a review of
operational procedures and the provision of alternative drinking water
quality to the affected communities.
Dams, Benefits and Problems
A huge structure constructed across a river to stop its natural flow.
A dam is a barrier that stops or restricts the flow of water or
underground streams.
Reservoirs created by dams not only suppress floods but also
provide water for activities such as irrigation, human consumption,
industrial use, aquaculture.
The earliest known dam is the Jawa Dam in Jordan, dating to 3,000
BC.
India has 5,202 large dams according to the Central Water
Commission (CWC).
Type of Dams on the basis of structure:
1. Arch dams
2. Gravity dams
3. Arch-gravity dams
4. Barrages
5. Embankment dams
6. Rock-fill embankment dams
7. Fixed-crest dams
Benefits related to Dams
1.Water Supply
2.
Irrigation and rural agriculture demands
3.
Flood Control
4.
Hydropower Generation (12%)
5.
Employment Generation
6.
Increase Tourism and water sports
7.
Local Transportation/Navigation
8.
Creation of wetland ecosystem
Problems associated with Dams
1.Deforestation
2.Effect on downstream ecosystem
3.Effect of tribal people
4.Health hazards
5.Migration of people
6.Large finance required
7.Chances of flood due to dam failure
8.Loss of land resources
9.Accumulation of sediments
10.Increased evaporation
Conflicts over water resources
Water conflict is a term describing a conflict between countries,
states, or groups over the rights to access water resources.
Kaveri water dispute
Important source of water in southern India.
Its major watershed area is divided in two states i.e. Karnataka and
Tamilnadu and also in Kerla and Puducherry.
Upstream area is controlled by Karnataka and refuses the claims of
water use by Tamilnadu
Tamilnadu occupies the downstream area, wants regulation over use
of water. Also due to rocky nature its water demand is more.
Government of India constituted a tribunal in 1990.
The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal announced its final verdict on 5
February 2007.
The Supreme Court on 16 February 2018 delivered its verdict in the
Kaveri water dispute, allocating more water to the state of Karnataka.
The final allocation for a total of 740 TMC
The Satluj-Yamuna Link Canal Dispute
Satluj Yamuna Link Canal or SYL as it is popularly known,
It is an under-construction 214-kilometer (133 mi) long canal to
connect the Sutlej and Yamuna rivers.
However, the proposal met obstacles and was referred to the
Supreme Court of India.
It defines river water sharing between the states of Punjab and
Haryana.
 Punjab is not ready to share water which led to obstacles in its
construction.
Sardar Sarovar Project
Tehri dam Agitation
The Nile Water Conflict
It is an international water dispute between nine Africian countries
over water sharing of Nile water
It is the world's longest river flowing 6,700 kilometers through ten
countries in Africa – Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the
Congo (DRC), Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan
and Egypt with varying climates.
Egypt lies at the mouth of river and uses maximum water. Gets little
rain and mainly depends upon Nile river.
Nile river has two major tributaries blue nile and white nile. Blue Nile
originate in Ethopia, White Nile from Tanzania.
These two meets in Sudan before flowing into Egypt.
In 1970, Egypt constructed Aswan Dam and prevented the flow in
lower Basin.
Egypt
uses
countries.
maximum
share create problem
to
downstream
Brahmaputra River Conflict
The confrontation between China and India concerning water
resources in the Brahmaputra River (known as “Yarlung Zangbo” in
Chinese)
 It flows through both countries, Conflict has been deepening in
recent years.
There have also been diplomatic negotiations between the two
countries.
Ten dams have already been completed on this river, and China
plans to build the world’s largest dam on the Brahmaputra.
 India fears that the project will have a significant impact on the lower
river region also on Bangladesh.
Drought : Cause, Effects and Mitigation measures
If annual rainfall is below normal and less than evaporation,
drought situation is created.
A lack or shortage of water for an unusually long period of time,
involving 50% less than the usual rainfall over 3 months
This creates a worst situation as most vulnerable areas to drought
have high population.
It is normal phenomenon but activities like deforestation, mining,
overgrazing etc. have increased its impact to many folds.
The word drought instantly brings image of dry, parched land, no
rainfall, crop failures, starvation and bad living conditions to our
mind.
In simple terms, drought is a condition of acute scarcity of water,
food, fodder, and employment due to scanty rainfall in an area.
It is one of the most widespread disaster that India faces, affecting
more than 70% of cultivable land.
Often, people do not react to drought like they do to other sudden
disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, and floods.
Since drought conditions develop over period of time, and without
immediately perceptible changes to environment.
Hence drought is called a ‘ slow on set ’ disaster.
Type of droughts:
1.Permanent drought: They are characterized by dry climate, dry
vegetation etc.
2.Seasonal Drought: Rainfall is less than average in a particular
season.
3.Contingents Drought: It is irregular type of drought.
Meteorological drought is generally defined by comparing
the rainfall in a particular place and at a particular time.
Hydrological Drought is associated with the affect of low
rainfalls on water level in reservoirs, rivers & lakes .
Agricultural drought occurs when there isn’t enough water
for a crop to grow at the particular time.
 40 DROUGHT YEARS SINCE 1801
 DROUGHT OCCURES AT A RECURRENCE INTERVAL OF 5 YEARS
 CONSECUTIVE 2 YEAR DROUGHT--4 OCAS
 DROUGHT PRONE AREA IN INDIA 511300 SQ. KM
Effects of Droughts
1. Impact on economic, social and
environmental factors.
2. Agriculture Sector
3. Sacristy of water
4. Mass migration
5. Dust storms
6. Loss of aquatic life
7. Forest fires
8. Effect on power generation.
Mitigation measures
1. Forestation
2. Careful selection of crops
3. General awareness of people
4. Construction of Check Dams
5. Maintenance of traditional sources of water.
6. Desalination of water for irrigation
7. Rain water harvesting
SHORT TERM MEASURES ORT TERM MEASURES
1. EXECUTION OF LABOR ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES
AND FOOD
FOR WORK PROGRAMMES TO CREATE PRODUCTIVE ASSETS
2. TRANSPOTATION OF DRINKING WATER BY RAIL AND ROAD TO
AFFECTED AREAS
3. TUBE WELL CONSTRUCTION ON LARGE SCALE
4. HIGH PRIORITY TO WATER STORAGE PROJECTS .
5. RESERVIOR OPERATIONS BASED ON ADVANCE WEATHER
FORECAST.
6. HIGH PRIORITIES FOR OPTING TO DROUGHT RESISTANCE
CROPS
MEDIUM TERM MEASURES
1. RAIN WATER HARVESTING AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT:
2. ARTIFICIAL RECHARGE OF GROUND WATER
3. EARLY COMPLETION OF IRRIGATION AND WATER SUPPLY
PROJECTS.
4. AGRO-CLIMATIC REGIONAL PLANING FOR BETTER SCIENTIFIC
UTILIZATIO
OF AVAILABLE WATER
5. DEVELOP EARLY MATURING CROP VARIETIES, DRY LAND
FARMING
TECHNIQUES AND INTRODUCTION OF WATRE SAVING OF CROPS.
6. ADOPTING MODERN IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES
LONG TERM STRATEGY
INDIA HAS DRAFTED NATIONAL WATER POLICY FOR WATER
RESOURCEDEVELOPMENT AND ESTABLISHED NATIONAL WATER
DEVELOPMENT AGENCY EXCLUSIVELY FOR ASSESSING WATER
AVAILABILITY AND WATER DEMAND BASINWISE. CWC, CGWB, NIH,
INDIA METEOROLOGICAL DEPARTMENT, MINISTRY OF WATER
RESOURCES
OF
STATE
GOVERNMENTS
ARE
ALSO
CONTRIBUTING IN THIS TASK
.
BASED ON WATER BALANCE STUDIES INDIA HAS ADOPTED
FOLLOWING LONG TERM STRATAGIES:
1. CREATION OF SURFACE AND GROUND WATER STORAGES
2. INTREGATION OF SMALL RESEVOIRS WITH Large RESERVOIRS.
3. INTREGATED BASIN PLANNING.
4. INTER BASIN TRANSFER OF WATER.
National Green Hydrogen Mission
Recent update: The Union Government has approved a Rs 19,744 crore National Green
Hydrogen mission that aims to make India a ‘global hub’ for using, producing and
exporting green hydrogen.
What is the National Green Hydrogen Mission?
It is a program to incentivise the commercial production of green hydrogen
and make India a net exporter of the fuel.
The Mission will facilitate demand creation, production, utilization and export of
Green Hydrogen.
Objective
•Developing green hydrogen production capacity of at least 5 MMT
(Million Metric Tonne) per annum, alongside adding renewable energy
capacity of about 125 GW (gigawatt) in India by 2030.
•It aims to entail over Rs 8 lakh crore of total investments and is
expected to generate six lakh jobs.
•It will also lead to a cumulative reduction in fossil fuel imports by
over Rs 1 lakh crore and an abatement of nearly 50 MT of annual
greenhouse gas emissions.
•Nodal Ministry:
•Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
•Significance:
•It will help entail the decarbonisation of the industrial, mobility and
energy sectors; reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels and
feedstock; developing indigenous manufacturing capabilities; creating
employment opportunities; and developing new technologies such as
efficient fuel cells.
•Scope for India
•India has a favourable geographic location and abundance of
sunlight and wind for the production of green hydrogen.
•Green hydrogen technologies are being promoted in sectors where
direct electrification isn't feasible.
•Heavy duty, long-range transport, some industrial sectors and long-term
storage in the power sector are some of these sectors.
•The nascent stage of this industry allows for the creation of regional
hubs that export high-value green products and engineering,
procurement and construction services.
Challenges:
High cost (A kilogram of black hydrogen costs USD 0.9-1.5 to produce
However, green hydrogen costs USD 3.5-5.5 per kg, according to a 2020.
 Lack of Infrastructure.