Environment Conservation And Development

S.K. Shrestha

ENVIRONMENT and development have close relationships. In the present context, they are like the two faces of a coin. Sources of environment such as land, water, vegetation are utilized in development works. While constructing roads, natural condition such as land, forest etc are cut and leveled. The development activities bring change in environment. The environment should not be degraded by conducting unreasonable development works. Human poverty is an obstacle for environmental conservation. The development and environment conservation activities must go forward in an integrated way. Moreover, environmental degradation has an adverse impact on development process. There must be environment conservation for meaningful development work.

Classification
Infrastructures of development are classified as human resources, physical, social and economic aspects. Skilled manpower is needed to conduct development works in the different sectors such as education, health, agriculture, communication, science and technology etc. Additional development activities become easy due to the development of infrastructures such as roads, bridges, canals, drainage systems, buildings, electricity and communication facilities, etc. They help in communicating the information to accelerate the development ahead. It is quite essential to develop the social aspect as infrastructures to conduct development works effectively. The decision making power, interest to work and desire for participation are to be developed in the people of present organizations, for making them self?dependent and efficient in their works. The development activities are different according to economic investment. The investment is needed to make infrastructure for physical and social development. The formation of development infrastructures help in executing development works in the country.The most dependable media for development in countries like Nepal is industrial development. Our country being a predominantly an agricultural country, industrial development can be made using agricultural products. We must give priority to industrial development which has much role to mobilize the use of human resources and other resources of the country. It helps to raise the economic and social status of the people. Such development has a great role in Nepal with poor economic condition. There is a great importance of cottage industries along with large scale industries also in our country. Cottage industry is essential to make use of local environmental resources. The large scale industries like jute, sugar, cement, paper etc help in the economic development of the country. These industries are not running smoothly due to the prevailing situation in the country. These industries are related with the environment. So, special attention has to be paid for industrial development along with environmental conservation and protection.

The industry, people and environment are related to one another. So, the importance of industry deals with production of raw materials and use, development of human resource, employment opportunity, production of goods, improvement in standard of living, economic development and mobilization of private sectors. Both the government bodies and the private sector should be encouraged to invest and run various types of industries. It leads to competition in the private sector for the development of the industries. It stimulates the efficiency in industrial development of private sectors. The investment of private sector in Nepal for the development of the country is required to be increased in the present situation.The development works of the country are correlated with environment. The people get benefits on the one hand and on the other there are some adverse effects on the environment. Such adverse impacts can be alleviated by arranging necessary means, resources and instruments. The local people should also be involved in the development activities so that poverty can be alleviated through employment generation to them. They are also required to be provided environmental education to minimize adverse impacts on environment while carrying out development tasks in the particular sector. The effects on environment caused by development works can be found from construction works and industrial works. These effects on environment due to construction activities are degradation of the ecosystem, destruction of natural resources, degradation of agricultural land, diminution in the shelter of creatures, change in natural structure and scenery obstruction. Such effects should be minimized with proper planning and management of these activities.

Nexus
Industrial development is the backbone of the development of the country but it is lacking due to instability in the prevailing situation of our nation. Development helps the economic and social status of the people. Besides, various kind of environmentally adverse effects are also seen. Thus, environment conservation must be given attention when executing any development work. Environmental act with rules and regulation should be strictly followed while carrying out development activities in any field. The present government should pay due attention in this regard. Stable political environment is also required for development together with the conservation of the environment.

Source: The Rising Nepal, May 14, 2007