Modern age is the age of science. We have conquered nature. Attention was paid to available and new resources because of explosion of population and explosion of knowledge. The explosion of population has a direct effect on our ways of living. India is a vast country having a population of about 88 crores.
The estimate is that by the beginning of 21st century the population will touch 100 crores. In India explosion of population has given birth to various problems pertaining to environment. Our population depends upon the natural resources to meet their basic needs, particularly of fuel, fodder and housing material.
It has led to deterioration in the quality of life. Man has cut off forests to satisfy his endless hunger and adopted artificial means of irrigation. The fertility of soil is decreasing day-by-day. As a result of increasing pressure of population land is becoming limited.
Cultivable land is decreasing due to increasing population, industrialization and urbanization. Increase in population leads to pollution of air and water and spread germs of many diseases. Apart from this, industrialization has given birth to noise and smoke.
It increases slum dwellings. It compels a large number of people to live in dirty surrounding having dirty lanes permeating bad smell. The smoke emitted by cars, motors and scooters pollutes the atmosphere.
Increase in pollution has given birth to several diseases such as tuberculosis, deafness, heart attack and high blood pressure etc. The carbide gas factory at Bhopal made thousands of people blind. Pollution also creates mental diseases.
The tendency of urbanization also contributes to this problem at a rapid rate. The rural population started moving towards the cities and the cities went on expanding. Due to the housing problem the life of big cities became more complex.
According to the Report given by United Nations, 22350 lakhs acres of land has become sterile because of soil erosion and selfishness. 2/3 jungles of the world have been cut down.
200 kinds of animals and birds have become extinct because of human carelessness. This tendency continues in all areas. If attention is not paid to this side the future of man will become dark
These days man is moving towards the planet whereas humanity is moving towards the jungle. Insecurity, restlessness and disorder prevail in the society because human beings have been intellectually polluted.
If environmental education is given to future citizens in the present day schools by formal and informal methods, humanity can get rid of this danger.
We find around us air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution, nuclear pollution, ecological imbalance and increase in heat and radiation. Today's environment is not pure and natural due to these pollutions.