A sorry state, indeed!

THE state of India's natural resources is
appalling, according to a preliminary
report prepared by Tata Energy
Research Institute (TERI) as part of its
long-term 'Green India 2047' project.
Nearly half the country's population
does not have access to drinking water.
Rs 2,000 crore worth @f nutrients are
lost each year due to soil erosion, while
the number of factories have risen 700
per cent in the last three decades.

The project aims to prevent fur
ther loss of natural resources and revert
to the same level that was prevailing
in 1947. The report highlighted other
factors like water and sanitation problems which accounted for 75 per cent
of illnesses and child mortality. About
90 per cent of the water supply
is polluted with only 10 per cent of
sewage treatment plants in working
conditions.

The annual fuelwood demand is
3.67 cu m per ha as against the yearly
production of 0.625 cu m per ha. The
demand for industrial wood stands
at 0.42 cu m per ha, while production
is 0. 18 cu m per ha.