Environmental resource management - EPCO

Rural Environmental Problems• Major Problems:• Water bodies – degradation of rivers, lakes, tanks• Land degradation – pesticides, chemical fertilizers• Groundwater depletion and contamination• Need for stringent national laws/regulations• Tackling through schemes and programmes – provision of funds by centralgovernment and synergies in central govt. development schemes.• e.g. traditional system of desilting of water bodies for nutrient enrichment of crop landmay be revived as part of rural development projects• Catchment area treatment works• Environmental issues not effectively factored in planning• Little awareness and involvement of panchayats35