Syllabus of EM

Course Contents

Module I: Introduction
NGOs and Environmental Activism. Ecosystems: Types of Eco-Systems, Geosphere – Biosphere and Hydrosphere introduction. Major issues of Biodiversity, Biosphere reserves, National Parks and sanctuaries, Natural Resources.

Module II: Population Growth and its effects on the environment:
Problem of Population growth, poverty and environment, Population Explosion, Family Welfare Programme, Women & Child Welfare. Natural Disasters: Floods, earthquakes, cyclones, land slides, disaster management.

Module III: Resources: Renewable and non-renewable
Defining resources, classification of resources, soil and land degradation, economic development and resources use, natural resources accounting. Energy needs, renewable and nonrenewable energy resources, introduction to solar energy and its availability, wind power and its potential, hydropower as a clean source of energy, coal, oil, natural gas etc. introduction to biofuel.

Module IV:Pollution and Solid Waste
Water Pollution: Water resources of India, Hydrological Cycle, methods of water conservation and management, river action plan, ground and surface water pollution. Recycling and management of water and wastewater (domestic and industrial). Air Pollution: Air pollution and air pollutants, sources of air pollution and its effected on human health and vegetations. Green house effect, global warming and climate change. Ambient air quality standards, steps taken by Government to control air pollution. Noise pollution and its impacts on human health.
Solid Waste: Municipal Solid Waste Management, segregation, disposal methods, composting, land fill sites etc. Hazardous waste management, biomedical waste management.

Module V: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management System (EMS):
Introduction to EIA, its impact and case study, notification of MOEF, introduction to ISO 9000 and 14000 standards, environmental information system (EIS), role of information technology in environment. Forest / Dams: Forest degradation and management, hazard based environmental issues, Fast depletion of forest resources and their regeneration, environmental issues related to Mega Hydroelectric Projects / Dams, resettlement and rehabilitation of people; its problems and concerns.

Module VI: Indian and International efforts for environmental protection
Legal framework: Constitutional provisions, the Indian Penal Code, Role of Judiciary in Environmental Protection, Emergence of Environmental Issues, Stockholm Conference on Environment, 1972 and Agenda 21. International Protocols, WTO, Kyoto Protocol, International Agreement on Environmental Management.