Environmental degradation can be said as one of the major problems that is faced by the globe in this modern world. Environmental degradation can be said as deterioration of the environment through depletion of natural resources like quality of air, water etc. Also, it can be said as the result of dynamic interplay of socio economic, industrial and technological activities. Activities like Excessive use of energy and natural resources, intensification of agriculture etc may lead to degradation of environment. Environmental degradation occurs when natural resources are depleted or habitats are destroyed, and environmental protection is the effort to counteract this problem.

The primary causes of environmental degradation are various human activities. The automobile and industries increase the number of poisonous gases like SO, CO etc. Unplanned urbanisation and industrialization have caused water, air, soil and sound pollution. Industrialization, Urbanisation and Sewage waste help to increase pollution of the sources of water. Similarly, the smoke emitted by vehicles and industries like cfcs, nitrogen oxide, carbon mono oxide and other dust particles pollutes the air. Since man began to use tools and gradually formed a society, he began to play an important role in the evolution of the environment.

Causes Of Environmental Degradation:

• High Population Growth: Population impacts the environment primarily by using natural resources and producing high levels of waste. It is associated with environmental stresses like biodiversity loss, air and water pollution, and increased pressure on arable land.
• Poverty: The link between poverty and the environment is extremely complex. Inequality may foster unsustainability because the poor, who rely on natural resources more than the rich, deplete natural resources faster, as they have no real prospects of gaining access to other types of resources. Moreover, because impoverished people are mostly dependent on natural resources, a deteriorated environment might hasten the process of poverty.
• Urbanisation: Over the past two decades, India's population has doubled and is estimated to grow further. Such rapid and unplanned expansion of cities has led people to move from rural areas to towns and cities, resulting in the degradation of the urban environment. This urbanisation has widened the gap between demand and supply of services such as energy, water supply, and housing. The result of industrialisation has led to the deterioration of air and water quality and undesirable land uses, such as slums, all of which contribute to urban poverty.

Effects Of Environmental Degradation

1. Impact on human health: Human health might be at the receiving end because of environmental degradation. Respiratory issues such as pneumonia and asthma can arise in areas where harmful air pollution is present. Millions of people are known to have died off due to indirect effects of air pollution.
2. Loss of Biodiversity: Biodiversity is important for maintaining the balance of the ecosystem in the form of combating pollution, restoring nutrients, protecting water resources, and stabilizing climate. Deforestation, global warming, overpopulation, and pollution are a few of the major causes of loss of biodiversity.
3. Ozone Layer Depletion: The ozone layer is responsible for protecting the earth from harmful ultraviolet rays. The presence of CFCs, hydrochlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is causing the ozone layer to deplete. As it depletes, ultraviolet and other harmful rays may enter the earth's atmosphere and damage the environment further.
4. Economic Impact: Environmental damage in the form of loss of greenery, dirty water bodies, and polluted air also leads to deterioration of tourism, which directly or indirectly affects the economy of a nation. Moreover, nations invest huge amounts of money on cleaning the landfills, water bodies, and purifying the air, leading to significant losses.

Environmental NGOs and Their Role

India is now the most populated country in the world with a population of over 145 crores, and to provide basic needs to all, we are forced to harm the environment in many ways. India too faces many environmental problems like water pollution, air pollution, poor management of hazardous wastes, etc. To mitigate these environmental problems, various NGOs have partnered with the government to address these issues.

Role of NGOs:

1. Advocacy and Awareness: NGOs play a crucial role in generating awareness about environmental issues. They carry out campaigns, workshops, and seminars aimed at informing the public about the significance of environmental conservation and sustainability.
2. Research and Data Collection: Many NGOs conduct research and gather data about environmental problems. This information forms the basis for policies and programs made by the government for environmental protection and conservation.
3. Policy Advocacy: Several NGOs participate in policy-making by advocating for environmental conservation and sustainable development. They campaign to change relevant government regulations related to wildlife conservation, renewable energy, waste management, etc.
4. Conservation Projects: NGOs often engage in conservation projects that involve protecting endangered species, ecosystems, and reversing habitat degradation. They partner with local communities and governments to launch these initiatives.
5. Community Engagement: NGOs work with communities to promote sustainable behaviors, such as tree plantation and composting biological waste.
6. Legal Actions: NGOs act as watchdogs and may take legal action when government regulations are violated by individuals or industries, protecting environmental laws from being breached.
7. Capacity Building: NGOs provide training and capacity-building programs for communities and individuals to equip them with proactive strategies for environmental conservation, such as sustainable farming practices and installing renewable energy resources.

Environmental Ngos In India:

• Indian Environmental Society: This organisation was founded in 1972 that aims at constructing an overall ecologically stable and self-supporting system which in turn would lead to an even-handed distribution of resources. IES also prioritises solid waste management, biodiversity conservation, and environmental education. This organisation suggests global solutions for critical environmental problems at both local and national levels.
• Environmentalist Foundation of India: This foundation works towards wildlife conservation and habitat restoration. It focuses on reviving the declining freshwater bodies across the country, they do it through community-based collaborative conservation efforts. They work in 14 states in India including Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi and more.
• Wildlife Trust of India: It is a non-profit, charitable organisation founded by Mr. Vivek Menon in 1998, and as their name suggests their focus is animal welfare, wildlife conservation and environmental conservation. They have also been successful in recovering some endangered species with their extensive team of 150 professionals working around the country.
• ATREE: Ashoka's Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, an organisation that was founded in 1996 whose goal is to raise awareness and enforce rules regarding sustainability and conservation of environment. This organisation runs practical and hands-on programmes at various locations. They work to implement ground-level environmental interference which in turn spreads awareness amongst the masses.
• Vanarai: This NGO was founded by Padma Vibhushan Mr. Mohan Dharia in the year of 1982 with the goal of turning villages self-reliant. They mainly focus on soil conservation, afforestation, training and skill development of farmers etc. They seek to safeguard the environment and promote rural development. They follow the words of Mahatma Gandhi "Go Back to Villages." They have conserved around 37 crores litres of water, plant one lakh trees annually, and construct thousands of restrooms and drainage systems to handle garbage.

Cases Regarding Environmental Issues

1. Mc Mehta Vs Union Of Inida (Ganga Pollution Case)
   A PIL was filed by Mr. MC Mehta u/a 32 of the Indian Constitution demanding the issuance of a direction restraining the State of UP from letting out the trade effluents into the ganga river. Supreme Court observed that the water was highly toxic near the city of Kanpur because of the tanneries as the same discharged their toxic untreated effluents and sludge in the water. Similarly, dead bodies of humans and animals have also been thrown into the river.
   
   It was contended by the respondents that due to lack of funds and physical facilities it was not possible for them to install proper treatment plants, The Apex Court rejecting their contentions said that "Financial capacities of the tanneries should be seen irrelevant while establishing proper treatment plants, further it said that tanneries that cannot set up a primary treatment plant cannot be permitted to continue. Court ordered that the tanneries which didn't appear before them should stop functioning and also held Kanpur Mahanagar Palika liable and also passed several directions like increase in the sewer sizes in labour colonies, construction of urinals, installment of treatment plants, observe "keep the village clean week"
    
2. Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board Vs M.V. Nayudu
   The respondents requested permission from the Commissioner of Industries to create the industry.. The issuance of the license was subjected to various conditions that included a condition of obtaining a certificate from SPCB for pollution control and equipment proposed to be installed that met their requirements. The application was rejected by A.P. PCB stating that the industry was a polluting unit and fell under red category and the proposed site of the industry was within the radius of 102 km of the two lakes Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar Lake which were the primary source of drinking water for the people of the area. Aggrieved the respondents moved to the appellate authority that issued directions to A.P PCB to grant permission for the establishment of the industry.
   
   Aggrieved the A.P PCB went in appeal u/a 136 to the Supreme Court where the court made various observations and allowed the appeal. In this case the court observed that in the environmental field where the uncertainty of scientific opinions has created serious problems for the courts, uncertainty becomes a problems when scientific knowledge is institutionalised in policy making by the agency and the policy makers. The Judges realised that Precautionary Principle and the Polluter Pays Principle are now the part of the environmental jurisprudence of the country. The court also referred to the cases of Vellore Citizens Welfare Forum and Shri Ram Food and Fertilizers Gas Leakage Case.
    
3. Tarun Bharat Sangh, Alwar Vs Union Of India
   The petitioner brought this PIL for the enforcement of certain provisions and notifications under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and the Environment Protection Act, 1986 and various forest laws in the areas declared as reserved forest in the Alwar district of Rajasthan. The area was a protected as Sanctuary, a National Park thus it was very obvious that any mining activity shall be not allowed under the Forest Conservation Act of 1980. The Government of Rajasthan arbitrarily issued mining licenses and thereby enabled the industries and authorities to carry the activities of mining which according to the petitioners would degrade and destroy the ecology of the area.
   
   The Apex Court after observing various facts and laws went to praise the beauty of the ecology and its resources and said that "every source from which the man has increased his power has diminished the prospects of his successors". The Court directed the Central Government to appoint committee under section 3 of the EPA, 1986 and ensure measures and enforcements of above laws and to prevent the devastation of the environment and the wildlife. The committee shall ascertain remedial measures to the court and make appropriate recommendations for the same. The Court further carried that no mining activity can be carried out in the said area.
    

Conclusion
After the onset of Industrialisation and Urbanisation, there has been an increasing damage to the ecology and environment of the nation. Rise in the global temperature, Ozone layer depletion, Biodiversity extinction etc have been on a rise and are increasing daily. The issue of Environment protection was first seen in the Stockholm Declaration 1972 which marked a dialogue between the developed nations and the developing nations on the link between growth and development and the protection of the environment. India was also one of the signatories of this declaration and because of this the framing of Environment Protection Act and other major acts were done to protect the environment.

The Acts included rules and regulations related to the protection of environment and to the one didn't abide to the same, sanctions and penalties. In addition to this India and other countries have seen the emergence of NGOs and other institutions thar raise their voice for the protection of environment and help the government to make policies for the same. Their focus is on people's participation and raising awareness in all the sections of the society.

These organisations have helped in restoring the depleted ecology and the environment and are further taking steps to ensure the protection. Apart from the government and these organisations taking steps to ensure the protection, the common people should take initiatives to help in restoring the lost environment by enhancing their behaviour and not acting carelessly and disturbing the natures cycle.