Development and Changes: The End of Environment

Dr. Biswajit Baidya

Abstract: Human beings are the most powerful environment agent and are capable of modifying the environment to a great extent according to their needs by the application of modern technology. The relation between nature and man is one of the reciprocal modification. The interplay between the geographic factors and the human efforts is an eternal and universal process. The environmental history of Tripura as well as North - East region is no exception to this generalization. The explosion in population growth and ever - increasing industrialization in the 20yh century have lead to devastating effect on the environment. Global Warming, widespread population, deforestation, land degradation and spices extinction are just some of the major issues threatening human life on Earth. North - East India is called nature?s gift to India. It is mountains, thickly forested, nourished by massive rainfall, has massive rivers, has a diverse wildlife, inhabited a number of forest dwellers called tribes who cherished environmentalist ethos. The region has been experiencing environment depletion which was a result of colonial policies, exploitation of its ecology and mineral resources, large scale trans - border immigration and settlement of people, establishment of plantation industries through deforestation, dependence of dairy industry on grazing and so on. The main aim of this paper is to find out how colonial policies, modern technology and reckless use of earth mineral are liable for environmental degradation in this region. What could be the possible strategies for save our Earth?

Keywords: environment, values, development, changes, policies