Soil contaminants in India: an overview

Environmental pollution in India, as elsewhere in the world, is a major issue of public policy and research. Unprecedented economic growth during the last fifty years has led to extensive environmental degradation of all parts of the ecosystem. During the past couple of decades, major programmes of afforestation, water and air pollution control have been launched by the Government along with the enactment of a comprehensive Act known as ‘Environmental Protection Act 1986’. There have also been major programmes aimed at the reclamation of wastelands, especially large stretches of both alkaline and acidic soils.