Adverse Impact of Pollution with special reference to Legal Framework as an Instrument to Safeguard Environment of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

The industrial pollution, degradation of forests, depletion of ozone layer, green house gases results in global warming and climate changes contribute to have an adverse effect on environment and human lives as well. The Government of India is striving to protect the environment through the constitutional provisions and few legislators. Initially, the Constitution of India had no direct provision for environmental protection. Global Consciousness, Stockholm Conference and increasing awareness of the environmental crisis forced the Indian Government to enact 42nd Amendment to the Constitution in 1976 and added Article 48-A to the Directive Principles of State Policy. According to CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are under threat from plastic. The plastic litter found on the beaches of the island is mostly of non-Indian origin that was likely to be transported by the water currents from South-East Asian countries through the Malacca Straits towards the Great Nicobar Island. In order to conserve the rich biodiversity, around 70 percent of forest area is fully protected under Tribal Reserve and protected area network. Further pollution affects the islands to a greater extent. Stricter laws and effective implementation of laws in the Andaman and Nicobar islands is the need of the hour to safeguard the environment of the islands.