Should "Economic Development" be given priority over "Environment Conservation"?

In the era of Dinosaurs, the environment was pure then why did they vanish?

Some decades ago lakhs and crores of people died because of Malaria and Plague which accounts for even more deaths than first and the second World War, even at that time due to environmental protection the nature was at it's purest form, then why these people had to lose their lives? Reason is clear that the graph for economic development as compared to today was less.

It is also true that economic development is necessary as it helps the society to grow in a positive and progressive direction and it's contribution to all fields including environment conservation can give productive and useful results. To meet the basic necessities of such tremendously growing population of a country like ours economic development is very important. It is comparatively more important to cure the lakhs of people dying of hunger than to think about conservation of resources.

Indira Gandhi said- Poverty is the biggest polluter. We cannot expect the developing nations (who are continuously fighting from extreme poverty and for existence) to tackle the green problems of developed countries, it'd be a gag to their development. Leaving that it is also not necessary that industrialization for economic development would put heavy pressure on environment. Scientific development has nomore let the industries remain a pollution source but has made them progressive.

It is also true that the only solution to meet the increasing energy demands is to preserve it and we also know that it is only possible by new and apt industrial tools. For example Tata Steel has led to modernisation in it's techniques, this has led to lessening of green house gases and pollution in all production chains.

This proves that economic development doesn't always oppose environment conservation but makes it possible. We nomore need to cut forests to get land, we now have "feed knowledge" for growing population, with planned knowledge of agriculture that uses less water, manure, fertilizers and produces more. It is another example of economic development being useful.

Only educated, conscious and concerned people, who don't have to care about their next meal, have the potential to praise the blue sky, rivers and green forests. Without educating every child and without fulfilling atleast the basic needs of every citizen conservation is not possible.

There are no two ways to it that education and proper place to live can only be attained through economic development. The conclusion is, that undoubtedly economic development is our priority but at the same time we have to think honestly regarding environment related issues. Poverty is our weakness, that gives a chance to other countries to exploit us and our resources.

Along with awareness, honesty and innovation, economic development would strengthen us and would preserve the environment.

Posted By: Shivani Dalakoti, brand ambassador "MY VOTE FOR a BETTER INDIA" social initiative by  "pickyouropinion.com".