Q1. With reference to the environmental protection of Dal Lake, consider the following statements:

1. Restrictions on fuel-driven motorboats can help reduce the risk of fuel leakage, noise pollution and disturbance to aquatic ecosystems.
2. The precautionary principle permits environmental authorities and courts to take preventive measures where there is a credible risk of environmental harm, even when scientific uncertainty remains.
3. Replacing fuel-driven boats with electric boats necessarily eliminates the environmental impact of water transport, irrespective of the electricity source and battery lifecycle.
4. The principle of sustainable development requires environmental protection to be balanced with legitimate livelihood and tourism interests, without treating economic considerations as an automatic justification for environmental degradation.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one 

(b) Only two 

(c) Only three 

(d) All four

Answer: (c) 

Explanation:

• Statement 1 is Correct: Motorised boats can contribute to fuel contamination, noise and disturbance to aquatic organisms. Restrictions can help mitigate these risks.
• Statement 2 is Correct: The precautionary principle supports preventive action against credible environmental threats despite scientific uncertainty.
• Statement 3 is Incorrect: Electric boats eliminate direct exhaust emissions during operation but may have indirect environmental impacts associated with electricity generation, battery manufacture and disposal.
• Statement 4 is Correct: Sustainable development seeks to reconcile environmental conservation with legitimate economic and social needs.