Final answer:
Environmentalists in India are most concerned about the long-term impact of population growth and resource depletion, resulting in severe problems like water and air pollution, deforestation, and threats to biodiversity. Even though there is progress in renewable energy and government action against poaching, the struggle to maintain environmental health in the face of rapid growth and development continues to be a significant worry.
Step-by-step explanation:
Environmental Concerns in India
The factor that is causing the MOST concern to environmentalists in India is the combined effect of population growth and the associated strain on natural resources. This leads to a range of environmental issues such as severe water pollution, notably in the Ganges River, which sustains a large concentration of the country's population. Furthermore, India's status as the second-largest consumer of coal and the resulting air pollution from coal burning pose significant challenges to maintaining air quality. The growing number of vehicles and lack of stringent emission controls aggravate the problem. Deforestation, which contributes to environmental degradation, is another critical concern, affecting both biodiversity and ecosystems.
In addition to these issues, environmentalists are worried about the government's ability to balance the need for resource extraction to support human population growth with the requirements of wildlife management. Despite government efforts to enforce laws against poaching and promote renewable energy sources, such as India's rapidly expanding wind energy sector and the largest solar cooking program in the world, the overall environmental picture remains worrisome.
Poverty and resource exploitation result in significant environmental damage, as seen with oil spills, mining operations, and deforestation driven by both the timber industry and agricultural expansion. These activities have a direct impact on pollution levels, loss of habitats, and ecosystem destruction. Although there has been progress in renewable energy, the urgent need to address the environmental issues caused by fossil fuel reliance and other harmful practices remains a top concern for environmentalists in India.