Energy/environment

The energy-environment problem in India and other similar developing countries is viewed mainly from the cost and availability aspect only. The environment degradation aspect is not of much importance. As this group of countries are mainly importers of energy resources, particularly the petroleum hydrocarbons, the high cost of oil is slowing down their already meagre rate of economic growth. The allround cost-push inflation in the aftermath of the energy crisis has made it extremely difficult for these nations to maintain even the status quo ante. Though their per capita energy consumption is miniscule in comparison to that of industrialised nations (India´s per capita energy consumption is about 2% of that of the U.S.A.), even this meagre consumption is being priced out of their reach. The conservation ethic is strong and premium energy resources are being conserved and reserved for priority sectors only by government policy and price control.