Legal, Institutional and Technical Framework for Lake/Wetland Protection in India: Explained

CHAPTER I – INTRODUCTION 

Wetlands and lakes, either natural or man-made, brackish or freshwater, play an important role in ensuring urban environmental sustainability. These bodies of water provide important environmental, economic and social services, such as providing drinking water, replenishing groundwater, serving as sponges to regulate floods, and sustaining biodiversity, and livelihood providing.  They have, however, become the greatest casualty of urbanization in today's world. Recognizing the importance of lakes, the newly published Nation Capital Regional Planning Board's draught updated plan for 2021 initiatives recommends that lakes/ponds be revitalized and maintained, and that they be used as surface-based reservoirs and to recharge groundwater reservoirs in order to address the obstacles associated with rising water demand.  The research also suggested that water from the end knot of canals and gathered rains be utilized to revitalize ponds and lakes (NCRPB, 2013). Despite their economic, social, and environmental importance, these types of water are often overlooked. These sources of water are now invaded upon by the land traffickers and polluted with sewage and rubbish as a result of lackadaisical municipal officials.  Much of the area that surrounds the lakes and ponds has been occupied by impermeable surfaces as a result of uncontrolled urbanization.  As a consequence, rather than rains, wastewater and discharges have plugged up urban water systems. Once sponge-like inhabitants of metropolitan areas, urban lakes have become a danger, becoming clogged even with minimal rainfall and overflowing into obstructions in canals with heavy rainfall, creating flooding throughout the metropolis The elimination of these city absorbers has worsened floods and heightened the agony of dryness (Churning Still Water, 2012).  Tragically, our Western culture is essentially damaging and degrading the environment. We people are the reason behind that environmental preservation is even essential. No other living thing in the world neglects nature as badly as we do. But, happily we are able to improve our everyday behaviors in order to live our lives more sustainably.  Simply utilize the following arguments to make yourself more conscious of the need of environmental conservation. These advantages will undoubtedly increase your drive and energy to fight for our environment.

Global warming, World hunger, increased natural catastrophes, hazardous diseases, contaminated air, soil and water, use of pesticides in the fields, crop failures, and species extinction — these are only a few of the issues we face.  We must not assume that human beings are the only healthy living creatures on an Earth-like planet. Everything in nature is interconnected. This has shown us many things, not the least of which is the Corona epidemic, from which we must gain insight.

Protection of the environment is crucial for homeland security because it produces jobs rather than destroying them. It contributes to ensuring that vital resources from Mother Nature are always readily accessible to us.

Given the grave state of urban water body neglect, the purpose of this article is to assess the statutory and institutional safeguards that are available for the preservation of water resources in cities in India and other areas of the world, especially within developed nations.  The research paper will also look at technical techniques for managing water bodies.

CHAPTER II – ISSUES AND THREATS: THE INDIAN SCENARIO  

For the last two decades, urban water bodies have been a victim of unplanned urbanization in India. There are a number of threats that urban water bodies are facing today, ranging from pollution, encroachment, eutrophication, illegal mining activities, ungoverned tourist activities and cultural misuse.

Pollution:

The population of cities has grown dramatically over the past 20 years, but this growth has not been accompanied by an increase in public infrastructure, such as sufficient trash disposal facilities. Therefore, the urban municipal services are becoming less adequate as more and more people migrate to cities.

Water supply lines are frequently disconnected in a large number of city areas. Consequently, untreated municipal sewage and solid waste are dumped into the water bodies, frequently eventually converted into landfills. For instance, Vadodara is home to numerous artificial lakes, including Wadi Waddi, Akota, Varnama, Sevasi, and Dasrath.

Encroachment:

Another significant threat to water systems, especially in metropolitan areas, is encroachment. There is a growing shortage of land due to population migration to cities. Even a tiny plot of land in an urban area might fetch a high price these days. As a result, these urban water bodies are now recognized as real estate rather than for the environmental services they provide.

These lakes and marshes present incredibly lucrative potential for both public and private developers. These lakes present incredibly lucrative potential for both commercial developers and the government. Well-known examples of encroachment are Charkop Lake in Maharashtra, Ousteri Lake in Puducherry, and Deepor Beel in Guwahati. The extent of Deepor Beel's invasion was so great that the wetland shrank by 40 square kilometres due to the construction of several dwelling units and structures, as well as the installation of railway track within it.

Pallikaranai Marshland in Bangalore is another intriguing case of pollution and encroachment—this time, not from a private developer but from the government itself. This urbanized swamp is rapidly shrinking in size. It was once a bird sanctuary, but today Chennai City uses it as a landfill. This wetland has significantly decreased in size due to the disposal of solid waste, the release of sewage, and the development of new structures, including roads and train stations. 

Pallikaranai Wetland is currently one of Chennai's biggest designated disposal sites. Similar to this, the state revenue department allocated a lakebed for building at Sola Beel in Guwahati despite an order from the Guwahati High Court to safeguard all wetlands in the state.

Eutrofication:

Lakes and wetlands are nearly closed ecosystems, primarily because they are lentic water systems. Because only a portion of the materials that enter lakes and wetlands may be eliminated based on the water exchange system, a significant portion of them become an irreversible component of the system. As a result, nutrients from raw sewage enter the lake system and create a variety of harmful effects, like the rapid growth of aquatic weeds in lakes and ponds, which eventually destroy and disrupt the ecosystem of the body of water. Assamese beels are a well-known example of a high hyacinth growth caused by pollution.

Illegal Mining Activities:

Illegal mining for building materials, such as stones and sand, on the lake's bed and in its catchment has a detrimental effect on the body of water and is one of the main causes of water body degradation. Excessive mining depletes the water bodies' capacity to hold water. For instance, despite a 1999 court order to cease mining, illicit mining has been causing problems for the last 20 years for Jodhpur's Basamand Lake, which was formerly the city's main supply of drinking water. Another example of illicit mining operations that have ruined a lake is Surajkund Lake in Haryana, where the catchments have been mined for building materials. Further down the line, groundwater mining by Faridabad has resulted in the drying up of multiple lakes in the area.

Unplanned Tourism Activities:

Unplanned tourism has emerged as a significant hazard to urban water bodies, lacking systematic planning and management. Among the effects of tourism on the local environment include wildlife disturbance, pollution from visitor trash, alterations to local lifestyles, and the loss of cultural legacy. Garbage disposal into surrounding water bodies has become a prevalent practice in due to the lack of disposal facilities. This practice has led to the degradation of water bodies, particularly at high-altitude lakes. As an illustration, consider Dal Lake in Srinagar, Tso Morari, and Pongsho Lakes in Ladakh, where unplanned and unregulated tourism has had long-term detrimental effects on the region's ecology and environment.

Cultural Misuse:

The unfortunate situation of urban water bodies is further compounded by the fact that local populations abuse these bodies of water for cultural or religious purposes, such as immersing idols during particular festivals. In lakes, these activities are especially responsible for major metallic contamination. Paints containing lead, chromium, nickel, cadmium, zinc, and other hazardous metals are frequently used to paint these statues. For instance, during the pujas in Guwahati, a significant number of idols are submerged in the Brahmaputra River. River Yamuna in Delhi during Ganesh Chaturthi and River Pampa in Kerala are two more examples.

“The State should strive to preserve and enhance the environment and to conserve the fauna and flora of the nation,” as stated explicitly in article 48A of the Indian Constitution. In a similar vein, Article 51A of the Indian Constitution states that it is every citizen's essential responsibility to preserve and enhance the natural environment. “Every Indian citizen is entrusted with a duty to preserve and enhance the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to show empathy for all living things.”

Urban water bodies are deemed significant by Indian courts, which have the authority to issue a mandamus in accordance with existing constitutional provisions and laws. A higher court may issue a mandamus, directing an authority to operate in accordance with the rules that the authority is required to follow. However, lakes, wetlands, and other aquatic habitats are not specifically protected by legislation at this time. However, there are several statutes, legislation, plans, programmes, regulations, and policies for the preservation of water bodies. Below is a quick explanation of these measures.

Policies for the Conservation of Water Bodies:

In 1987, the first National Water Policy was created. Nevertheless, the national level did not address the preservation of water bodies until 2002, with the modification of the first National Water Policy (National Water Policy, 1987). Additionally, the updated policy merely made reference to the resurgence of conventional systems.

Prior to this, lakes and other bodies of water were protected by the National Wetland Conservation Programme, which was created in 1983 by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). The National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP), a distinct plan created by the Ministry in 2001, is intended to conserve lakes located in metropolitan regions, as these bodies of water are particularly vulnerable to pollution and encroachment. The creation of national-level policies and initiatives for urbanised lakes is the main goal of the NLCP. It is important to keep in mind, nevertheless, that because water is a state concern as it is in the state list, the central government has little power to put plans for managing and safeguarding water bodies in urban areas into action. The Central and State governments split the expenses incurred under the NLCP in a 70:30 ratio. MOEF instructed all states to establish City Level Monitoring Committees (CLMCs) in order to enhance the execution and coordination of the procedures amongst the central government, state governments, and urban municipal entities. For the rehabilitation of over 40 lakes in 14 states, NLCP has so far invested 352.19 crores.^[1] But regrettably, the outcomes continue to be far from acceptable because, in the vast majority of situations, the emphasis was placed on temporary fixes alone. For instance, the majority of the resources allocated under government programmes like NLCP initiatives have been utilised for expensive technological fixes and landscaping surrounding water bodies instead of on restoration of the environment and enhancements to the cleanliness of the water, as in the case of Pushkar Lake in Ajmer. Even when it was restored, the water quality of Pushkar Lake did not match national requirements.^[2]

One of the primary goals of NLCP has not been accomplished in any of the endeavours that NLCP has been a part of: enhancing capacity for stakeholders. The National Wetland Conservation Plan (NWCP) and the Nation Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) were combined into the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems in February 2013, nevertheless. The program's parameters are currently being drafted.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests’ 1992 National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development emphasised the importance of taking immediate measures to prevent pollution of bodies of water caused by industrial and municipal wastes that are produced from urbanized environments by removing and redirecting such debris from water bodies as well as the preservation of land close to bodies of water and the avoidance of building there. The National Capital Region's Regional Plan-2021, created in 2005, mandated that NCR municipalities preserve the designated water bodies and set aside two to five percent of their land for the replenishment of groundwater.^[3]

As part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, the National Water Mission also made recommendations for the preservation of lakes and other bodies of water, such as rushing the completion of initiatives for the reconstruction, preservation, and maintenance of bodies of water in regions or circumstances that are vulnerable to climate change, creating a collection of water bodies, particularly the ones with distinctive features, connecting streams, and surveying and evaluating patterns of land use with a focus on water drainage, cover of vegetation, silting, invasion, preservation of mangrove habitats, and human settlements. Addressing the effects of human activity on streams and water bodies, raising the general public's understanding of the significance of water body ecosystems. It was also advised that a regulatory framework be developed and put into place at the federal, state, and local levels to guarantee the prudent use of water resources.

Acts/Bills for the Conservation of Water Bodies:

In addition to the environmental policy declarations mentioned above, there are numerous additional laws and bills aimed at restoring India's lakes and other water bodies, including the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971), the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1974), the Environment (Protection) Act (1986), and others.

Only a few Indian states, nonetheless, have established and put into effect laws that are expressly intended to conserve water resources. These include Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Kolkata (West Bengal), and Guwahati (Assam). The Guwahati Water Bodies (Preservation and Conservation) Bill 2008 was approved by the state's government in Guwahati as a result of court intervention. The objective was to recover areas around the water body in order to conserve the wetland ecosystem.

To save over 12,000 hectares of wetland, the East Kolkata Wetland Conservation and Management Bill was approved earlier in 2006. This bill stipulates that encroaching water bodies will result in a penalty of Rs. 1 lakh. The "Water, Land, Trees Act" of the Andhra government gives state authorities the authority to take action to save water bodies and stop the conversion process. The statute also mandates actions to remove and avert an invasion, as well as to perpetually mark the borders of the water bodies. The Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act, 2008, was also released by the Keralan government. This Act stipulates a minimum six-month jail sentence and a maximum fine of one lakh rupees.

Rules for the Conservation of Water Bodies:

Regulations for the preservation of India's waterways have also been released by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MOEF). In response to calls for a national regulation, MOEF released a set of guidelines for the managing and safeguarding of wetlands in December 2010 (Wetland Rules, 2010) in accordance with the Wetlands (Management and Protection) Rules provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986. But the rules are now being reviewed.

Authorities for the Conservation of Lakes:

Water bodies in metropolitan settings are generally held by land-owning organisations. However, several of other organisations and agencies, including the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Fisheries, and other local authorities like Municipal Corporations, Development Authorities, Tourism Departments, Water Supply Boards, etc., are necessary to ensure their continued existence and protection. Rather than being successful, the problem is further complicated by the multitude of organisations involved.

In addition to these organisations, several regions of the nation have established Lake Development Authorities, which are specialised purpose vehicles (SPVs) dedicated to lake administration and protection. While these Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) have contributed to the preservation of several water bodies to some degree, regrettably, these authorities are the only other entities lacking the legal authority to carry out the necessary actions for water body preservation. Additionally absent from this authority are the spokespeople for the relevant parties.

As was previously said, it is clear that urban water bodies are in very bad shape even though there are several laws and regulations in place to preserve and restore urban lakes and wetlands. Their numbers are dropping very quickly. For instance, of Bangalore's 262 lakes before the beginning of the 1960s, just 10 are still filled with water. Similarly, Ahmadabad identified 137 lakes in 2001; over 65 of them were said to have already been built upon.^[4]

When the state of 44 lakes was determined in Delhi in 2010–11 to assess the modifications to water bodies over the previous ten years, it was discovered that 21 of the 44 lakes had dried up as a result of increasing urbanisation and declining groundwater levels.^[5] In the previous 12 years, Hyderabad has lost 3245 hectares of water resources in the manner of lakes and ponds, which is another illustration of the increasing depletion of urbanized water bodies (Times of India, 2012). A list of more than three thousand water bodies is kept by the city municipal corporation. India has several examples of the terrible condition of urban water bodies.

CHAPTER IV – LEGAL PROTECTION FOR LAKES/WETLANDS IN DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

There are no explicit regulations designed with the preservation and protection of lakes and wetlands in mind.

Water bodies are indirectly protected at varying levels by conservation legislation, contingent upon the national legislative and institutional framework. Although they are extremely beneficial, regulations and agreements protecting lakes and wetlands do not have the same authority as laws. For instance, in Canada, the Fisheries Act, the Migratory Birds Convention Act, the Species at Risk Act, the Canada Wildlife Act, and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act all provide indirect protection for aquatic bodies.

Similar to this, there are no similar water-related Acts in the UK that are only relevant to the management of wetlands and lakes. Regarding aquatic bodies generally, the regulations are far broader. Nonetheless, the Water Framework Directive (WFD) was approved by the European Union in December 2000.

All member states were required to establish river basin directives and a river basin management plan, which will be reviewed through a cyclical process every six years. The Directive's goal was to create an international framework for the protection and conservation of a broad set of water bodies.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency, or USEPA, is the head of the Federal Environmental Governance authority in the United States. The EPA and other federal agencies are permitted by Congress to design rules and regulations that provide the crucial information required to carry out environmental legislation. In addition, there are other subagencies that handle various environmental issues, and the Office of Water is the specific organisation that oversees water.  Every state-level governance team, including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, or FDEP, is accountable to the USEPA central office. The state-level agencies also have their own subsidiary lists of regulations. For example, in Florida, the conservation of wetlands is the primary responsibility of the Florida Department of Environmental Conservation (FDEP) and the Army Corps of Engineers.

The discharge of dredged or fill material into US waters is governed by Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This section's objective is to preserve and restore the country's waters—all of the rivers, streams, lakes, wetlands, and coastal waters—as well as their chemical, physical, and biological integrity. In addition, there are fines and legal ramifications for illegal dredging, filling, and destruction of wetlands that harm waterways.

The maximum number of fines for each offence is $10,000. Third-degree offences that involve pollution or contamination carry fines of up to $50,000 and a maximum five-year jail sentence. A second-degree misdemeanour, reckless disrespect for the state's water resources, carries a potential $5,000 fine or six months in jail. A $10,000 fine or six months in jail are imposed for first-degree misdemeanours, which include lying to the permitting authorities, not obtaining a permit, and breaking the rules. In a similar vein, landowners in Washington who neglect to preserve wetlands may face legal repercussions, forfeit their government benefits, or both.

CHAPTER V – CASE STUDIES: EXAMPLES OF LAKES/WETLANDS MANAGEMENT

Case Study A: Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra & Others v State of Uttar Pradesh

This ruling is related to a prior ruling made in a like situation by the Supreme Court. A writ petition from Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra regarding the illegal and unapproved operation of limestone mining in the Mussoorie Hill radius of India was acknowledged by the Apex Court. It claimed that the quarries damaged the everlasting water springs and posed a threat to a healthy ecosystem. A committee was tasked by the Bench to examine the limestone quarries mentioned in the Writ Petitions while they were pending resolution. Additionally, a working batch was assigned by the government to excavate limestone quarries in the Dehradun-Mussoorie area.

The Apex Court granted its permission to a comprehensive order on March 12, 1985, which included various directives and revealed that the decision's specifics would be included in the verdict to be presented later. In this ruling, however, the court stated that since the general grounds had been sufficiently established in that direction, it was not necessary to provide any further justification for what had already been assumed in the Bench's decision from March 12, 1985.

Facts of the case:

A section of the Himalayan hill ranges that surround Mussoorie is called Doon Valley. The Doon Valley area was incredibly wealthy. The Mussoorie hills are the source of several rivers, which has led to the ecological flourishing of the valley zone. But in the 1950s, it gave rise to a limestone mining district, and as a result of fulminating, tree-cutting, and extreme mining, the valley began to deteriorate. Between 1955 and 1965, the Doon Valley saw an increase in limestone mining activity. The valley became devoid of flora as a result of the explosions caused by the exploitation of minerals. The valley's natural beauty disappeared in the 1980s as a result of landslides, flooding, extreme heat, droughts, and destroyed crops.

 In 1961, the Uttar Pradesh State Minister of Mines, outlawed the mining sector. But hollowing began occurring once more in 1962, when the state government obtained multiple mining and excavation concessions for a 20-year period. In 1982, when leases were being considered for renewal, the state forbade them due to the potential for ecological damage. Notwithstanding the government's decision, mining businesses continued to grow. The Doon Valley mining was approved by the Allahabad High Court, which weighed economic gain over environmental concerns. A local NGO from Dehradun and RLEK complained to the Apex Court in 1983 about environmental poverty.

Under Article 32, the Supreme Court filed a writ petition in response to this complaint. The Court ordered that all ongoing mining operations in the valley be measured. The state government's database for the zone's cultivation was another area of focus for the court.

Judgement:

At the time the Apex Court received the matter, the Central Government was concerned about the risky mining operations in the Valley. The Government of India designated a Working Group in the Dehradun Valley Litigation case in 1983 to examine the limestone research in the Dehradun-Mussoorie area. Both the government's task force and the court committee, led by D.N. Bhargava, reached similar conclusions on the mines' detrimental effects on the surrounding area. The Working Group also submitted evaluations to the court regarding the restricted mining operations that were allowed to continue in an open manner. Parliament approved the Environment Protection Act in 1986 amid legal proceedings. The Valley was subsequently designated under the Environment Protection Act as an organically exceptional section. In addition, a Doon Valley Board headed by the Environment Minister was chosen by the Central Government and given the responsibility of preserving and cleaning up the Valley's hazardous areas.

According to the Supreme Court, mining in the Dehradun Valley's conserved forests is against the Forest Conservation Act. The Forest Conservation Act only forbade non-forest operations in forest regions where the Central Government had not granted permission. Additionally, the Apex Court was concerned about the health and safety of mine workers and labourers who were not paid as a result of the activities in the Dehradun Valley in addition to ecological integrity and national benefits.

It was seen in this particular case, that Article 21 of the Indian Constitution provides the right to an environment that is healthy as a basic right. Industrialization drives evolution, which in turn triggers environmental degradation. Over time, the idea of sustainable growth has grown to emphasise the need for ecology and evolution to coexist in balance. Under the guise of national interest, it is wrong to dishonour the environment. Administrative and legislative strategies for compatible environmental and evolutionary concepts should be in line with the nation's socioeconomic aspirations. Courts are crucial in determining the scope of authority and goals of administrative actions as well as the seeming balance between evolution and the environment.

Preserving a balance between the two is the hour's imperative. As a result, the environment is affected by pollution on the one hand and evolution on the other. The development of sustainable living and environmental demands ought to be the primary focus. The only viable option, though, is sustainable development, and administrative actions must be taken in line with it. Legal Protection available in Developed Countries.

Case Study B: Nainital, Uttarakhand, India

Uttarakhand, India, Nainital Naini Lake is located at 2000 metres high sea level in the Kumaon Hills. However, there have recently been major issues, notably with the lake's water quality.  With the growing number of guests visiting Nainital, a huge quantity of sewage found its way into the lake via surface drainage. In addition, there has been a concern with direct sewage flow into the lake and ponds. As a consequence of this, the water quality of the lake has deteriorated. Exacerbating matters worse, the lake serves as Nainital's sole drinking water supply. Certain technological instruments and institutional methods have been used to counter the contamination and operate as a 'damage-control' operation in order to restore the lake. The bio-manipulation approach (the science of deliberately altering an ecosystem by introducing or removing organisms, particularly predators) was one of the technological techniques used to clean up and revitalise the lake. The primary goal of the bio-manipulation project was to reintroduce traditional fish species and improve lake oxygen levels by means of an oxygenation procedure. The number of 'Gambusia' fish was restricted under this initiative, and they were contributing to increasing the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in the lake. This led to lower oxygen levels and the accumulation of blue-green algae, which harmed the lake's environment. Coupled with the technological resources, community engagement has improved the overall state of the lake. Inhabitants of the lake's many settlements have now turned on a scientifically planned trash removal system as part of the "Mission Butterfly" project Sweepers from Mission Butterfly gather garbage from homes, hotels and schools and transport it directly to specially built composting heaps, where it is transformed into fertiliser.  As an outcome, the amount of urban garbage discharged into lakes has gradually decreased. Surprisingly, the level of community participation does not stop there. To assist this objective, schools began educating pupils about trash management. As a result, the water quality of the lake significantly improved.

CHAPTER VI – CONCLUSION

To sum up, this research paper has examined the important facets of the institutional, legal, and technical frameworks for the preservation of wetlands and lakes. Considering these ecosystems' relevance on an ecological, social, and economic level, their significance cannot be emphasized. We have examined the current legal frameworks for the protection of lakes and wetlands through a thorough analysis, pointing out their advantages and disadvantages as well as possible areas for development.

In order to provide the foundation for successful protection, the legal component is essential. Our findings highlight the significance of international collaboration, well-defined and enforced rules, and flexible legal frameworks that can effectively tackle the ever-changing landscape of environmental issues.

It is now acknowledged that the institutional component is essential to guarantee the application and upholding of legal frameworks. Successful lake and wetland protection requires effective cooperation amongst multiple stakeholders, including governmental agencies, non-governmental groups, local populations, and foreign businesses.

It is also impossible to overlook the technical components of protection. Modern science and technology are essential for tracking, evaluating, and lessening the effects of human activity on natural ecosystems. Innovative approaches like ecological modelling, GIS technologies, and remote sensing can be integrated to improve our comprehension of these intricate systems and support evidence-based decision-making.

Recognizing the interdependence of legal, institutional, and technical aspects is crucial as we proceed. Sustainable lake and wetland protection requires a comprehensive strategy that incorporates these elements. Furthermore, encouraging public participation, education, and awareness is essential for establishing a feeling of collective accountability and encouraging the implementation of environmentally conscious practices. 

The outcomes of this research highlight the necessity of a comprehensive and team-based strategy for lake and wetland preservation. Through the resolution of legal deficiencies, fortification of institutional structures, and utilization of technical innovations, we may endeavour to ensure that these vital ecosystems are preserved for the advantage of both the current and forthcoming generations.

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