ABSTRACT
With the Independence of India, she became responsible for her future. There was tremendous euphoria. Development of natural resources received highest attention in view of the agrarian economy and the climatic-hydrologic characteristics of the region. The concepts, practices, and institutions of colonial heritage, however, shaped the activities in the initial phases. For instance, water resources management continued to be primarily in terms of stabilizing the sustenance agriculture even though multipurpose dams were attempted to be undertaken from the very beginning. Vectoral approach toward environment continued although environmental concerns have become of interest of late. Therefore, we consider the development in terms of each vector, viz. water, land, and forests in that order in view of emphasis accorded to each, and follow with an overview of environmentally oriented activities that have emerged of late.
