Colonial ecologies in India and Punjab, 1849-1947: environmental management and exploitation

During British rule in India and Punjab (1849-1947), the environment was profoundly reshaped by colonial policies governing pollution, plantations, wildlife management, and public health. These interventions, justified as both scientific and moral, masked imperial exploitation and led to lasting ecological disruptions. This paper examines colonial environmental policy in Punjab (1849-1947) by focusing on three interconnected dimensions: pollution and plantation management, wildlife control, and ecological disturbances that affected public health. It asks how the British administration justified these interventions as scientific and moral imperatives, how policies shaped colonial ecological governance, and what long-term consequences they produced. Using archival records and official correspondence, the study adopts a historical-analytical approach to trace the ecological logic of empire. The findings suggest that pollution laws, plantation projects, and wildlife regulations were not discrete measures but interlinked strategies designed to render Punjab's landscapes governable and profitable. These interventions transformed the region's environment and social fabric while also generating enduring ecological disruptions. The paper concludes that colonial environmental governance in Punjab not only reflected the imperial pursuit of scientific control but also established the foundations for environmental challenges that persist today.