Sustainable development is essential because :

1. Definition and need - Sustainable development means development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Since resources are limited, this is the only way to continue development over time.
2. Groundwater is over-used - Example : Groundwater is a renewable resource, but in many parts of India, especially in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, over-use for agriculture has led to over-exploitation and falling water tables. Without conservation, agriculture itself will collapse.
3. Exhaustion of non-renewable resources - Example : Crude oil reserves in the world will last only about 50 years at the current rate of use. If they are exhausted, industry and transport will suffer badly.
4. Environmental degradation - Deforestation, air and water pollution, soil erosion and global warming show that economic growth without care for the environment harms health and livelihood.
5. Equity for future generations - It is a moral duty to leave behind a planet that is at least as good as the one we inherited, so scientists have been warning that present development is unsustainable.
   Conclusion : Development must therefore be balanced with conservation of resources and protection of the environment.