Over the past few years, India's economic performance has been impressive, with a growth rate of 8% in 2005-2006. The boom is, however, placing increasing demands on natural and energy resources, with potentially serious consequences for the environment. In general, it is the poor that are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and lack of access to clean, affordable energy services. So far environmental performance has been mixed: Successes such as the reversal of deforestation rates have been accompanied by setbacks such as increased fuel wood use and ground water depletion and accelerating river pollution.