Environment Protection in India

Why in News?

As per the report released on the occasion of completion of five years of Paris Agreement, India secured a place in the top 10 countries of Global Climate Change Performance Index 2021. India secured 10th position in 2021, while it was on 31th position in 2014.

But this was achieved with the hard work and proper planning of years, which helped increasing forest cover up to 13 thousand kilometres in the past four years.

 

Key Points:

Backgrounds:

At a time when Earth is witnessing climate change and the entire globe is registering rise in temperature, drought, floods, wild fires, change in rainfall and snowfall patterns, India is the only country playing its fair part in containing global temperatures up to 2 degree Celsius as per the 2015 Paris Agreement.

As we celebrate March 21 as the International Forest Day and March 22 as International Water Day, we should think how we can contribute to the Government's efforts for environment protection.

Historical Background:

• The traditional Indian thought always deified nature and made it a part of their daily existence. Across the globe, India is the only country where rivers are worshipped.
• From King Ashoka to Mahatma Gandhi, Indian ideology has always given priority to water conservation and environment protection.
• Representing India at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on "Addressing climate-related risks to international peace and security"
• A hymn from the Shukla Yajurveda to underline commitment of the country for environment.

ॐ द्यौ: शान्तिरन्त रिक्षँ शान्ति:,

पृथ्वी शान्तिराप: शान्तिरोषधय: शान्ति:।

वनस्पत य: शान्तिर्विश्वे देव ा: शान्तिर्ब्रह्म शान्ति:,

सर्वँ शान्ति:, शान्तिरेव शान्ति:, सा मा शान्तिरेधि ॥

Meaning, may peace radiate in the sky, in the space everywhere. May peace reign all over this Earth, in water and in all herbs, tress and plants. May peace flow over the whole universe. May peace be in the primordial element. And may there be, in all, peace and peace alone. Aum peace, peace and peace to us and all beings!

 

Recently, India on the path of environment protection:

• As per the Indian Forest Survey Report, 2019, released after every two years, forest and tree cover in India is 8,07,276 sq km. This is 24.56 per cent of the total geographical area of India.
• There is an increase of 5,188 sq km (0.65 per cent) forest and tree cover in the country as compared to 2017.
• The total forest cover in the country is 7,12,249 sq km, which is 21.67 per cent of the total geographical area.
• Forest cover in Karnataka grew the most which is 1,025 sq km. It is followed by Andhra Pradesh (990 km), Kerala (823 km), Jammu and Kashmir (371 km) and Himachal Pradesh (334 km).
• Ujjwala scheme was introduced for the use of LPG in homes instead of conventional polluting wood fuel. Under this scheme, over 8 Crore connections were provided so far.
• National Clean Air Programme was launched in India for the first time in 2019 towards clean environment. It aims to reduce the amount of PM 2.5 and PM 10, the harmful particles found in the air up to 30%, by the year 2024.
• To reduce air pollution, BS-6 standard is implemented directly after BS-4. A new policy is formulated to promote electric vehicles.
• Schemes like Ujala, Swachh Bharat and Namami Gange are provingto be important for conserving water along with environment.
• Around 305 projects were approved under the Namami Gange Scheme. Drains opening in River Ganga are banned.
• To conserve ecosystem of forests, special attention was given to Wildlife Conservation Plans. To eliminate plastic to save ocean system and to conserve aquatic organisms, Tortoise Policy and Project Dolphin were introduced.
• India has taken the most effective measures in the realm of renewable energy to save forests. From setting up the International Solar Alliance to achieving the target of generating 175 GW renewable energy by 2022, would be met with ahead of time.
• A detailed action plan is being prepared to connect 31 rivers of the country.
• All these initiatives taken to conserve water and forest in the past six years are testimony to the Government initiatives. Moreover, the concern of the Government was reflected from the fact when Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen plogging at a beach in Mamallapuram giving a message to all and sundry to protect nature. So, it becomes responsibility of everyone to contribute for environment protection initiative.

 

Challenges:

• As per a report from the World Health Organisation (WHO), every year around 38 Lakh people die due to air pollution.
• Various other reports and survey also suggest that forest cover on the earth is shrinking, water bodies are dying, rivers are changing their course causing floods and natural calamities.

 

Looking for a solution for these crises, around 196 countries of the world gathered in Paris in 2015. Targets were set for developed and developing countries to mitigate climate change. The objective was to deal with this global menace together but when report came out after five years, India was the only country meeting the target. As the Government is undertaking several initiatives to protect the environment, the common people should also play their part.

 

Also Read : SAKSHAM Awareness Campaign

Environment (Protection) Act, 1986:

The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 is an umbrella legislation under which various rules and notifications have been framed and issued to take care of the different dimensions of environment challenges. There are main nine important Environmental Acts.

These statutes and rules are being enforced through the Central Government, State Government, Central and State Pollution Control Boards, National Biodiversity Authority and State Biodiversity Boards.

The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974:

• To comprehensively deal with water pollution issues and creation of institutional set in the country. The Act prohibits the discharge of pollutants into water bodies beyond a given standard, and lays down penalties for non-compliance.
• The Act was amended in 1988 to confirm closely to the provisions of the EPA, 1986. It set up the Central Pollution Control board(CPCB) , which lays down standards for the prevention and control of water pollution. At the state level, the State Pollution Control Board function under the direction of the CPCB and the State government.

 

The Water (Prevention and Control of Polltion) Cess Act, 1997:

• A levy and collection of a cess on water consumed by industries and local authorities.
• It aims at augmenting the resources of central and state boards for prevention and control of water pollution.
• Following this Act, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Cess Rules were formulated in 1978 for defining standards and indications for all kind of and location of meters that every consumer of water is required to install.

The Air ( Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act,1981:

• To combat air pollution by prohibiting the use of polluting fuels and substances, as well as by regulating appliances that gives rise to air pollution.
• Under the Act, establishing or operating of any industrial plant in the pollution control area requires consent from state boards.
• The boards test the air in air pollution control areas, inspect pollution control equipment, and manufacturing processes. The board has power to cancel consent on non-fulfillment of the conditions.

The Environment (Protection) Act,1986:

• It is an umbrella legislation designed to provide a framework for the co-ordination of central and state authorities established under the water (Prevention and Control) Act,1974 and Air (Prevention and Control ) Act,1981.
• The Central government is empowered to take measures necessary to protect and improve the quality of the environment by setting standards for emissions and discharges; regulating the location of industries; management of hazardous wastes, and protection of public health and welfare. Notifications under the EPA for the protection of ecologically sensitive areas or guidelines are issued time to time.

The Public Liability Insurance Act (PLIA), 1991:

• It covers accidents involving hazardous substances and insurances where death or injury results from an accident.
• The Act makes owner liable to provide relief as specified in the Schedule of the Act. The PLIA was amended in 1992, and the Central Government was authorized to establish the Environment Relief Fund, for making relief payments.

The National Appellate Authority Act,1997:

It provided for the establishment of a National Environment Appellate Authority to hear appeals with respect to restriction of areas in which any industry operation or process or class of industries, operations or processes could not carry out or would be allowed to carry out subject to certain safeguards under the Environment (Protection) Act,1986.

The Biological diversity Act, 2002

It was enacted under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. It is to “provide for the conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the sued of biological resources, knowledge and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.”

The Wildlife (Protection) Act (WPA),1972:

It provides protection to listed flora and fauna and establishes a network of ecologically important protected areas. It empowers the central and state governments to declare any area a wildlife sanctuary, national park or closed area. The Act prohibits hunting of animals except with permission of authorized officer when animal has become dangerous to human life or property or so disabled or diseased as to be beyond recovery. 

The forest (Conservation) Act,1980:

It was adopted to protect and conserve forests. The Act restricts the power of the state in respect of de-reservation of forests and use of forestland for non-forest purposes.

Also Read : Swachh Survekshan India 2021 

 

Source:

PIB