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India's Changing Scenario: A Review

by | 11-02-2018 03:47




A recent article in the world-famous magazine Down to Earth titled India's Changing Scenario has sparked a lot of attention about the current environmental policies in India. In this report, I shall try to provide my opinion about this article and the areas that it has missed to cover.

The article rightly traces the roots of India's environmental policy to the UN Conference on Human, Environment and Development in Stockholm in 1972 where the then PM of India Ms. Indira Gandhi spoke at length about the importance of the biodiversity of our nation and set up the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) upon returning from Stockholm.

However, with the recent budget cuts to the MoEFCC (with the latest one being 25%), the functioning of the MoEFCC has taken a hit. Many development projects have been given lenient sanctions leading to heavy activities in areas of rich ecosystems, which has caused loss of flora and fauna. Corporates are being given more leniency in terms of their actions that cause harmful emissions. 

Although the aforementioned points stand true, the article has failed to cover the success of the Swachh Abhiyan (Clean India) programme launched by our PM Mr Narendra Modi, which has set India on a cleaner and greener track. The Supreme Court of India's recent order on the ban of fireworks in the capital city can be seen as an example of the judiciary serving quick justice to Mother Nature. Most of the developmental projects sanctioned have been those relating to public good such as the Metro Rail Project which is aimed at providing better public connectivity thereby discouraging use of private transport which in turn cuts emissions by a great deal in the long term. Subsidy to farmers has motivated them to use more organic and environmentally friendly pesticides and fertilizers leading to a healthier nation. The Centre for Environment and Science (CSE) has been ranked among the top think tank institutes of the world in the field of environmental policy by Lauder Institute of UPenn, USA. 

India has always been committed to protecting the environment and as a signatory of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, it will not comprise on its ideals.