LINK: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/the-dismal-state-of-indias-environment/article70350267.ece
Why in the News
The dismal state of India’s environment was recently highlighted in a critique, citing a deep-seated and continuing disregard for environment in government policymaking, which combined encouragement of reckless exploitation of natural resources with a callous disregard for consequences.
Background and Context: A Pattern of Environmental Disregard
Government actions and proposed changes to environmental regulations were scrutinised for displaying a venal streak of cynicism in relation to environmental protection.
Key Areas of Concern: Legislative and Policy Dilutions
- Forest (Conservation) Amendment Act, 2023: Large categories of land and projects were exempted from forest clearance rules, thus easing diversion for other purposes.
- Draft Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) notification 2020: Sought to dilute public hearings, expand exemptions, and reduce compliance reporting.
- Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification 2018: Construction rules along India’s shorelines were eased, opening ecologically sensitive coastal areas and fishing communities’ habitats to commercial real estate and industrial activity.
Governance and Financial Issues
- Ministry of Environment: Ministry was often noted for circumventing due process and weakening regulations rather than implementing them or taking proactive measures.
- National Clean Air Programme (NCAP): High-publicity initiatives such as NCAP were largely underfunded, and even the funds allocated had not been utilised.
- Electoral Bonds Data: Disclosure of electoral bonds data proved that many of the environmental clearances and policy shifts were made in light of donations by large corporate groups to the ruling party, raising concerns over policymaking being up for sale.
Manifestations of the Environmental Crisis
The crisis was illustrated through several recent events, demonstrating a failure of governmental approach.
Threat to the Aravalli Range
- Geographical and Historical Significance: The Aravalli range played a significant role in Indian geography and history, serving as a barrier to the spread of desertification from the Thar Desert to the Gangetic Plains.
- Government Policy Action: The Modi Government set a new regulation declaring that any hills in the range with an elevation of less than 100 metres are not subject to strictures against mining.
- Consequence: This policy was viewed as an open invitation for illegal miners and mafias to finish off 90% of the range, which falls below the height limit set, thereby furthering the denudation already caused by illegal mining.
Public Health Tragedies
- Annual Smog Season (Air Pollution): The national capital embarked on its annual smog season, a hazy mist of dust, smoke and particulate matter, leading to a full-scale, slow-motion public health tragedy. Estimates of the human toll of this pollution were noted to go as high as 34,000 deaths in just 10 cities annually.
- Groundwater Contamination: The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) reported that 13%-15% of tested groundwater samples in Delhi contain uranium beyond the permissible limit for human consumption.
- Water samples from Punjab and Haryana reflected even higher levels of uranium contamination, raising frightening health implications for daily consumption.
Conflict: Environment vs. Local Communities
An emerging and insidious tendency to pit the environment against the local communities that protect it was noted when politically convenient for the Government.
Issues Related to Community Rights
- Forest Rights Act, 2006: The Forest Survey of India was accused of mischievously attributing the loss of forest cover over the last decade to the implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006, with even the Minister concerned echoing the claim.
- Eviction from Tiger Reserves: The National Tiger Conservation Authority called for the eviction of almost 65,000 families from tiger reserves across the country in June 2024.
- This action was considered a breach of the spirit of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which mandates that all relocations must be voluntary.
- The move was deemed unnecessarily inimical, ranging the environment against local communities.
Way Forward: Need for a New Deal for the Environment
A comprehensive approach involving a resolve to halt further harm and a policy-level review is necessitated for building a safer, healthier, and more resilient India.
Immediate Actions: Halting Destruction
- Cessation of Deforestation: Large-scale deforestation planned or currently underway must be halted across the country, specifically mentioning Great Nicobar, north Chhattisgarh’s Hasdeo Aranya, and Madhya Pradesh’s Dhirauli.
- Crackdown on Illegal Activity: Rampant illegal mining in the Aravalli range and other eco-sensitive regions such as the Western Ghats must be cracked down upon.
- Himalayan Belt: The indiscriminate destruction of mountains in the Himalayan belt needs to cease, given the heavy toll in human lives exacted over the past few years.
Policy and Institutional Reforms
- Review of Laws: Laws and policy changes of the last decade that led to this disastrous path must be urgently reviewed.
- Amendments bulldozed through Parliament in the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 and the Forest Conservation Rules (2022), which are anti-Adivasi and allow clearing of forests without consulting inhabitants, must be withdrawn.
- Post-Facto Clearances: The blatantly illogical and dangerous practice of providing post-facto environmental clearances to big corporations that violate environmental laws cannot continue.
- Restoring NGT: The National Green Tribunal (NGT), systematically weakened by vacancies, must be restored to its pride of place and allowed to function independently of government policy and pressure.
- Inter-Governmental Coordination: Greater inter-governmental coordination is required on environmental matters.
- The air pollution crisis in the NCR requires a whole-of-government approach and a regional airshed approach.
- The groundwater uranium contamination issue also necessitates a coordinated effort, demonstrating a spirit of cooperative federalism from the Modi Government.
Conclusion
India’s environmental policies must fundamentally be guided by a deference to the rule of law, a commitment to work with rather than against local communities, and an understanding of the inextricable relationship between environment and human development. Adopting such a worldview is essential for navigating the challenges of the 21st century.
