The Ministry of Environment
and Forests has so far permitted diversion of 25030 hectares of
forest land for socio-economic development activities and accorded
environmental clearances for 136 projects during the year 2002.
Environmental clearance after due assessment of impacts of various
projects and Forest clearances are the main instruments through
which the Ministry endeavors to conserve and protect the environment.
The Ministry has approved 74 industrial, 20 mining, 10 river valley,
6 thermal and 26 other projects entailing an investment of thousands
of crores. During the current year, only 6 project proposals were
rejected while 7 others were exempted from environmental clearances.
With regard to forest
clearances 684 proposals were approved by the Ministry involving
diversion of 25030 hectares of forest land. Another 193 proposals
were accorded "in principle" clearance while only 80
proposals were rejected. When seen against the total number of
343 proposals received for forest clearance during this year,
the quantum of approvals suggest that the Forest (Conservation)
Act 1980 is being implemented in its true spirit of being only
‘regulatory’ and not ‘preventive’. This approach with regard to
implementation of both Environment Impact Assessment Rules and
Forest Conservation Act is in tune with what the Minister of Environment
and Forests, Shri T.R. Baalu says: "The Ministry’s task is
to achieve a healthy reconciliation between developmental imperatives
and environmental concerns. We are not to obstruct the course
of socio-economic development but only to facilitate sustainable
development".
Between 1950 and
1980, the unregulated diversion of forest land to non-forestry
purposes resulted in a loss of 4.5 million ha. of forest land
at an average annual diversion rate of 1.5 lakh ha. Since the
Forest Conservation Act came into being in 1980, the annual diversion
rate has been brought down to about 25,000 ha. This is significant
given the fact that the forest cover in the country is only about
67 million ha. constituting 19.30 per cent of the country’s geographical
area as against the required norm of 33 per cent forest cover
under the National Forest Policy. Ms. Sunita Narain, a leading
environmental activist and Director of the Delhi-based Centre
for Science and Environment feels that "while the forest
management has generally been good, much is still to be done with
regard to increasing the forest cover with community participation
since forests are very crucial to meet the growing demand for
water besides being an important resource base for development".
Reports of the Forest Survey of India indicate that the forest
and tree cover has been steadily increasing over the years.
Community participation
in forest management has in fact been a thrust area. At a Conference
of the State Forest Ministers in the month of July this year,
it was resolved that the concepts of Forest Development Agencies
and Joint Forest Management Committees will be extended all over
the country to promote participation of local communities in forest
management including National Parks and Sanctuaries. Ms. Sunita
Narain is also of the view that "the Ministry of Environment
and Forests is focussing more on conservation than being a promoter
of development". However, in furtherance of principle of
harmonisation of developmental and environmental concerns, the
Ministry has taken various initiatives like enhancing the investment
limit in projects for environmental clearances from Rs. 50 crore
to Rs. 100 crore in respect of 16 categories of industries. The
Coastal Regulation Zone Rules were also rationalized this year
enabling setting up of non-polluting industries, harvesting of
sea water by solar evaporation, construction of public utilities
like dispensaries, schools etc. The Ministry has also initiated
discussions with the concerned Ministries for further simplification
of clearance procedures and delegating powers to State Governments
for granting environmental clearances to small power plants etc.
Shri T.R. Baalu’s
assertion that all sustainable development initiatives have to
conform to the objective of poverty eradication in the country
was also reflected in the political declaration issued at the
end of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg
in the first week of September and the Delhi Declaration at the
end of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP-8)
early November this year. India which has brought down the carbondioxide
emission intensity per dollar of
GDP through voluntary initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
has successfully resisted the efforts of some developed countries
to begin a dialogue on taking up specific targets for reduction
of climate change gases. This is because it would have impacted
the growth of economy.
It is established
that poor sections of the society will be the worse hit in case
of environmental degradation including air pollution. This puts
in perspective the significance of various measures to protect
the environment and combating air pollution. Ms. Sunita Narain
commented that "for the last one year the difference in air
quality is clearly felt in the Delhi area and it is heartening
that the consciousness about air pollution is growing all over
the country". The Ministry of Environment and Forests has
in the month of August this year asked various States to prepare
Action Plans for 24 identified cities to control air pollution.
Again to enable local
communities benefit from nurturing the valuable bio-diversity,
the Parliament has unanimously passed the Biodiversity Bill 2002
aimed at ensuring fair and equitable sharing of benefits from
using the genetic resources and preventing bio-piracy. Even the
Wildlife (Amendment) Bill provides for participation of local
communities in conserving the National Parks and Sanctuaries.
To enable the farmers take advantage of the gains in biotechnology,
genetically modified Bt. Cotton hybrids were allowed to be introduced
into the country.
In essence, the Ministry
of Environment and Forests has marched during the current year
on the path of promoting socio-economic development while seeking
to protect the environment in the interest of the present and
future generations.
