The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 24th June 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Create the Space for Governance with a Green Heart 

Why in News?

The article emphasises the urgent need for the Indian government to prioritise environmental concerns as it begins a new term.It highlights the country’s severe environmental degradation and calls for the adoption of green policies to address climate change, forest cover loss, urban pollution, and the destruction of the Himalayas.

Introduction

• The new government and the Lok Sabha need to prioritize environmental concerns in their new term.
• Historically, governments have not truly prioritized the environment, with the last administration's 'development' agenda often harming environmental interests.
• Over the past decade, Environment Ministers have mainly focused on industries like mining, oil, coal, highways, and power, neglecting significant environmental concerns.
• India is facing severe environmental degradation that requires adopting green policies.
• Balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability is necessary for India to become a middle-income economy.

Greater Vulnerability

• India’s leadership frequently mentions climate change, but substantial engagement and action are lacking, with only limited promotion of the solar energy industry.
• Despite rising energy consumption, there have been no significant efforts to reduce emissions.
• Remedial measures for climate change, such as building resilience, ensuring food security, and providing access to essentials, have not been prioritized.
• Increasing natural disasters like floods, famines, heatwaves, wildfires, water shortages, and droughts necessitate contingency plans to protect vulnerable populations.
• Necessary actions, such as updating building guidelines, preserving natural storm barriers like mangrove forests, and establishing funds for evacuation and rehabilitation, are neglected by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

Forest Cover

• India has one of the lowest levels of green cover per capita, with only 28 trees per person, compared to 8953 in Canada and 130 in China.
• Qualitative forest cover has significantly decreased over the past 20 years, and urban forestry efforts have been notably poor.
• Forest damage has been obscured by questionable accounting practices, including counting plantation forests and urban tree cover.
• Recent legislation like the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, which was hurriedly passed, needs to be repealed and replaced with robust new protections.

Unliveable Cities

• India’s metropolitan centres have outgrown the plans laid for them, with cities like Delhi and Mumbai facing severe air pollution, affecting residents’ lifespans.
• Cities such as Bengaluru and Delhi are running out of water, with the poor often queuing for hours for minimal access.
• Rivers that once brought life to cities, like the Adyar in Chennai and the Yamuna in Delhi, have become open sewers.
• Urban green spaces and water bodies have been built over, creating heat islands.
• Smaller cities have more manageable issues but need timely intervention to avoid reaching crisis levels similar to larger metros.
• Sewage treatment requires a major national overhaul, as Indian cities currently treat only about 28 percent of the sewage they generate.

Destruction in the Himalayas

Public Participation

• A significant issue is the Indian government’s long-standing refusal to listen to stakeholders and affected persons.
• Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) mechanisms have become mere formalities, with protests and criticisms often ignored.
• The Char Dham Highway project is an example of rapid, ill-considered development, causing significant environmental damage, including deforestation and erosion.
• The sanctity of the EIA Notification of 2006 has been compromised with numerous amendments over the past five years.
• EIA mechanisms need to be elevated to statutory status to prevent further dilution and ensure robust environmental assessments.

Genuine Conservation vs. Greenwashing

• Ill-advised policies driven by commercial interests, such as green credits and compensatory afforestation, have replaced genuine conservation efforts.
• Sustainable development should not be limited to commercially profitable government actions.
• Enforcement mechanisms and bodies need to be strengthened to ensure genuine environmental rule of law.

Conclusion

• These environmental concerns are not luxury issues but are critical for the survival and health of millions.
• The absence of these issues in the election manifestos of major political parties was disappointing, but it is not too late to address them.
• For the government to truly be a steward of the people, it must take a hard look at the physical health of the country and prioritise environmental concerns in its policies and actions.

PYQ:

How does the draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2020 differ from the existing EIA Notification, 2006?(150 Words /10 marks) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-3 2020)