Stop the Dismantling of Environmental Rules

Context: Since the government has a social obligation to protect the environment it needs to reconsider the Draft Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) 2020.

Erosion of environmental protection framework:

• Environmental clearances during the lockdown without proper public consultations. For E.g. ????

• The announcement of coal auctions in previously declared ‘no go’ areas. 
• Clean chit to polluters through ex-post approvals envisages under the EIA 2020.

• Opaque proceedings: The committees set up related to the environment did not consult with civil society and other relevant stakeholders. For E.g. ????

• T.S.R. Subramanian Committee to review six major environmental laws.
• The National Board for Wildlife, the Forest Advisory Committees are approving projects without following due process.

• No concerted action to address air pollution: 12.5% of all deaths in India in 2017 could be attributed to air pollution. ???? Lancet Report.

• India ranks 177th out of 180 countries in the biennial global Environment Performance Index 2018.

• In Violation of forest rights: Poor implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, led to Adivasis and forest-dwelling communities being harassed by the Forest Department. 

• The FRA link to project approvals has been abandoned in practice and there is a curtailment of public hearings.
• Recent proposal to overhaul the Indian Forest Act, 1927 to give enhanced policing and quasi-judicial powers of the forest officials.

Way Forward: - Prakriti Rakshati Rakshita – nature protects if she is protected.

• Reconsidering the Draft EIA 2020 Notification: It must be based on best available scientific knowledge, enhanced public participation and regular social audits. 
• Social obligation: The government should recognise it has a social obligation to protect the environment and promote public health. 

• It needs to incentivise industry to shift its mindset from clearances to compliance. 
• The MSME sector needs to be subsidised to follow green norms.
• The concept of cumulative impacts of projects in a region or ecology must be adopted.

• Public works programmes including afforestation and watershed development can be turned into a grass-roots movement to conserve the environment.