Environment : clash of ideas

1st world vs 3rd

Env. Vs Economy
World
Environment
Climate Finance
clearance
Type of areas Environme
Parks, Sanctuaries, Reserves, Hotspots,
nt
PA NATIONAL
Go & No Go areas?

Legal & Constitutional Angles

Laws Before & after independence
FRFD, DPSP, 7th Schedule

Green Law Panel

Wildlife protection, Environment
clearance

 Type of Sites?

Wildli Conserva Tiger & Elephant Reserves

Biosphere Reserves
fe
tion Sites RAMSAR Wetland
Natural World Heritage
Sites
Coastal & Marine
Biodiversity Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Protected National Parks

Areas Wildlife Sanctuaries

Conservation Reserves
(PA) Community Reserves
 Conservation
Tiger Reserves
1973: Project Tiger. NTCA Statu. Reserves
Sites
#: 48 reserves, area: ~70k km2 click on
# tigers- Central India, Eastern ghat > links for
Western Ghat > Shivalik-Ganga > NE
list
Elephant Reserves
Max Pop. Kerala / Karnataka (>6k , census
awaited) > Assam (5k)
Min. Pop. Maharashtra (4)
Ramsar Wetland sites (26)
Highest in J&K (4)
Guj: Nalsarovar
 Biodiversity Hotspot: World (34) India (4)
Himalaya Indo-Burma

India:
Wester
India:
n&
North
Eastern
East
Himala
ya
Sundaland:
Indo-Malay Peninsula
Western Ghat-Sri
Lanka
Sundaland Singapore, Thailand,
Brunei etc.
India: India: Concept by
W.Ghat Nicobar
British Ecologist
Norman Myers
(88)
 Biodiversity hotspot Biosphere reserves
(4) (18)
1. Himalaya UNESCO's Man and the
2. Indo-Burma Biosphere (MAB) 70s.
3. Western Ghats & India: Nilgiri notified in
SriLanka 86
4. Sundaland (Nicobar) Total 18 Click me for Li
st
5. 4 because (1) TSR
Out of that 9
Page 29 (2) India
recognized in UNESCO
CBD submission Dec
(IYB Pg.299)
2014
Sl. Conservation
No Name of WH Site State Notified Area
.
1 Kaziranga National Park Assam 1985 429.96
UNESCO
Sites
2 Keoladeo Rajasthan 1985 28.73
World
Ghana National Park
Heritage
sites
3 Manas Wildlife Sanctuary Assam 1985 391.00

4 Nanda Devi National Park Uttarakhand 1982 630.00

2005 87.50
5 and Valley of Flowers
Sunderbans West Bengal 1984 1,330.10
National Park

6 Western Ghats Maharashtra, 2012 1,60,000.0

Goa, 0
Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu
and
Kerala
7 Great Himalayan National Himachal 2014 905.4
Park Pradesh
 Conservation
Important Coastal and Marine Sites
Biodiversity Areas ICMBAs
Under Aichi Biodiversity Target
Total 106 in India
Western Coast (62)> Eastern
(44)
Highest #: Kerala (18), Andhra
(17), MH (16), Guj (14)
 Type of Sites?

Wildli Conserva Tiger & Elephant Reserves

Biosphere Reserves
fe
tion Sites RAMSAR Wetland
Natural World Heritage
Sites
Coastal & Marine
Biodiversity Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Protected National Parks

Areas Wildlife Sanctuaries

Conservation Reserves
(PA) Community Reserves
Wildlife institute of India, Dehradun
No human activity / settlement PA
unless Wildlife warden permits National
(tendu leaves / honey collection) Park
NP area: Uttarakhand > Raj > J&K 103
NP #: MP | A&N (9 each).
FOUR IN Gujarat
ZERO in Punjab, Chandigarh, Diu-
DN, Delhi, Lakshadweep,
Pondicherry
Some human activities PA
Wildlife
permitted- firewood collection, Sanctuarie
grazing, tourism s
Highest Area: Guj > J&K 528
>Andhra
Highest #: A&N (96), MH (40),
HP (28)
At least 1 Wildlife sanctuary
present in every state / UT
 Find correct statement
A. Each State of India, has atleast 1
national park.
B. In protected areas, all type of human
activities are prohibited.
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Ans. D.
1. Skip 2. Attempt 3. Mark n Review
 Buffer zone, connector, migration corridors b/n
NP/W. Sanctuaries
Conservation Community
reserve reserve

If entire land is If some land

Government owned. privately owned.
More in number (2007)
and size.
 Type of Sites?

Wildli Conserva Tiger & Elephant Reserves

Biosphere Reserves
fe
tion Sites RAMSAR Wetland
Natural World Heritage
Sites
Coastal & Marine
Biodiversity Areas
Marine Protected Areas
Protected National Parks

Areas Wildlife Sanctuaries

Conservation Reserves
(PA) Community Reserves
 UPA
CAT-A (No Go areas) (mid10)
Go & No
10% weighed forest cover Go Areas
OR for mining?
30% gross forest cover.
CAT-B (Go Areas)
Not in CAT-A

PILs in SC about more stringent Go-no-go for

 Green Law Panel (14): What is No Go area?
No Conserva
Go Tiger & Elephant Reserves
tion
area Conserva Biosphere Reserves

1.Protecte tion Sites RAMSAR Wetland

Natural World Heritage
d Areas Sites
Coastal & Marine
2.Forest Biodiversity Areas
Marine Protected Areas
with
70%
Protected National Parks

canopy Areas Wildlife Sanctuaries

Conservation Reserves
(PA) Community Reserves
 Canopy: tall trees branches act as roof over others

NCERT
Class 7: chapter
17
CLAS SUBJECT CHAPTERS Self Study
S
6 geography 8 NCERT:
7 geo.
science
1 to 6
7, 16 to 18 environmen
8 geo.
sci.
8
7 & 18
t
9 geo 5 +NIOS
science 14
10 Geo. 2
sci. 14 to 16
11 geo(Physical) 15 & 16
geo (India) 4&5
economy 9 (Sustainable
development)
12 Biology 13 to 16
chemistry 14
 NCERT Science-irrespective of degree
Clas PHYSICS Chemis Biology
s try
7 4, 13, 14 & 5 & 6 1,2,10; 11 & 12
15
8 11 to 16 3 to 6 2, 8, 9 & 10
9 8 to 12 1 to 4 5,6,7 & 13
10 10, 12 & 13 1 to 5 6 to 11
11 1,5,8 1,14 2 to 5
12 15 14,16
Green: 4,5 then
Environment 7 to 16
related
+Psychology Ch4
 Self Study
1: land and people
12: Environment
IYB chapters
30: State and Union
completely
territories
Forest survey 2013 article
Type of areas Environme
Parks, Sanctuaries, Reserves, Hotspots,
nt
PA NATIONAL
Go & No Go areas?

Legal & Constitutional Angles

Laws Before & after independence
FRFD, DPSP, 7th Schedule

Green Law Panel

Wildlife protection, Environment
clearance

1865: Forest act Env. laws

1927: Indian Forest act Before
independe
Exploitation of sal and teak for
nce
Railway sleepers
Timber export to Europe
Govt. gave 'right to exploit'
forest produce based on loyalty
of a tribe/community.
 sustainable development linked to right to
Environme
21 life
nt
FR-FD
47
"The State shall regard the raising of the level
of nutrition and the standard of living of its
DPSP
people and the improvement of public health
as among its primary duties

The State shall endeavor to protect and

48-A improve the environment and to safeguard
the forests and wildlife of the country".

It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to

51- protect and improve the natural environment
including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and
A(g) to have compassion for living creatures."
7th Schedule: Union List
 7th Schedule: State List

Water in state list. But Art. 252: consent of

2/more states parliament can legislate. So
Water Act 1974
 7th Schedule: Concurrent List

Environment: residual matter.

Only parliament can legislate.
 Correct Statement
A. Parliament of India has enacted laws on water
and environment, using its power to legislate
on state list, by consent of two or more states.
B. If parliament enacts law on state matters
under Art.252, its mandatory for all states to
implement it.
C. Both A and B
D. Neither A nor B
Ans. D

1. Skip 2. Attempt 3. Mark n Review

 Laws & Policies-Chronology: 50s to 70s
India's 1st Wildlife UNEP: (UN
Forest policy: protection Environment
1/3rd of land act- create program)
be covered protected Stockholm
1952

1972

1972
with Forest areas, declaration
=> 1988 prohibit for human
updated. hunting, environment.
animals Water Act
classified in 6 1974=>Wate
schedules. r pollution
National and control
state wildlife board, and
boards. Water Cess
Act. Air Act
1981
 Chronology: 80s
Forest National Bhopal Gas
Conservation Wildlife Action Disaster =>
Act- regulate Plan: in-situ 1986:
and restrict conservation Environment
1980

1983

1984
the diversion with Junta protection Act.
of forest land support. Union to
for non- forest laydown
purpose pollution
norms,
effluent
standards,
industrial
safeguard,
inspection etc.
Hazardous
waste
 Chronology: 90s and afterwards

Costal Environ Biodivers National

regulatio ment ity act Green
n zones Impact Tribunal
1991

1994

2002

2010
(CRZ) Assessm
=> ent
update Notificati
in 2011 on,
update
in 2006
Type of areas Environme
Parks, Sanctuaries, Reserves, Hotspots,
nt
PA NATIONAL
Go & No Go areas?

Legal & Constitutional Angles

Laws Before & after independence
FRFD, DPSP, 7th Schedule

Green Law Panel

Wildlife protection, Environment
clearance

 Environme
Population growth nt
unplanned urbanization. People
Problem?
inappropriate technology
polluting industries proliferating.

Inappropriate consumption
choices
Harmonious coexistence gone
Legislature Environme
Laws with Multiple interpretation nt
Separation
Outdated in present context
Penalties low
of Power
UNEVEN
Executive
Lack of sensibilities, impulsive actions
Policy paralysis, inconsistency, red-tapes

Judiciary
Intervenes @slightest & first pretext (J. Activism)
At 1st sight- not to provide solution but to complicate
issues further (TSR Subramanian)
NGO, Civil Society, Media activism
End result: stalled projects: L7P1.pptx
Former Cabinet Secretary TSR Way ahead
Subramanian Committee
High level Committee to Sep-2014
Nov-2014
review environmental laws
a.k.a Green Law Panel
By Ministry of Environment,
Forests & Climate Change
(MoEF&CC)
 Mandate
1. Wildlife (Protection) Act,
1972 Review
these 5
2. Water (Prevention and
Acts
Control of Pollution) Act,
1974
3. Forest (Conservation) Act,
1980
4. Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981
5. Environment (Protection) Act,
Sch. 1 to 4
Protected species
Descending order of legal protection

5
Vermins & pests: crow, fruitbat, mice, rats (large size, small ears)
States want Nil gai, Monkeys Wildboars here
TSR: no need, youve have powers to take action for socio-eco.
interest
6
Plant species
TSR: update
 Find correct Statement(s)
A. African fruit bat is considered to be
the natural host for the Ebola
B. Indian Fruitbat is a protected species
under Sch.1 of Wildlife protection Act
1972.
C. Both A and B
D.Neither A nor B
Ans. A
1. Skip 2. Attempt 3. Mark n Review
 Green Law
Nature and animal worship has
Panel
been part of the national culture WLP 72
and local festivals. Nag
TSR: Amend WLP so people are Panchami
not harassed for petty things, as
long as animals are not harmed.
Example Nag Panchami: 5 day
worship of snakes in Shravan
month
Activists angry
 SC Order 2006 e s
zo n
29 e s .
l y t at in
n s l l
Human Settlement O 10 a
in : ask ne
R l i
TS ead
Buffer / Eco Sensitive Zone d

Protected Areas (700)

Conservati
Sanctuarie Communit
Parks on
s y reserves
reserves
TSR: states dont need permission to
PA boundary
 Green Law
Poachers use Leg and mouth hold-
Panel
traps against tigers and leopards
WLP72
Possession Traps of traps illegal
TRAPS
inside Protected Area (PA)
But outside PA, their mfg. and
possession not illegal
TSR: make it illegal everywhere,
except for educational display
 Green Law
Protected areas: explosive,
Panel
poison, chemicals banned WLP72
But polythene bags thrown Poly.bags
casually
TSR: ban them
Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
Green Law
Their Forensic expert identify animal Panel
parts confiscated during raids WLP72
Courts require physical presence during Personnel
trial, but WII-manpower low.
TSR: give'em 'Expert' status @CrPC
(Sec.293)
International Border Areas
Local police / forest officials can't reach.
TSR: Better delegate powers to BSF / ITBP
etc. to check against intl. wildlife trade.
Green Law panel: Reforms in Wildlife Protection Act

Nag Buffer
Vermin
Panchmi ESA

Traps & Expert

Bags /BSF
1. Depending on size of project &
Env.
possible impact on health/nature Clearance
Problem in
2. All Projects: Cat A (Union) / Cat B
(state)
present
3. Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)
structure
=> Environment Clearance.
4. Professional manpower.x
5. Scientific assessment.x
6. 4 stages: screening, scoping, public
consultation and appraisal :
overlapping / duplication of certificates
 Env.
1. No penalty for false info. Clearance
2. CRZ panel separate. Problem in
present
3. State and Central Pollution
structure
control board have not much
to say.
4. Inspector raj, red tapes,
aversion to clear files due to
media/judicial scrutiny
 Env.
SC- need to setup a statutory
Clearance
body to implement forest Way
policy '88. (Lafarge Cement Ahead?
Case)
TSR: a new umbrella law
Environmental laws
(Management) Act (ELMA)
2014
 New Bodies in ELMA 2014 u t
o in p
y t
NEMA
si f c t s
National Environment
l as j e k
Management Authority e c p r o e 8
CAT A projects R re l
e es s
o
m t.B , l F
fi E
Ca at-A M o
SEMA
C in
State Environment
i n g
Management Authority n d
Cat B projects p e

UTEMA
Union Territory Environment
Management Authority
CAT B in UT
 Env.
1. National Environment
Clearance
Management Authority (NEMA)
2. Chairperson- atleast NEMA
addl.Secretary level experience
3. Members- environment, forest etc.
experience
4. Min. 2 members with 15 years
academics
5. Max. 15 persons
6. Age limit: 65 years.
NEMA, SEMA: project environment clearance
 Appeal Structure

NEMA Appellate National

I

II

III
SEMA board Green
Retired HC Tribunal
judge (NGT)
2 Addl.Secy
rank
Frivolous
appeals:
penalties
NEMA, SEMA, UTEMA=> Cat A | cat
Env.
NEMA
Clearance
B
SEMA
Monitor compensatory afforestation
Addl.
Technical cells for pollution control,
duties
remote sensing, satellite imagery,
biodiversity, thermal power etc.
Prepare environment maps,
pollution maps.
Advisory to respective ministries
Preliminary scrutiny in 10 days
Env.
NEMA
Clearance
Use Geo-coordinates to
SEMA
automatically reject files for "no go"
Fast
areas (PA+forest with 70% canopy)
Remote sensing, satellite imagery,
tracking
& other tech. to inspector raj.
Self certification with Good faith
provision like in insurance laws (void
IF false info / info. hidden + penalty)
 Env.
If not "genuine" (crowd of Public
Clearance
outsider activists / paid villager Hearing
mob) NOT
If planned industrial zone or required IF
manufacturing zone. (NIMZ,
DMIC)
Settlements far away from
site.
 Env.
All the strategic border projects
Public
Clearance
within 20kms from intl. border / LoC
/ LAC
Hearing
Border roads, fencing
NOT
required IF
Border Out Posts, floodlighting
Surveillance infrastructure, power
infrastructure
Linear projects, Power and coal
mining projects "MAY BE" fast
tracked without public hearing
Rail line, roads, gas pipelines,
Env.
Clearance
irrigation canals, transmission lines. Linear
Benefit of the community at large. Projects
Give priority clearance, public Fast track
hearing may be ignored.
But if Linear project in core forest
area=> no approval.
Except re-laying / repairing existing
road. Cant widen more.
Activists Criticize this
Consolidate 150 circulars, Office Env.
memorandum & amendments Clearance
Water Act and Air Act provisions- Misc.
subsume within EPA (environment reforms
protection act)
CRZ area definition on high tide line
(HTL)- changes from time to time-
implement tech.Committee report
when comes.
Coal / Mines : 5 year plan with
afforestation. Special cell in NEMA.
 Compensatory Afforestation
Presen
Area TSR
Privat t
e
Land /
1:1 2:1
Reven
ue
land
Then we cant 24% to 33%
 Compensatory Afforestation
Prese
Area TSR
Private
nt
Land /
1:1 2:1
Revenue
land
Degraded
2:1 3:1
Forest
Pay $$ in CA fund & get approval. Afforestati
on
TSR: Net present value of forest If cant
(raise to 5x than current norms.) plant trees
State wise separate definition for
forest.
Tree / plantation in private area =
not forest but treeland, ELSE
harassment of farmers /
companies.
Environment Reconstruction Fund. Afforestati
Under MoEF or NEMA
on
Add.
$$ to come from cess (air | water), funding
Surcharge (vehicle | effluent
discharge), environmental
reconstruction cost from pvt.
Companies
$$ use for afforestation, R&D,
"green awareness program
Green Law Panel: Reforms in Environment Clearance

ELMA, NEMA, Linear

Public Hearing
SEMA Projects

Afforestation Env. Reconstr.

Ratio Fund
Million plus cities (53): Green Rating Pollution
system.
Next 3 years, 20% more solid waste Municipal
handling waste
Use muni.solid waste as fuel in cement
and steel plants.
Integrate rag pickers in SWM (Solid
waste Management
Biomedical waste handling unit @ Each
hospital
Add to L7P3: SBM | L7P4 (smart City)
Bharat-IV norms being Pollution
introduced Vehicle
But car # so much, no better pollution
engine /fuel can overall GHG
TSR: Change tax system to
vehicle purchase
Entry fees on vehicles in
certain areas.
Rules under Air act but no Pollution
separate act for noise pollution Noise
control crackers use / mfg.X pollution
Control loudspeakers from
religious places.x
TSR: Abolish Air act, but Make
provisions in Environmental
Protection Act
Environment research Org
institute: for designing Higher
diploma/UG/PG courses in Education
environment
IITs, and (pub + private)
engineering colleges :
monitoring air-water quality
"Quasi-Amateur personnel in Org
environment clearance / pollution New all
control bodies. India
Create a new All India Service Indian
service
Environment Service
To work in public and quasi-
Government sectors
Open recruitment through DoPT/UPSC
IFS: give subject specialist training:
forest conservation, wildlife, social
forestry
Genetically Modified (GM) food crops Org.
Europe does not permit field trials
GM crops
Average Indian farm is of very small
size. vs. MoEF
no independent expert agencies for
projecting medium-long term impacts
So, Due care needs to be taken
Eco.Survey : no evidence of health
damage=> so BT approve. (L5/P2.pptx)
Reforms for Pollution & Organization

Muni Higher
Vehicles New AIS
Waste Education

Noise Sci-Tech
(GM)
1. Diluting Wildlife protection act
Criticism
(Nag panchmi)
TSR Green
2. Diluting Public hearing
Law Panel
3. Fast tracking of linear projects.
4. Companies => $$ to
Compensatory afforestation fund,
but what if not utilized?
5. Proliferation of bodies NEMA,
SEMA, new environment services
etc.
 Mains / Interview
The principal aim of Environment
regulation should be to balance
Ecological & Economic needs of India.
Critically examine the lacunas in
present legal-Administrative framework
& suggest remedies.

1. Skip 2. Attempt 3. Mark n Review

 Answer
Examine Lacuna Suggest Remedies
XO: inconsistent policy, NEMA, SEMA single
impulsive implementation, window
multiple agencies, Public hearing, linear
centralization.
project
Legal: multiple
Compensatory
interpretation, low penalties
afforestation, Forest vs.
Judiciary intervention,
treeland
separation of power
MSW as fuel for cement,
uneven.
steel. Tax on vehicles
 WRITE Essay on following
Nature is the source of all material
things: the Maker, the means of making,
and the things made. (Isha Upanishad)
Environmental conservation is about
negotiating the transition from past to
future in such a way as to secure the
transfer of maximum significance.
(Holland and Rawles, 1930)
1. Skip 2. Attempt 3. Mark n Review
 Next time

1st world vs 3rd

Env. Vs Economy
World
Environment
Climate Finance
clearance

Type of areas
Parks, Sanctuaries, Reserves, Hotspots, PA
Go & No Go areas?

Legal & Constitutional Angles

Laws Before & after independence
FRFD, DPSP, 7th Schedule

Green Law Panel

Wildlife protection, Environment clearance
Pollution , Org. reforms