Implementation and accountability matter, they say
Green activists have welcomed the Environment Security concept as enunciated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi
MUMBAI: Green activists have welcomed the Environment Security concept as enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day address with a caveat that the implementation is much more important than making announcements.
The country has enough environmental laws which, if implemented sincerely, environment security can be achieved, said NatConnect Foundation director B N Kumar who launched #FreeNature campaign ahead of the 75th Independence Day following Modi’s invitation to send him ideas for his historic speech.
In the social media drive, NatConnect called for implementation and accountability on part of the entire officialdom.
It is one thing to announce lofty ideas such as reducing per capita emission and increasing importance for renewable energy, and it is entirely different thing to save the biodiversity while executing infrastructure development, Kumar said. “Stop playing with nature and that will ensure environment security,” he said.
Nandakumar Pawar, head of Shri Ekvira Aai Pratishtan, said one of the most retrograde moves by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Control is to go for post-facto approvals to projects that are built violating the environment laws. “Also, there is a need to bring about a sense of responsibility among the environment surveillance officials and even urban development planners who do not realise the importance of ecological balance,” Pawar said.
Sunil Agarwal of Save Navi Mumbai Environment platform pointed out that there are enough laws related to environment such as Laws related to environmental protection and wildlife of Independent India are: The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; The Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972; Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. What is needed is sincere adherence to these acts by the authorities and set examples for common citizens and not vice versa.
Also public interest litigation popularly known as PIL was introduced in 1979.
Kumar hailed as the 75th Independence Day gift the announcement that four more wetlands - Thol and Wadhwana from Gujarat and Sultanpur and Bhindawas from Haryana - have been given the tag of Ramsar Wetland status. He tweeted to State Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray to push vigorously the Mangrove Foundation proposal for according the Ramsar Wetland status to Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary.
