Environment
12. ENVIRONMENT |
- THE Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) is the nodal agency in the central government for overseeing the implementation of India’s environment and forest policies and programmes relating to conservation of the country’s natural resources including lakes and rivers, its biodiversity, forests and wildlife, ensuring the welfare of animals and prevention and abatement of pollution.
- The Ministry is also the nodal agency for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED).
- The Ministry also coordinates with multilateral bodies such as the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and regional bodies such as Economic and Social Council for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) and South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) on matters pertaining to the environment.
National level organizations under the Ministry |
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Botanical Survey of India |
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Zoological Survey of India |
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Forest Survey of India |
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Biodiversity Conservation:
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is one of the key agreements adopted during the Earth Summit held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
- The objectives of CBD are: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of its components, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of genetic resources.
- Pursuant to the ratification of the CBD by India in 1994, several steps were initiated to meet the commitments under the Convention and to realize the opportunities offered by the Convention.
- These efforts were aimed at bringing the legislative, administrative and policy regimes in tune with the three-fold objectives of the CBD.
- India enacted the Biological Diversity (BD) Act in 2002 to give effect to the provision of this Convention.
- India also prepared a National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) in 2008, and an Addendum to NBAP in 2014 with 20 national targets on biodiversity.
- The Nagoya Protocol on access and benefit-sharing (ABS) adopted under the aegis of CBD in 2010, is aimed at fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.
Biodiversity Conservation |
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Biosphere Reserves |
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Biodiversity Conservation Scheme Relating to Biosafety |
Main objectives:
Cartagena Biosafety Protocol (CPB):
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Forest Protection |
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Wildlife Conservation |
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Wildlife Conservation |
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Wildlife Crime Control Bureau |
Functions:
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Central Zoo Authority |
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National Zoological Park |
Main objective:
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Project Elephant |
Objectives: -
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National Tiger Conservation Authority / Project Tiger |
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Project Tiger |
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Animal Welfare |
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Animal Welfare General - Animal Board of India |
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Free Mobile Animal Clinic |
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Environmental Impact Assessment:
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), is a planning tool to integrate environmental concerns into the developmental process from the initial stage of planning.
- It was first used in India as early as 1978 with river valley projects and was subsequently extended to large public sector projects requiring Public Investment Board (PIB) clearance.
- These practices were formally codified for the first time in the EIA Notification, 1994.
- This made the requirement of environmental clearance mandatory for 37 categories of projects/ processes, listed therein.
Control of Pollution |
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Air Pollution |
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Measures to Combat Air Pollution |
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Noise Pollution |
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Scheme of Common Effluent Treatment Plants |
Salient features:
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Hazardous Substance Management
- The Hazardous Substances Management Division (HSMD) is the nodal point
- within the Ministry for management of solid waste including hazardous
- substances and chemical emergencies.
- Main objective: To promote the safe management of solid wastes, management of hazardous substances and wastes including hazardous chemicals, in order to avoid damage to health and environment.
- The Division also administers the Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991 and rules framed thereunder.
Chemical Safety
- In order to ensure chemical safety, the Ministry notified two sets of Rules under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 viz.,
- The Manufacture, Storage and Import of Hazardous Chemicals Rules, 1989 (MSIHC)
- The Chemical Accidents (Emergency, Planning, Preparedness, and Response) Rules (EPPR), 1996.
- The main objectives of the MISHC rules are to:
- Prevent major accidents arising from industrial activities
- Limit the effects of such accidents.
- The rules endeavour to achieve these objectives by having a quantity based approach.
- The Chemical Accidents (EPPR) Rules. 1996 envisage a four-tier crisis management system in the country at the central, state, district and local levels.
e-Waste Management
- The e-waste rules apply to e-waste generated from IT and telecommunication equipment and consumer electrical and electronics namely television sets (including LCD & LED), refrigerators, washing machines and air-conditioners.
- These rules empower the concerned state agencies to control, supervise and regulate relevant activities connected with e-waste management such as collection, segregation, dismantling and recycling.
- Producers are required to set up collection systems and meet the cost involved in the environmentally sound management of e-waste generated from the ‘end of life’ of their own products.
Hazardous Waste Management
- To address the issue of ensure environmentally sound management of hazardous waste for safety of health and environment during handling of such waste Hazardous Waste (Management, Handling & Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2008 were notified under Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
- The Rules lay down procedure towards this process by providing provisions for authorization of hazardous waste generating and units using hazardous waste.
- The rules have an important provision on regulation of import/export of hazardous waste in pursuance to our obligation under the Basel Convention on Control of Transboundary Movement of Hazardous waste and its disposal.
- India is party to the Convention.
Solid Waste Management |
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Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 |
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Plastic Waste Management Rules, 2016 |
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Construction & Demolition Waste Management, 2016 |
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Fly Ash Utilization |
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International Conventions |
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Basel Convention |
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Rotterdam Convention |
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Stockholm Convention |
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Minamata Convention on Mercury |
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Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management |
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National River Conservation Plan:
- The river conservation programme was initiated with the launching of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) in 1985.
- The Ganga Action Plan was expanded to cover other rivers under National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) in 1995.
- The objective of NRCP is to improve the water quality of rivers, which are major water sources in the country, through implementation of pollution abatement works in various towns along identified polluted stretches of rivers on cost sharing basis between the central and state governments.
- Presently NRCP (excluding Ganga and its tributaries) has covered polluted stretches of 31 rivers in 75 towns spread over 14 states and a treatment capacity of 2445 million litres per day (mld) has been created so far under NRCP (excluding Ganga and its tributaries).
Conservation of Lakes:
- So far under NLCP/NPCA, a total of 46 projects for conservation of 63 lakes have been sanctioned in 14 states for undertaking works like providing sewerage system and sewage treatment plants, interception and diversion of sewage, desilting, catchment area treatment, storm water management etc.
- Conservation works for 34 lakes have been completed.
- Major projects presently under implementation include Dal lake in Jammu & Kashmir, Shivpuri and Sindh Sagar lakes in Madhya Pradesh, twin lakes at Mokokchung in Nagaland (NE region), Annasagar, Pushkar and Pichola lakes in Rajasthan, Ramgarh Tal and Laxmital in Uttar Pradesh.
Conservation of Lakes |
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Conservation of Wetlands |
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Ramsar Convention |
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Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules |
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World Wetland Day |
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National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board:
- In order to promote afforestation, tree planting, ecological restoration and eco-development activities in the country, NAEB was set up in 1992.
- Special attention is also given by NAEB to the regeneration of degraded forest areas and lands adjoining forest areas, national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas as well as the ecologically fragile areas like the Western Himalayas, Aravallis, and Western Ghats etc.
National Afforestation Programme Scheme:
- National Afforestation Programme (NAP) is a major afforestation scheme of the NAEB in the Government of India.
- Launched in 2000-02, the scheme has acquired a pan India ambit over the last nine years of its implementation and was being implemented by 28 states of the country through a twin institutional set up of Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) at the forest division level and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at the village level.
- From 2010- 11, State Forest Development Agency (SFDA) were constituted at the state level to smoothen the fund flow to the FDAs.
- The programme is now implemented through a three-tier system of State Forests Development Agency (SFDA) at the state level, Forest Development Agency (FDAs) at the district/forest division level and Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) at the village level.
- Under Entry Point Activities, community assets are created with a ‘care and share’ concept.
- Objectives:
- Protection and conservation of natural resources through active involvement of the people.
- Checking land degradation, deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
- Ecological restoration and environmental conservation and eco-development.
- Evolving village level people’s organization which can manage the natural resources in and around villages in a sustainable manner.
- Capability endowment and skill enhancement for improving the employability of the rural people.
Eco-Development Forces Scheme:
- It was established in the 1980s as a scheme being implemented through Ministry of Defence for ecological restoration of terrains, rendered difficult either due to severe degradation or remote location or difficult law and order situation.
- It is based on twin objectives of ecological regeneration in difficult areas, and promotion of meaningful employment to ex-servicemen.
- Under this scheme, the establishment and operational expenditure on the Eco Task Force (ETF) Battalions raised by Ministry of Defence is reimbursed by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change while the inputs like sapling, fencing, etc., and also the professional and managerial guidance is provided by the state forest departments.
National Mission for Green India
- It is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change aims at protecting and enhancing India’s diminishing forest cover to counter the perils of climate change.
- It envisages a holistic view of greening and focuses on multiple ecosystem services along with carbon sequestration and emission reduction as co-benefit.
Declaring Eco-Sensitive Areas in Western Ghats
- The Western Ghats is a global biodiversity hotspot and a treasure trove of biological diversity harbouring many endemic species of flowering plants, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals and invertebrates.
- It is also the origin of Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery and a number of other rivers of Peninsular India, upon which much of the economy of the region is dependent.
- The concept of Ecologically Sensitive Area (ESA) provides a mechanism to conserve biological diversity of an area while allowing for sustainable development to take place.
National Natural Resources Management System
- The Scheme “National Natural Resources Management System (NNRMS)” of the Ministry is a part of an umbrella scheme of the erstwhile Planning Commission-Planning Committee-National Natural Resources Management System (PC-NNRMS) and is in operation since, 1985.
- The prime objective of PCNNRMS is utilization of remote sensing technology for inventorization, assessment and monitoring of country’s natural resources.
Forestry Research |
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Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education |
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Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy |
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Wildlife Institute of India:
- WII was established in 1986 in Dehradun as an autonomous institute of the Ministry.
- The Institute has emerged as a premier training and research institution in the field of wildlife and protected area management in south and south east Asia.
- Its primary mandates are to:
- Carry out scientific and applied research on various issues of wildlife and biodiversity conservation
- Develop wildlife science as a discipline through academic activities
- Build capacity in the field of wildlife management and conservation planning
- Provide technical inputs to MoEFCC and other international organizations.
Biodiversity Conservation and Rural Livelihood Improvement Project:
- Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is one of the implementing partners in this project for enhancing capacities of the project implementers and as a knowledge management centre on landscape approach to biodiversity conservation.
National Green Corps Programme
- NGC were formulated in 2001-02.
- The phenomenal response that NGC received has made the network more than 1,00,000 Eco clubs across the country in 15 years, making it one of the largest conservation networks.
- Under NGC programme, 86765 Ecoclubs were supported.
National Environmental Awareness Campaign
- The (NEAC) was launched in mid 1986 with the objective of creating environmental awareness at the national level.
- In this campaign, nominal financial assistance is provided to NGOs, schools, colleges, universities, research institutes, women and youth organisations, army units, government departments, etc., from all over the country for conducting awareness raising and action oriented activities.
National Nature Camping Programme
- It is an initiative of the Ministry in environment education which is aimed at creating greater awareness, understanding and empathy of children with and for the environment.
- Through this initiative it is hoped that every child who goes through middle school (classes VI-VIII) to get at least one opportunity for a 2-3 day camping experience during these years.
GLOBE:
- Global Learning and Observation to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) is a hands on international environmental science and education programme that brings students, teachers and scientists together to study the global environment.
- MoEFCC and US Government signed an agreement in 2000 to implement the Globe programme in India.
- Indian Environmental Society, Delhi is an implementing agency for Globe in India.
Centre of Excellence:
- The Scheme-Centre of Excellence was initiated in the Sixth Five Year Plan.
- The objective of the scheme is to provide selective support to the universities, reputed institutions including NGOs, professional organizations and other scientific and technological institutions to enable them to develop into advanced centres at the national level in that particular subject area to cater the need of the Ministry.
- At present there are seven Centre of Excellences functioning under this Ministry.
National Green Tribunal:
- NGT was set up in 2010 under the NGT Act, 2010, for the purpose of effective and expeditious disposal of cases relating to environmental protection and conservation of forests and other natural resources including enforcement of any legal right relating to environment and giving relief and compensation for damages to persons and property and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
- The Tribunal shall not be bound by the procedure laid down under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, but shall be guided by principles of natural justice.
- The Tribunal is mandated to make an endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within 6 months of filing.
- NGT has five places of sitting, i.e, the Principal Bench in Delhi and Zonal Benches in Pune, Kolkata, Bhopal and Chennai.
Climate Change:
- The earth’s climate has always changed and evolved. Some of these changes have been due to natural causes but other can be attributed to human activities such as deforestation, emissions from industry and transport etc. which have led to accumulation of gases and aerosols in the atmosphere.
- These gases are known as Greenhouse Gases (GHGs) because they trap heat and raise air temperatures near the ground, acting like a greenhouse on the surface of the planet.
- In order to create and strengthen the scientific and analytical capacity for assessment of climate change in the country different studies under Climate Change Action Programme (CCAP) were initiated.
National and State Action Plans on Climate Change:
- NAPCC is being implemented through the nodal ministries in specific sectors/ areas.
- Eight national missions in the area of solar energy, enchanced energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture, sustainable habitat, water, Himalayan eco-system, Green India and strategic knowledge for climate change form the core of NAPCC.
National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change:
- NAFCC is a central sector scheme under implementation in the 12th Five Year Plan with National Bank for agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) as National Implementing Entity (NIE).
- Aim: To support concrete adaptation activities which are not covered under on-going activities through the schemes of state and central government, that reduce the adverse impact of climate change facing communities, sectors and states.
Climate Change Action Programme:
- Ministry is implementing a scheme titled ‘Climate Change Action Programme’ since January, 2014.
- The NCAP is a major multi-institutional and multi-agency study.
- In this initiative, MoEF & CC collaborate with the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the Indian Space Research Organization, the Ministry of Science and Technology and other associated agencies to enhance understanding of the role of black carbon in climate change through monitoring and assessment of the impacts of Black Carbon using modeling techniques.
- Paris Agreement: India ratified the Paris Agreement to the UNFCCC in 2016. The action plan for implementation of Paris Agreement and its components is being developed.
International Negotiations on Climate Change:
- During the financial year 2016-17, many important bilateral and multilateral meetings and international negotiations on climate change were held.
Ozone Cell |
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Ozone Layer Protection |
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Vienna Convention |
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United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification:
- India became a signatory to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) in 1994.
- MoEF&CC is the nodal Ministry in the government of India for the UNCCD, and Desertification cell is the nodal point within MoEF&CC to co-ordinate all issues pertaining to the convention.
International Cooperation and Sustainable Development
- IC&SD Division of the Ministry coordinates matters related to international environmental cooperation and sustainable development including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
United Nations Environment Programme
- India is a member of UNEP and provides the annual financial contribution of USD 100,000 to UNEP Environment Fund.
- Three of the thirty-three members on UNEP’s International Resource Panel (IRP) are currently from India.
- The Ministry is a member of the IRP Steering Committee.
- IRP supports UNEP’s Resource Efficiency/ Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) subprogramme and is carrying out assessments of the world’s most critical resource issues with a view to developing practical solutions for government policymakers, industry and society.
Global Environment Facility
- India is a founder member of the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
- Set up in 1991, GEF is the designated multilateral funding mechanism of 183 countries to provide incremental finance for addressing global environmental benefits which are also identified national priorities.
- The GEF mandate is decided as per the guidance provided by the Conference of the parties of the multilateral environmental conventions namely Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), Stockholm Convention on PoPs and Minamata Convention on Mercury.
- The GEF grants are available under five focal areas namely, biodiversity, climate change, land degradation, international waters and chemicals and waste.
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