Be Mains Ready

Approach:

• Briefly discuss with examples how rule of law is not enough in dealing with an environmental issue.
• Provide measures that instill a sense of shared understanding and common purpose for the environment in the society.
• Give a suitable conclusion on steps taken in this regard and what can further be done at every level.

Key Fodder Points

• The environment is a Residuary list subject. In pursuance of this, parliament enacted many laws like Wildlife Protection Act 1972, Environment Protection Act 1986, Air Pollution Act 1981 etc.
• But in spite of all these acts environmental condition in India remains very dismal:
  • The World Health Organization reports that thirteen of the 20 most polluted cities are in India.
  • According to World Bank economy-wide cost of environmental degradation is estimated to 5.7 per cent of India’s GDP
• Thereby signalling this command and control approaches that India has deployed cannot sufficiently address current environmental and natural resource problems
• So a new framework for environmental governance is required, that is multilevel, multi-actor, based on ecosystems  and outcomes rather than on mere compliance.

The environmental framework should in-cooperate following principles:

• Adopt the Principle of Subsidiarity
  • Since many environmental issues are local and regional in nature, addressing them requires the involvement of local regional jurisdictions and the engagement of local people.
  • For that reforms in urban local bodies are needed  to better manage waste, both institutional and technical
  • Intergovernmental transfers as suggested by 14th Finance Commission should be promoted.
  • Empowering the Inter-State Council would help to advance this agenda.
• Prioritize Mitigation of Air and Water Pollution
  • Reduction of waste and  wastewater at the source;
  • Onsite treatment where possible;
  • Recycling of  wastewater as water for non-consumptive use
  • The air quality situation in Indian cities is grave, as is the case in several water bodies.
  • In this context, States should  strengthen the pollution control boards to take action against violators  and impose penalties and charges, also investment should be made in the board's resources and capacity
  • Public investments at the state  level are required to increase the availability of bus fleets, metros, and  informal public transport such as improved electric auto rickshaws
  • For affluent areas in cities and metropolitan areas, congestion tax or vehicle quotas
  • The central government should urgently introduce reforms to manage waste and wastewater. 
• Adopt Green Accounting in National and State Income
  • The conventional treatment of these environmental resources, being free, has resulted in their overuse and exploitation.
  • Green income accounting seeks to  modify income accounts to incorporate the use or depletion of environmental and natural resources
  • The key objective of such accounting is to make visible the use of  environmental resources in economic production; until now, their use has  been invisible
• The environmental framework should reflect an understanding of the interrelationships of food, energy, and water, and the linkages between ecosystems and human well-being.
• Management of the environment refers not to actually managing the environment, which is not possible, but to influencing and shaping the interactions of humans and their activities with the environment. That can not be done only by rule of law, it has to be backed by a civic culture based on harmony between economy and environment.