Jairam seeks to improve waste management

The Pioneer , Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Correspondent : PNS | Dehradun
The public consultation on the draft mission document of the Green India Mission (GIM) chaired by Minister of Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh in Dehradun saw people from different spheres arriving here from different parts of Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.

The three main objectives of the mission are to double the area to be taken up for afforestation and eco-restoration in India in the next 10 years to 20 million hectares, increase the GHG removals by India’s forests to 6.35 per cent of India’s annual total GHG emissions by the year 2020 and enhance the resilience of forests and eco systems being treated under the mission.

The GIM is part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) which recognises that climate change phenomena will severely affect and alter the distribution, type and quality of the natural resources of the country and the associated livelihoods of the people.

Majority of people from diverse fields who attended the public consultation in different capacities appreciated the intention and concept of the GIM but also stressed on the need for strengthening different aspects in order to make the mission a success.

The National Ganga River Basin Authority member Dr Ravi Chopra of People’s Science Institute said that the intention behind GIM is commendable but considering its poor performance record the Forest Department should not be made in-charge of the mission execution.

The survival rate of trees grown as part of the Chipko movement in Uttarakhand is about 75 percent while less than 30 percent of trees survive after being planted in areas under Forest Department, which was substantiated by a survey based on satellite imaging conducted by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the 1990s.

He stressed on the need for legal change in the system observed in the management of forests. Expressing concern about the negative impacts of damming rivers for power projects Chopra informed the minister that with dams being built in the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve (NDBR), Askot musk deer sanctuary and other environmentally sensitive regions in Uttarakhand the environment of Himalayas will be negatively affected by these.

Social activist and environmentalist Radha Behen said that special stress should be laid on protecting the environment of the Himalayas because the mountain range which protects the Indian peninsula and neighbouring nations should not be damaged for power generation. Members of Citizens For Green Doon (CFGD) including Dr Nitin Pandey said that the mission State steering committee for the mission would be chaired by the State Chief Secretary which would lead to a clash of interest as chief secretaries generally prefer to facilitate development than environmental protection.

Others also raised concern about the damage caused by improper waste disposal and polythene waste. Replying to these concerns the Minister of Environment and Forests said that it is for the State Government to implement measures like ban on certain polythene items and improve waste management.

Elected Van Panchayat members from different parts of Uttarakhand raised concern about the lack of resources provided to Van Panchayats and the limited benefits provided to people dependent on forests. Responding to this Ramesh said that about 60 lakh individual plots and 20,000 collective plots have been allocated in India so far as part of forest rights to those dependent on forests.

 
SOURCE : http://www.dailypioneer.com/264375/Jairam-seeks-to-improve-waste-management.html
 


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