After many years, there will be a high-level meeting, inaugurated by the prime minister and with invitees from all state governments, to discuss “Green India”. The meeting, which starts today, is a great opportunity to usher in change and reform. After 40 years of serving in this sector, I suggest some critical points for action.
First, refocus the relevant laws. We have a plethora of laws, some dating back to the middle of the 19th century and a clutch of them passed after 1947. At the moment, dozens of laws contradict each other and the interpretations by our judiciary are complex, to say the least. We need the best minds in this field in India to sit and write one law for forests, wildlife and forest people, and another for the environment. Both must be easy to understand and short.
Second, remodel the federal structure. The ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) needs to be revamped and bifurcated, if not into two ministries, at least two departments. This was agreed on by the prime minister a few years ago but he was overruled by a committee of secretaries. Forested India accounts for about 21 per cent of its area and deserves its own structure for good governance. So does the environment, which is increasingly a pressing urban issue. This change will ensure better practices.
Third, there is the matter of financial independence. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management And Planning Authority, started in 2002, has nearly Rs 35,000 crore accumulated from user agencies of forest land. We need to lay down a new plan to use these funds to protect forests. The best minds, both within and outside government, should be involved. The impact of such a plan could be game changing.
Fourth, restructure the Indian Forest Service (IFS). With nearly 2,00,000 men under its command, the IFS needs to be a crack service focused in the states. Today, it is in decline and field forest staff are demoralised. Its working mechanisms must be equal to those of the police and the army. State-of-the-art training is essential for the personnel and officers. The present process must be turned on its head, with new specialisations for the recruits, be it in wildlife, tourism or protection. This is a specialised service and no deputations can be permitted. Forest officers cannot be working in the passport office. We also need an environmental service to tackle the crisis of air and water pollution.
Fifth, some attention needs to be paid to wildlife and heritage towns. Millions of people live in large towns adjacent to national parks and sanctuaries — Sawai Madhopur, Bharatpur, Chandrapur, Chickmagalur and Jabalpur, to name just a few. Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan, these places should be converted into model green towns with the best waste recycling processes
