The government will soon declare rules for management of various types of waste, as part of its action plan for 2016 to achieve post-Paris Climate Change targets.
In a slew of review meetings held today to form a roadmap in this regard, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said state governments will also be directed to ensure proper working of their Sewerage Treatment Plants.
"We have reviewed waste management rules including solid waste, plastic waste, hazardous waste, bio-medical waste and construction and demolition rules. The preparation is ready and they will be declared soon," Javadekar said.
"Much work needs to be done post-Paris. Many things which have been agreed in Paris needs to be given a real shape and for that India will be proactively engaging with the world and will take necessary steps," he said.
A meeting of Prime Minister's Council on Climate Change is also likely to take place this month, sources said.
A landmark climate change deal was agreed upon by various nations including India at a conference in Paris on December 12 last year seeking to limit global warming to "well below" 2 degrees Celsius.
On air pollution, Javadekar said air quality monitoring machines will be installed in 66 cities which have more than 10 lakh population.
"There are 66 cities with more than 10 lakh population. We are going to install machines to gauge air quality index in all the 66 cities this year," he said.
Taking a tough stand on sewage treatment, Javadekar said
the Centre has decided to make it mandatory under Environment Act for states to ensure proper working of treatment plants.
"In many states, the sewage treatment plants are not working. It is the responsibility of the state government. We will issue directions under the Environment Act, Section-5, to such states so that it becomes mandatory for them to ensure that all the plants are functional," he said.
Calling for increased public participation in forest management, he said the government will link the livelihood of people living around forests with its conservation.
"Our main focus will be to increase people's participation in forest conservation. There are several Forest Management Committees. They will be strengthened more this year," he said.
The Ministry will also review the Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index for air monitoring and Coastal Regulation Zone policies for conservation of coastal ecology this year.
