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Policies & Politics
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Dhruv Rathee
Modi's War against our Environment The most underreported disaster of Modi Govt has been it's attack on our Environment. It's not an exaggeration to say that Modi Govt has declared a war on India's environment & ecology. In this post, I will share with you some shocking instances from past 5 years - In July 2014, Modi Govt's environment ministry used a bureaucratic loophole to REMOVE THE BAN on setting up and expansion of polluting factories in eight critically polluted industrial belts. - They allowed polluting industries to operate within 5 km of eco-sensitive areas like national parks and sanctuaries. Earlier this limit was 10 km, as prescribed by Supreme Court. - In 2017, Central Pollution Board under Modi Govt allowed 400 thermal power plants to release pollutants in violation of govt norms for 5 more years. So it's not really a surprise that we have the world's most polluted cities. - In August 2014, number of independent members in National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) reduced from 15 to just 3. So it became another puppet of govt. This Board is responsible for giving permissions to industries to use forest lands. - So it is not a surprise that in the last 5 years, NBWL approved 99.82% of all industrial projects on forest lands. Under UPA, 80% of projects got clearance - Wetlands are eco-sensitive areas. In 2017, Modi Govt's environment ministery said they do not consider saltpans as wetlands anymore. This means a golden oppurinuty for real estate developers to destroy 5000+ acres of saltpans near Mumbai. - Then, Modi govt tried to destroy National Green Tribunal, our environmental watchdog. They misused provision of "money bill” to make changes to appointment system so NGT loses it’s independence and becomes a puppet of Govt. (Thankfully Supreme Court stayed it) - Modi Govt's Proposed Ken Betwa river linking project will destroy 4000+ hectares of Panna Tiger Reserve. This is home to a critically endangered animal - Gharial. - Modi Govt wants to build a highway right through Jim Corbett National Park. Even though Supreme Court has already said no to this, their ministry agreed to clear it. - In 2017, they classified Coconut Tree as a grass. So real estate mafia can cut it without taking permission. Thankfully, due to citizen pressure, Manohar Parrikar overturned this decision later after new Goa govt formed - In Sept 2018, UP govt submitted a proposal to Modi govt to "denotify" Kachhua sanctuary in Varanasi. They want to completely ERASE a full wildlife sanctuary. If this happens, it will be the first protected area in India to disappear from the map. - 53,000 precious Mangrove trees are set to be destroyed for the bullet train project. Activists are crying for help once again. - The fight in Gurgaon to save Aravali and the fight in Mumbai to save Aarey is already well know. Both are the last remaining green areas of the two cities. - In March 2018, MoEF proposed major changes to the draft National Forest Policy (NFP) 2018. The draft has been criticised for favouring corporate interests in the forestry sector. - In April 2018, MoEF released the draft CRZ notification 2018. Critics say that the draft will open up India’s coasts to industry yet again.
- Asiatic Cheetah and African Cheetah too. @Lycaon @Pckts |
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