The National Environmental Policy seeks to extend the coverage, and fill in the gaps that still exist, in light of present knowledge and accumulated experiences.
2. INTRODUCTION
The National Environmental Policy was first formulated in 2006, by
Government of India, Ministry of Environment and Forest.
The National Environmental Policy seeks to extend the coverage,
and fill in the gaps that still exist, in light of present knowledge
and accumulated experiences.
It does not displace, but builds on the earlier policies.
3. Environmental Safety
Environmental safety is the practice of policies and
procedures that ensure that a surrounding environment,
including work areas, laboratories or facilities, is free of
dangers that could cause harm to a person working in
those areas.
The need of environmental safety brings into the picture the
need of “ENVIRONMENTAL PLANNING”
4. Environmental Planning
It is the process of facilitating the decision making to carryout
the land development with the emphasis given on natural
environment, social, political, economic and governance
factors, so as to provide a holistic framework to achieve
sustainable outcome.
5. Objectives of National Environmental Policy, 2006
Conservation of critical Environmental Resources
Intra- Generational Equity: Livelihood Security for the
Poor
Efficiency in Environmental Resources Use
Environmental Governance in the Management of
Resources
Enhancement of Resources for Environmental
Conservation
6. Principles of NEP, 2006
Human Beings are at the Centre of Sustainable Development
Concerns.
Right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet
developmental and environmental needs of present and
future generations.
In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental
protection shall constitute an integral part of the development
process and cannot be considered in isolation from it.
Where there are credible threats of serious or irreversible
damage to key environmental resources, lack of full scientific
certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-
effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.
In various public actions for environmental conservation,
economic efficiency would be sought to be realized.
7. Strategic and Action Plans
The foregoing statement of policy Objectives and
Principles are to be realized by concrete actions in different
areas relating to key environmental challenges.
Action plans is needed to encourage and to formulated
their own strategies or action plans consistent with the
National Environment Policy.
Therefore, the empowerment of Panchayats and the Urban
Local Bodies, particularly in terms of functions,
functionaries, funds and corresponding capacities will
require greater attention for operationalizing some of the
major provisions of this policy.
8. Revisiting the Policies
There are various laws available on the protection of the
environment.
For example:- The present legislative framework is
broadly contained in the Umbrella Act i.e.
The Environment Protection Act, 1986
The Water (Prevention & Control of
Pollution)Act,1974
The Air (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act,
1981
9. PROCESS OF FORMULATION OF NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
POLICY,2006
The preparation of this Policy has involved inputs and
consultations with diverse experts, and stakeholders.
A draft of the National Environment Policy was prepared
through an intensive process of consultation within the
Government and inputs from experts.
The draft, in English and Hindi was posted on the website
of the Ministry of Environment and Forests and responses
were invited from individuals and organizations, through
advertisements in national and regional newspapers.
The draft was open for public consultation from 21 August,
2004 to 31 December, 2004. Consultations were held with
concerned Ministries of the Central Government, and all
State/UT governments at meetings of the State
Environment Ministers and senior officials.
10. The latter were encouraged to undertake local level public
consultations. The draft was also provided to the Members
of Parliament and their views and suggestions were invited.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests also held
consultations with representatives of major academic and
research institutions, and key Industry Associations,
Voluntary Organizations, and individuals who are well
known in the field.
Detailed summaries of responses were prepared and the
various concerns expressed by the respondents were
addressed. Many of the suggestions received have been
incorporated in the Policy.
11. STRATEGIES USED FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL REFORMS
Land Degradation:
Adoption of science based and traditional sustainable land
use practices through research and development.
Pilot scale demonstrations and farmers’ training.
Promote reclamation of wasteland and degraded forest land.
To reduce desertification through action plans.
Forests:
To formulate an innovative strategy for increase of forest.
Afforestation of degraded forest land, wasteland and tree
cover on private or revenue land.
12. Wildlife:
Expanding the Protected Area Network.
Paralleling multi-stakeholder partnerships for afforestation.
Encouraging eco-tourism at wildlife sites.
Implementing measures for captive breeding and release into the
wild identified endangered species.
Biodiversity :
Strengthen the protection of biodiversity hot spots.
Pay attention to the potential impacts of development projects
on biodiversity resources and natural heritage.
Conservation of Genetic material of threatened species of flora
and fauna
13. Wetlands :
Identification of valuable wetlands and to prevent their
degradation and enhance their conservation.
Sustainable tourism strategies for identified wetlands.
To take explicit account of impacts on wetlands of
significant development projects.
Conservation of Man-made Heritage :
Setting ambient environmental standards, especially for air
quality, the potential impacts on designated heritage sites.
Integrated regional development plans formulation.
