Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Draft environmental policy gets Cabinet nod

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The draft environmental policy, approved by the Cabinet on Thursday, proposes environmental impact assessment of all development projects from the beginning itself.The cost benefit ratio, it says, shall be considered before going ahead with each project. Environmental protection and restoration shall be integral to all projects. Prior consent should be made mandatory for projects and works in ecologically sensitive areas.

The policy calls for sustained and balanced use of natural resources and mitigation measures to correct imbalances caused to the environment and natural systems.

Excessive use of resources should be checked. Incentives should be provided for sustainable living and reduction of consumption. The policy calls for steps for protection of biodiversity, gene pool and resources scientifically and retention of the productivity of coastal areas and marine ecosystems.

The participation of people in environmental activities should be increased to address environmental concerns about the developmental programmes.

Environmental impact, it suggests, should be assessed before giving licences for activities such as mining and quarrying. Restoration and reuse of mined areas should be ensured. Refining and value addition of minerals should be done at the source itself.

Steps should be taken for use of eco-friendly technology and materials for housing and construction. Migration to the cities should be discouraged by providing good educational entertainment, health and communication facilities in rural areas. Building of industrial units and factories in urban areas should also be discouraged. Satellite townships and cities should be set up to decentralise urbanisation.

The policy recommends measures to check excessive use of groundwater resources. Measures should be taken for controlled use of surface and groundwater resources and their recharge. Pollution of water sources by waste and effluents should be prevented.

It calls for preparation of a database of inland and marine fish resources. Pollution possibilities should be studied before embarking on intense aquaculture.

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