Environment deserves greater attention
K.V.K. NAIR
APPARENTLY THE Ministry of Environment and Forests is planning to introduce an environmental tribunal bill which envisages the setting up of `green courts' to deal with environmental disputes. There is much scepticism in the media regarding the real motives of the ministry behind this move and whether it is an attempt to make speedy clearances of projects ("Who will benefit from `green' courts?" The Hindu, March 23).
The environmental science scenario in the country presents a picture of near anarchy. The irony of it is that more than at any other time, we now need clarity of thinking, farsighted policies and an excellent regulatory framework in the area of environment as the Indian economy is growing at a rate of 9 per cent annually.
Nullified
A study by NEERI, Nagpur, has shown that during the period 1980-90, the entire growth of the economy at a rate of 5.6 per cent was nullified by the costs of environmental damage caused by this growth.
The situation is far worse now and pollution and degradation are posing a serious threat to the continued sustainability of our major ecosystems such as forests, grasslands, croplands, rivers, lakes and coastal waters.
The main reason for our poor performance in the area of environment is the inadequacy of scientific expertise in our country in this fledgling science. Although most universities and many colleges now have departments of environmental sciences, the level of expertise available in many areas is too fragmentary and inadequate to provide comprehensive solutions to the pressing problems of urban decay, water and soil pollution, climate change, etc.
One of the reasons why the environmental science community in India is found wanting is the narrow disciplinary background of many of our scientists and the fundamentally trans-disciplinary nature of environmental science which crosses over even to humanities. Our poor record in the area of environmental science has a reflection in the area of environmental legislation too in India — a clear case of poor science leading to poor legislation.
While science is thus lagging behind, there has been a surge forward with regard to public awareness regarding environmental issues.
The public awareness is almost directly proportional to literacy and in some of the most literate states like Kerala, the way forward has become thorny for all industrial projects, existing and emerging. Responding to the mood of the general public the courts have become activists and many a time action in the area of environment is guided and directed by the courts.
Thus an area of modern science wherein challenging problems are thrown up repeatedly and solutions have to be found through the application of highly sophisticated scientific approaches and experiments is generally left for courts to act as a final arbiter.
While States are quarrelling over sharing of river waters, there are already forebodings that the health of the rivers including the Ganga is itself under serious threat due to mismanagement and climate change ("Rivers in danger," The Hindu, March 24). It is not legislation or court intervention but comprehensive scientific study and management that is the right way forward in ensuring the conservation and long term sustainability of our natural ecosystems.
Many a time decision makers as well as courts are unaware of the fact that problems in the area of environment are eminently amenable to scientific study and that workable solutions can be evolved in most of the cases and environment and development do not have to be seen as mutually antagonistic propositions.
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