Question : Environmental Protection

(a) the details of the projects being implemented by the Government for protection of the environment in the country along with the funds allocated and utilised in this regard during the last three years, State-wise;
(b) the monitoring mechanism to oversee the implementation of such projects along with the steps taken for effective implementation of environmental protection laws;
(c) whether growing urbanisation, industrialisation, degradation of land/air/ water pollution and encroachment has resulted in environmental degradation and ecological imbalance in the country; and
(d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto; and
(e) whether the Government has any proposal to set up a National Environment Regulator for appraising project, enforcing environmental conditions for approvals and to impose penalties on polluters and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

(a) and (b) There were eighteen (18) umbrella schemes of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), which have been now revised to nine (9) in the current financial year. These schemes are implemented in the country, inter alia for protection of the environment. The details of funds allocated and released during the year 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16 and the current financial year is annexed. Each scheme has its own monitoring mechanism to oversee implementation and reviews are regularly conducted as per established practice and guidelines.

(c) and (d) Growing urbanization, industrialization, degradation of land/air/water pollution and encroachment has the potential of adversely affecting the environment. Government has taken various steps to control environmental pollution, which inter alia include requirement of prior environmental clearance under Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification, 2006, Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance under CRZ Notification, 2011, assessment and monitoring of water quality, air quality, formulation of action plan to ascertain ambient air quality for certain non-attainment cities, brought out environmental standards for more than 100 categories of industries, to provide the financial assistance for setting up of Common Effluent Treatment Plants, use of beneficiated coal by thermal Power Plants, real time online monitoring of industrial units in critically polluting sectors, industry to install equipments to monitoring 24x7 effluent and emission quality, launch of National Air Quality Index, One Colour-One Number and One Description, categorization of industries in to red, orange, green and white etc. The Ministry has rigrous process of appraisal of such projects before granting prior environmental clearance and CRZ clearance.

(e) Pursuant to the Orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court dated 06.07.2011 and 06.01.2014 in IA Nos. 1868, 2091, 2225-27, 2380, 2568 and 2937 in Writ Petition (C) No. 202 of 1995, the Government has conducted inter-ministerial consultation, and consultation with states for setting up of a Regulator/Authority under Section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Subsequently, the High Level Committee (HLC) constituted under the Chairmanship of Shri T.S.R. Subramaniam, former Cabinet Secretary, Government of India in its report inter alia recommended for setting up of National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) at the national level and State Environment Management Authority (SEMA) at state level as full time processing/clearance/monitoring agency. Government has assigned the work of preparing a Framework based on the Recommendations given by the HLC and assisting the Ministry in finalization of environment and related laws to a consortium of two organizations namely M/s Ernst and Young and M/s Amarchand & Mangaldas & Suresh A. Shroff. The consortium as the Technical Consultant has submitted Inception report, Gap Assessment Report and draft of Best practices report.

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