ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION is invariably linked to poor implementation of environmental norms and standards. This is what the new government must remember as it sets out to lead the country at a time when its manufacturing capabilities are significantly expanding. The government would do well to address some key areas of concern that hamper the environmental performance of the country's industrial sector.
STRENGTHEN SPCBs
Effective state pollution control boards (SPCBS) play a vital role in environmental management and regulation, as mandated by various laws. However, their performance suffers due to insufficient human power, limited financial resources and absence of adequate infrastructure. According to an April 5, 2024 report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 6,075, or over 50 per cent, of sanctioned positions across all SPCBS are vacant. In Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur, the vacancy rate is over 60 per cent. Such shortages affect environmental gement and regulation. For example, the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board has 505 staff against the sanctioned posts of 839 to monitor 111,928 industries, as per the 2022 annual report of the board. Given that only 315 of the 505 staff are technical specialists, each of them are responsible for monitoring 355 industries. Therefore, it is imperative to assess institutional capacity and prioritise filling vacant positions.
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Denne historien er fra June 01, 2024-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
