MOEFCC Archives - The TrickyScribe™

The TrickyScribe: Twenty five sectors seeking environment clearance (EC) for expansion of existing projects or new projects have standard conditions imposed by Indian government now. The government-constituted green panel called Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) assesses the projects and makes recommendations, based on which the Environment Ministry grants the final EC.

“In order to bring uniformity on stipulated terms and conditions across the projects and sectors and as a general guide to the EAC as well as project proponents, the ministry has prepared standard conditions for 25 sectors,” the Environment Ministry, in a statement, said. The 25 sectors include iron, steel, cement, coal, petroleum refineries industry, paper and pulp industries, hydro-electric projects, industrial estates, amongst others.

The standard EC conditions will have to be considered by the EAC at the time of appraisal of the proposals. The EAC after due diligence can modify, delete and add conditions based on the project-specific requirements, the statement said.

NGT fines sewage plant for damage to environment

National Green Tribunal has imposed an interim fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on the project proponent of Bandhwari sewage treatment plant in the district for damaging the environment. A Bench headed by NGT Chairperson Adarsh Kumar Goel noted that there was no substantial compliance by the project proponent in managing waste and ruled that mere a promise for future compliance was not enough.

“Ecogreen Energy Gurgaon Faridabad Pvt Ltd is directed to pay an interim compensation of ₹ 2.5 lakh for damage to the environment under Section 15(2) of the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. The amount may be deposited with the State Pollution Control Board (SPCB). The above amount may have to be increased if any violation continues. We direct the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the SPCB to conduct an inspection within four weeks,” said the Bench. The tribunal posted the matter for consideration of the compliance affidavit and report of the CPCB and the SPCB on February 6.

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The TrickyScribe: With a view to raising awareness about the plight of India’s National Heritage Animal, and to building a groundswell of popular support for the securing of elephant corridors, the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MOEFCC) kick-started Gaj Yatra on Saturday marked as World Elephant Day.

World Elephant Day celebrations in New Delhi

The show will move through 12 elephant range states over the next 15 months, with elephant-sized artworks created by local artists and craftsmen as the centrepiece, said Division Head, Species Recovery, WTI, Samir K Sinha. Targeting the children as its prime audience, Gaj Mahotsavs with concerts, parades, street plays and activities will be organised at venues along the way.

The campaign was launched at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi, by the MOEFCC Minister, Dr Harsh Vardhan, CEO, WTI, Vivek Menon and actor, filmmaker, Dia Mirza. India has as many as 30,000 wild Asian elephants; over 50% of the species’ estimated global population. Yet these natural nomads face an increasingly uncertain future in the country.

Children taking pledge to conserve elephants. Credit: Samir K Sinha

Growing demands for resources by the human population have led to the destruction and fragmentation of wild habitats across the country, depleting the area available for elephants to roam and causing human interference in their traditional migratory paths.

Environment & Culture: Aspects of the Same Coin

Elephant corridors are vital natural habitat linkages that enable elephants and other wildlife to move through the degraded habitats lying between larger protected forests freely, without being disturbed by humans.

With Asian elephants now occupying a meagre 3.5 percent of their historical range, securing these corridors has become conservation imperative, said Dr Sandeep Kumar Tiwari, one of the authors of Right of Passage.

Cover: Right Of Passage, Credit: Samir K Sinha

The WTI has been working with Project Elephant, state forest departments, and NGOs to secure and protect elephant corridors for over a decade through its Right of Passage project.

At the World Elephant Day event at the Nehru Memorial Museum, Dr R Sukumar, an eminent elephant expert, WTI Trustee and Professor of Ecology, Indian Institute of Sciences, shared his insights on the All India Synchronised Elephant Census of 2017.

Increasing use of riverbanks damaging Gharial habitat

WTI CEO Menon then made a presentation on the current status of elephant corridors in the country. Dr Harsh Vardhan, who was the Chief Guest, also released the ‘All India Elephant Census, 2017 Report’, as well as ‘Right of Passage’, the definitive publication on India’s 101 identified and mapped elephant corridors, prepared by Wildlife Trust of India and the UK-based charity Elephant Family in consultation with all elephant range state forest departments in the country.

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MOEFCC

Standard EC conditions for 25 sectors

NGT fines sewage plant for damage to environment

WTI & MOEFCC kick-start Gaj Yatra on World Elephant Day

Environment & Culture: Aspects of the Same Coin

Increasing use of riverbanks damaging Gharial habitat