Environment Opinions News - India Together

TRANSPORT POLLUTION
Old or new, cars must make way for buses

The ban on old diesel vehicles in Delhi and the NCR is a first step towards addressing the grave air toxicity in the region, but a well-designed BRTS could go a long way in achieving the real end. Darryl D’Monte compiles notes from a recent conference.

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VEHICULAR AIR POLLUTION

Will banning older vehicles clean the air in Delhi?

Is modernisation of transport the sole answer to air pollution problems in Delhi? In view of the NGT's proposed ban on older vehicles on the streets of Delhi, Sarath Guttikunda draws attention to several problems that need to be addressed for a healthier environment in the NCR.

Transport Environmental Hazards Urban Environment

SUBRAMANIAN COMMITTEE REPORT

Finding the right reasons for reform

The High Level Committee constituted to review key environmental laws has apparently focussed on a wide range of issues and mechanisms; however, as long as the focus in on speed, and not environmental outcomes, the reform process may be futile, writes Manju Menon and Kanchi Kohli.

Environment Government Environmental Law and Regulation

WILDLIFE PROTECTION ACT

An uncertain future for our fauna

As India’s Wildlife Protection Act completes 42 years, conservationists are worried by the recent moves of the government. which appear to undermine the law in a bid to project an industry-friendly regime. T R Shankar Raman analyses the apparent direction in which the Act, and environmental laws in general, seem to be headed.

Forests Environment Government Wildlife Environmental Law and Regulation

DISASTER DIALOGUES

In Uttarakhand, yet another chance to learn

Disaster situations in the recent past have only led to sporadic study and discussions but yielded little by way of lessons for the long term; will the devastating North Indian floods this time change that? Kanchi Kohli ruminates.

Environment Environmental Law and Regulation

ABUSE OF ANIMALS

Is conservation possible without protection of animal rights?

Abuse of animals by humans in various garbs is a sad reality across countries and communities. Deeply moved by an HBO documentary, Malini Shankar explains why the issue of animal rights and prevention of cruelty must be inextricably linked to conservation efforts.

Environment Wildlife

ENDLESS STRIFE

Awakening the somnolent state

The common thread between our external and internal security predicaments is our approach to time. Most security issues are long-standing and seemingly interminable. If we understood why this is so, we can change it, writes Firdaus Ahmed.

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ENVIRONMENT REGULATION

Ministry of Corporate Environment?

Thus far, MoEF has only been negligent in safeguarding the environment, but now it proposes to do away with even the need to do so. The new draft notification from the ministry has obligingly confined itself to facilitating new investments, and ignored all other stakeholder voices, writes Kanchi Kohli.

Environment Environmental Law and Regulation

Citizen voices, policy choices

It is clear that people across the country are driven by strong environment values. Therefore, without having a policy process that channelises their perceptions and crystallises them in policy statements, it is not possible to sequence and prioritise our environmental problems, says Videh Upadhyay.

OP-ED Videh Upadhyay

Give the environment its due

The Ministry of Environment and Forests is looking away from even the minimal standards of environmental stewardship needed in modern times, asserted citizens and experts in open letter to the government recently. Ashish Kothari and Kanchi Kohli were two of the signatories.

Environment

Weakening the enviro-clearance process

The recent simplifications to the Central environmental clearance process may endup pushing peoples participation and transparency to fringes, says Sunita Dubey.

Environment