Environmental Concerns Seen as a Roadblock

With the new government in power, it’s now time to work on the promises made to the electorate by the UPA. Infrastructure being a heavy weight in driving economic growth of our country will be getting a lot of attention. But is the nation expecting a boom in infrastructure of India at the cost of increase contribution to damaging our environment? TOI dated June 5^th, 2009 speaks of the a secret report of the finance ministry suggesting easing of the environment clearance norms thereby removing the hindrances to the growth plan the Govt. In power has. It doesn’t sound as a good deal to me. As effects to our environment do not come up to the surface immediately but have a long lasting effect on our Mother Nature’s health, UPA must ensure that it doesn’t go very far in altering these environment clearance norms. The Govt. can fool the public for now but in long run it won’t be of any help to UPA image. Environment Clearance Norms are basically a protocol to be followed when a project that might release pollutants into the environment has to be sanctioned. By diluting such norms our Nation might get a helping hand in speeding up infrastructure plans but at the same time with exponential speed hamper our environment leading to dire consequences to our future generation. The new Environment minister Jairam Ramesh has a great responsibility on his shoulders to ensure that he does not succumb to extreme demands from the center. At the same time, he should put efforts in making Infrastructure growth and Environment protection passengers of the same carriage of India’s' Growth. By not just following the routine and thinking out of the box he can sail to the shores safely. All we can do is wait and hope for Responsible Actions from the Closet of UPA after having given a mandate to run our nation with sovereignty.