Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015

Green Files

Newsletter on Environment audit and sustainable development issues

International Centre for Environment Audit and Sustainable Development (iCED)

Green Files is a quarterly newsletter compiled by iCED Jaipur. This newsletter highlights issues on environment and sustainable development which can enable audit offices identify areas of audit concern. It comprises results of recent environmental conferences-national & international; “state in focus” where environment issues in a state are highlighted; critical appraisal of national environmental acts; snapshots of recent news on environment ; Supreme Court judgements on environment issues as well as recent national and international audit reports pertaining to environment and sustainable development. We look forward to your suggestions to make Green Files more relevant. Contributions to the newsletter are also welcome. These can be mailed to [email protected].

Contents I. 2015 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference: Water and 2 Sustainable Development: From Vision to Action, January 2015 II. M.C. Mehta v. Union of , Tanneries Case: (Calcutta) 1996 4

III. Critical discussion of rules/laws: Guidelines for Ecotourism in and 6 around Protected Areas, 2011 IV. Environment news snapshots 10 V. State in Focus: 14 VI. Audit Report: Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India 20 on Controls and Systems for Sustainable Mining in (Government of Karnataka Report No. 2 of the year 2012) VII. International Audit Report: Performance Audit Report Of The Office of 22 The Auditor General of The Republic of Fiji: Managing Sustainable fisheries

Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015

I. 2015 UN-Water Annual (2) Objectives of the conference International Zaragoza Conference: The overall aims of the Zaragoza Conference Water and Sustainable Development: were: From Vision to Action, January 2015  To identify the specific pending issues that (1) Background need to be tackled in relation to the main implementation challenges related to Water, More than 300 participants from United Sanitation and Hygiene, Water Resources Nations Agencies and programmes, experts, Management, Water Quality and Risks. representatives of the business community, governments and non-governmental  To analyze the main opportunities and organizations met from 15 to 17 January 2015 challenges for the different means of in Zaragoza, Spain, to discuss the tools for implementation to advance the post-2015 implementing the post-2015 agenda for agenda. water. This is also the last year of the  To analyze how lessons learned by the UN International Water for Life Decade, so it is during the International Decade for Action can be especially important for taking stock of and used in the post-2015 agenda, specifically in learning from achievements as well as relation to water cooperation, and women planning the next steps. The Conference dealt engagement. with some of the main implementation challenges related to four main themes (3) Issues discussed (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Water Water and sustainable development Resources Management, Water Quality and  Over 1.7 billion people live in river basins Risks) in relation to the targets recommended where water use exceeds recharge, leading to the by the Open Working Group on Sustainable desiccation of rivers, depletion of groundwater Development Goals and UN-Water. The and the degradation of ecosystems. Conference also dealt with some of the main implementation challenges related to the five  Two-thirds of the world’s population will main targets recommended by the UN-Water live in water-stressed countries by 2025 if current proposal on the global goal for water. These consumption patterns continue. are:  Demand for water will increase by 55% by A. Achieve universal access to safe drinking 2050. water, sanitation and hygiene;  Economic losses from inadequate delivery B. Improve (% to be defined) the sustainable of water and sanitation amounts to 1.5% of GDP use and development of water resources in all of the countries included in a WHO study on countries; meeting the MDGs. C. All countries strengthen equitable,  Some estimates suggest over 80% of participatory and accountable water governance; wastewater is discharged without treatment. D. Reduce untreated wastewater (% to be  Water shortages have been identified by defined), nutrient pollution (% to be defined) and industry, government, academia and civil society increase wastewater reuse (% to be defined); as one of the top three global risks of highest concern to them. E. Reduce mortality (% to be defined) and economic loss by (% to be defined) from natural  Since the original Rio Earth Summit in 1992 and human-induced water-related disasters. floods, droughts and storms have affected 4.2 billion people (95% of all people affected by

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015 disasters) and caused US$ 1.3 trillion of damage diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne (63% of all damage). diseases, and other communicable diseases. Implementing improvements in water  By 2030 substantially reduce the number of quality and protecting ecosystem services deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water, and soil pollution and  By 2030, improve water quality by reducing contamination. pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials,  By 2030 achieve universal and equitable halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, access to safe and affordable drinking water for and increasing recycling and safe reuse. all.  By 2020 protect and restore water-related  By 2030 achieve access to adequate and ecosystems, including mountains, forests, equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes. open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable  By 2030, expand international cooperation situations. and capacity-building support to developing countries in water and sanitation related  By 2030 expand international cooperation activities and programmes, including water and capacity-building support to developing harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, countries in water and sanitation related wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse activities and programmes, including water technologies. harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse  By 2020 achieve environmentally sound technologies. management of chemicals and all wastes throughout their life cycle in accordance with  Support and strengthen the participation of agreed international frameworks and significantly local communities for improving water and reduce their release to air, water and soil to sanitation management. minimize their adverse impacts on human health Implementing Risk Management in Water and the environment. and Sanitation  By 2020 ensure conservation, restoration  By 2030 significantly reduce the number of and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland deaths and the number of affected people and freshwater ecosystems and their services, in decrease the economic losses relative to GDP particular forests, wetlands, mountains and caused by disasters, including water-related drylands, in line with obligations under disasters, with the focus on protecting the poor international agreements. and people in vulnerable situations.  By 2020 introduce measures to prevent the  By 2030, expand international cooperation introduction and significantly reduce the impact and capacity-building support to developing of invasive alien species on land and water countries in water and sanitation related ecosystems, and control or eradicate the priority activities and programmes, including water species. harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, Implementing Water, Sanitation and wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse Hygiene--Sustainable Development Goals: technologies.  By 2030 end the epidemics of AIDS,  Support and strengthen the participation of tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical local communities for improving water and sanitation management.

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Implementing Water Resources concerned with the tanneries located at Management Tangra, Tiljala, Topsia and Pagla Danga the four adjoining areas in the eastern fringe of  By 2030, substantially increase water-use the city of Calcutta (the Calcutta tanneries). efficiency across all sectors and ensure These areas accommodate about 550 sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater tanneries. The status of the four tannery clusters to address water scarcity, and substantially in Calcutta, according to the NEERI Report was reduce the number of people suffering from that no appropriate waste water drainage and water scarcity. collection systems were available in any of the  By 2030 implement integrated water tannery clusters. The untreated waste water resources management at all levels, including flows through open drains causing serious through trans-boundary cooperation as environmental, health and hygiene problems. appropriate. No waste water treatment facilities existed in (4) Outcomes any of the four tannery clusters. The tannery units were located in highly congested  A toolkit for implementation; habitations, offering little or no scope for  Learning and knowledge exchange among future expansion, modernisation or Conference participants through interdisciplinary installation of Effluent Treatment Plants discussions; (ETPs). Surroundings of the tanneries were extremely unhygienic due to discharge of  A series of documented case studies, untreated effluents in open drains, stagnation video interviews, information briefs and other of wastewater in low-lying areas around the materials for World Water Day 2015; tannery units, and accumulation of solid  A Conference report, including lessons waste in tanneries. from the International Decade for Action ‘Water (2) Judgment for Life’.  The Calcutta tanneries operating in Sources:- http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/ Tangra, Tiljala, Topsia and Pagla Danga areas in waterandsustainabledevelopment2015/index.shtml the eastern fringe of the city of Calcutta shall relocate themselves from their present location II. M.C. Mehta v. Union of India, and shift to the new leather complex set up by Tanneries Case: (Calcutta) 1996 the West Bengal Government. The tanneries which decline to relocate shall not be permitted (1) Background to function at the present sites. A public interest petition filed under Article 32  The Calcutta tanneries shall deposit 25% of the Constitution of India was initially of the price of the land before 28-2-1997 with directed against the tanneries located in the the authority concerned. The subsequent city of Kanpur. The Supreme Court (SC) in instalments shall be paid in accordance with the 1987 (M. C. Mehta v. Union of India, Kanpur terms of the allotment letters issued by the State tanneries) issued various directions in relation Government; tanneries who fail to deposit 25% to the Kanpur tanneries. While monitoring of the price of the land shall be closed on 15-4- these directions, the scope of the petition was 1997. The Board shall issue public notice in two enlarged and the industries located in various English and two Bengali newspapers for two cities on the banks of River Ganga were called consecutive days by 31-12-1996 directing the upon to stop discharging untreated effluent Calcutta tanneries to deposit 25% of the land into the river. In this judgment, the SC is price before the authority named therein by 28-

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2-1997. It shall also be stated in the public notice  The State Government shall appoint an that the tanneries failing to deposit the amount Authority/Commissioner who with the help of shall be closed on 15-4-1997. Board and other experts and after giving opportunity to the polluting tanneries  The Board shall prepare a list of the concerned, assess the loss to the tanneries which decline/fail to deposit 25% of ecology/environment in the affected areas. the land price by 28-2-1997 and send the same to the Superintendent of Police and Deputy  The said authority shall further determine Commissioner of the areas concerned. The the compensation to be recovered from the Superintendent of Police/the Deputy polluter-tanneries as cost of reversing the Commissioner concerned shall close all the damaged environment. The authority shall lay tanneries who fail/decline to deposit 25% of the down just and fair procedure for completing the land price. The said tanneries shall be closed on exercise. 15-4-1997.  Pollution fine of Rs. 10,000 each on all the  All the Calcutta tanneries who deposit tanneries in the four areas of Tangra, Tiljala, 25% of the land price shall be permitted to Topsia and Pagla Danga was imposed. function at the present sites provided they keep  The compensation amount recovered on depositing the subsequent instalments in from the polluting tanneries and the amount of accordance with the terms of the allotment fine recovered from the tanneries shall be letter. deposited under a separate head called  The State Government shall hand over "Environment Protection Fund" and shall be the possession of the plots allotted to the utilized for restoring the damaged environment tanneries before 15-4-1997. and ecology. The pollution fine is also liable to be recovered as arrears of land revenue.  The State Government shall render all assistance to the tanneries in the process of  The State Government in consultation relocation. The construction of the tannery with the expert bodies like NEERI, Central buildings, issuance of any licences/ permissions Pollution Control Board and the Board shall etc. shall be expedited and granted on priority frame scheme/schemes for reversing the basis. damage caused to the ecology and environment by pollution. The scheme/schemes so framed  The use of the land which would become shall be executed by the State Government. The available on account of shifting/relocation/ expenditure shall be met from the "Environment closure of the tanneries shall be permitted for Protection Fund" and from other sources green purpose. While framing the scheme the provided by the State Government. State Government may keep in view for its guidance the order of this Court in M. C. Mehta  The judgment will be monitored by the v. Union of India [(1996) 4 SCC 351] relating to "Green Bench" already functioning in the the shifting of Delhi industries. Calcutta High Court  All the Calcutta tanneries shall stop (3) Significance of the Judgment functioning at the present sites on 30-9-1997. The SC further stated that some of the salient The closure order with effect from 30-9-1997 principles of ‘Sustainable Development’, as shall be unconditional. Even if the relocation of culled out from Brundtland Report and other tanneries is not complete they shall stop international documents, are Inter-Generational functioning at the present sites with effect from Equity, Use and Conservation of Natural 30-9-1997. Resources, Environmental Protection, the

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Precautionary Principle, Polluter Pays Principle, `Sustainable Development’ and as such the Obligation to Assist and Cooperate, Eradication polluter is liable to pay the cost to the individual of Poverty and Financial Assistance to the sufferers as well as the cost of reversing the developing countries. It further stated that `The damaged ecology. The Precautionary Principle Precautionary Principle’ and `The Polluter Pays and the Polluter Pays Principle have been Principle’ are essential features of `Sustainable accepted as part of the law of the land." Development’. The `Precautionary Principle’ - in Sources: http://www.elaw.org/node/6943, the context of the municipal law means: http://newindialaw.blogspot.in/2013/05/precautionary- i. Environmental measures - by the State principle-of.html; http://www.nlsenlaw.org/waterriver- 3/domestic-legal-framework/supreme-court-cases/ Government and the statutory authorities - must anticipate, prevent and attack the causes of environmental degradation. III. Critical discussion of rules/laws: ii. Where there are threats of serious and Guidelines for Ecotourism in and irreversible damage, lack of scientific certainly around Protected Areas, 2011 should not be used as a reason for postponing (1) Background measures to prevent environmental degradation. Ecotourism is defined as ‘responsible travel to iii. The `Onus of proof` is on the actor or the natural areas that conserves the environment developer/industrialist to show that his action is and improves the well-being of local people’. environmentally benign. Such tourism is low impact, educational, and The court further stated that ‘The Polluter Pays conserves the environment while directly Principles’ has been held to be a sound principle benefiting the economic development of local by SC in Indian Council for Enviro-Legal Action v. communities. Most wilderness areas across Union of India [(1996) 3 SCC 212 : JT (1996) 2 SC India are fragile ecosystems that provide a 196]. The Court ruled that `...... once the activity whole host of ecosystem services to local carried on is hazardous or inherently dangerous, residents and people living downstream; and the person carrying on such activity is liable to continue to remain important tourist make good the loss caused to any other person attractions. However, unplanned tourism in by his activity irrespective of the fact whether he such landscapes can destroy the very took reasonable care while carrying on his environment that attracts such tourism in the activity. The rule is premised upon the very first place. nature of the activity carried on’. Consequently These directives and guidelines (2011) for the polluting industries are `absolutely liable to compensate for the harm caused by them to ecotourism are applicable to any Protected villagers in the affected areas, to the soil and to Areas, whether rural or urban, including the underground water and hence, they are National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, bound to take all necessary measures to remove community reserves, conservation reserves, sludge and other pollutants laying in the sacred groves, or pilgrimage spots located affected areas’. The `Polluter Pays Principle’ as within protected areas and forested areas. interpreted by Court means that the absolute The National Tiger Conservation Authority liability for harm to the environment extends may lay down normative standards for not only to compensate the victims of pollution tourism activities and guidelines relating to but also the cost of restoring the environmental tiger reserves. The main principles of Ecotourism are: degradation. Remediation of the damaged environment is part of the process of

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 Adopt low-impact tourism that protects  The State Government must develop a ecological integrity of wilderness areas, secures system by which gate receipts from Protected wildlife values of the destination and its Areas (PA) should be collected by the PA surrounding areas management, and not go as revenue to the State Exchequer. This will ensure that resources  Highlight the heritage value of India’s generated from tourism can be earmarked for wilderness and protected areas protection, conservation and local livelihood  Build environmental and cultural development awareness and respect  The State Forest Department should be  Facilitate the sustainability of ecotourism the arbiter in case of any dispute regarding the enterprises and activities ecological advisability of any tourism plans. The  Provide livelihood opportunities to local Chief Wildlife Warden of the State must ensure communities that each PA prepares an ecotourism plan, as part of the Management Plan/Annual Plan of  Use indigenous, locally produced and Operation/ Tiger Conservation Plan. A site-specific ecologically sustainable materials for tourism Ecotourism Plan for each PA must be prepared activities and approved by the State government by (2) Main provisions of Guidelines for December 31, 2011, and put in the public domain; Ecotourism in and around Protected Areas in the local language also. Synergy and collaboration amongst the the  The Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) of the main stakeholders like the Central State shall develop a monitoring mechanism, Government, State Governments, hospitality estimate carrying capacity, delineate tourism sector, State Forest Departments, Protected zones, and decide the area open to tourism on the Area managements, and local communities basis of objective, scientific criteria. and civil society institutions is vital for  A State Level Steering Committee should ensuring successful implementation of the be constituted under the chairmanship of the guidelines. Chief Minister for quarterly review vis-à-vis the State Governments recommendations contained in the State-level Ecotourism Strategy.  The State Government must develop a State-level Ecotourism Strategy to ensure  As part of the State-level Ecotourism wilderness conservation in ecologically sensitive Strategy, the State government should levy a landscapes, local community participation and “local conservation cess” as a percentage of turn- benefit-sharing, sound environmental design and over, on all privately-run tourist facilities within 5 use of locally produced and sustainable materials, km of the boundary of a Protected Area. The rate Conservation education and training, All States of cess should be determined by the State should notify the State level Ecotourism Strategy Government, and the monies thus collected by December 31, 2011, and put the same in the should be earmarked to fund Protected Area public domain, in the local language also. management, conservation and local livelihood development. Each State Government should  Ecologically sensitive land use policies notify the local conservation cess by December 31, should be prescribed for the landscape 2011. surrounding protected areas.  Financial assistance/ incentives should be  No new tourist facilities are to be set up provided for communities/individuals who own on forest lands. revenue lands outside protected areas, to convert

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015 such lands to forest status. The value of such lands  Protected Area authorities must ensure for wildlife will be enhanced, even as it improves that all facilities within a 5 km radius of the income of the landowner from ecotourism. core/critical wildlife habitats/PAs/reserves must adhere to all environmental clearances, noise  A Local Advisory Committee (LAC) must be pollution norms, and are non-polluting, blending constituted for each Protected Area by the State in with surroundings. Severe penalties must be government to review and monitor state imposed for non-compliance. ecotourism strategy, monitor hotels and tour operators.  There shall be a complete ban on burying, PA Management burning or otherwise disposing non- biodegradable or toxic waste in the tourism area.  Each PA must develop its own Ecotourism Tourist facilities/ Tour operators Plan which should be consistent with the State Ecotourism Strategy and must be approved by the  Tourism infrastructure must conform to LAC and the State Government. An ecotourism environment-friendly, low-impact architecture; plan for each PA must be notified by December 31, renewables including solar energy, waste 2011, and put in the public domain, in the local recycling, rainwater harvesting, natural cross- language also. The plan should identify (using GIS) ventilation, no use of asbestos, controlled sewage and monitor the ecologically sensitive areas disposal, and merging with the surrounding surrounding PAs, in order to ensure the ecological landscape. All tourist facilities, old and new must integrity of corridor/buffer areas, and prevent aim to generate at least 50% of their total energy corridor pinching/destruction; assess carrying and fuel requirements from alternate energy capacity of the PA, set a ceiling level on number of sources that may include wind, solar and biogas. visitors allowed to enter a Protected Area at any  All tourist facilities falling within 5 km of given time, based on the carrying capacity of the a protected area must be reviewed regularly by habitat; indicate the area open to tourism in the the Local Advisory Committee vis-à-vis reserves to be designated as ‘ecotourism zone’; environmental clearance, area of coverage, develop a participatory community-based tourism ownership, type of construction, number of strategy, in collaboration with local communities; employees, etc, for suggesting develop monitoring mechanisms to assess impact mitigation/retrofitting measures if needed. of tourism activities etc Temple/Pilgrimage Boards  In the case of human animal conflicts, compensation should be paid within a period of 15  Pilgrim sites located inside PA must be days apart from immediate payment of ex gratia. designated as sacred groves, with strict building and expansion controls, in accordance with the  For critical wildlife habitats of national Forest Conservation Act, 1980 and the parks/sanctuaries and for core/critical tiger Environment Protection Act, 1986. habitats of tiger reserves; a) Larger than 500 sq.km, 20% of such areas may be permitted for  Temple boards must negotiate terms of regulated ecotourism access, subject to the revenue sharing with local communities, and condition that 30% of the surrounding channel a minimum of five percent of gross buffer/fringe area should be restored as a wildlife revenue collected into development of local habitat in 5 years. b) Smaller than 500 sq.km, 15% communities through the Panchayat and Gram of such areas may be permitted for regulated Sabha. ecotourism access, subject to the condition that Local Communities 20% of the surrounding buffer/fringe area should be restored as a wildlife habitat in 5 years.

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 The first benefit from ecotourism must go purpose of increasing awareness about to the local people, and in the long-run, capacity- conservation. With no obligation of private building should be carried out to forge a tour operators to involve local people, much sustainable partnership between the forest of the ecotourism projects here are becoming department, tourism professionals and local purely commercial. This leads to economic communities leakages - significantly reducing the funds Public / Visitors available for local people and the protected areas.  Must abide by the code of conduct, and  All states/PAs have not made their ‘Do’s and Don’ts, as developed by the Protected ecotourism plans. Area Management. Model “Do’s and Don’ts” are  The Guidelines say “Any core area in a detailed in Annexure I. Tiger Reserve from which relocation has been (3) Critical analysis of the Guidelines carried out, will not be used for tourism activities.” IUCN1 lists ecotourism as the second major This cannot be implemented as effectively this threat to protected areas, as construction of would mean preventing people from visiting roads and resorts cause habitat Kanha, Bandhavgarh, Corbett, Nagarahole, fragmentation. Construction of resorts in Melghat, Tadoba, , Keoladeo Ghana crucial elephant corridors of the Nilgiris (Bharatpur), Gir and virtually every other biosphere reserve has caused obstruction in sanctuary and national park. It would also prevent elephant migration leading to a rise in human communities that have moved into the periphery wildlife conflict. Road kills are common on to benefit from tourism revenues on their own roads leading to eco tourist places. Resource lands. extraction mainly water and fuel wood to  The guidelines state “For critical wildlife meet the tourism needs are degrading the habitats of national parks/sanctuaries and for habitat quality of the region and most of all core/critical tiger habitats of tiger reserves a) excess ecotourism is becoming a threat to Larger than 500 sq.km, 20 % of such areas may be wildlife - there is insufficient attention being permitted for regulated ecotourism access, paid to the tourist carrying capacity of each subject to the condition that 30 % of the protected area (PA) and there is no limit on surrounding buffer/fringe area should be restored the number of vehicles or number of tourist as a wildlife habitat in five years. b) Smaller than entering a PA per day. Several ecotourism 500 sq. km., 15 % of such areas may be permitted projects opened up in Himalayas in the past for regulated ecotourism access, subject to the have proven to be unsustainable. Places like condition that 20 % of the surrounding Nanda Devi Biosphere reserve had to be buffer/fringe area should be restored as a wildlife closed because of high environmental habitat in five years.” This is difficult to put into degradation caused by ecotourism activities. practice as PAs like Keoladeo Ghana National Park Ecotourism activities carried over by private would be forced to restrict approximately a lakh tour operators are generally not overseen by tourists to a tiny fragment of forest, under five government and are turning largely square kilometers, thus effectively damaging the commercial. There are over 44 private tourist park beyond repair. resorts operating on the reserve forests of  The Draft Guidelines fail to recognize the Masinagudi region in Nilgiris Biosphere synergy between conservation and tourism – an reserve. Sometimes the Private resorts do not extraordinary fact given the subject they are follow operation guidelines, or serve the

1 International Union for Conservation of Nature

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015 dealing with and the definition presented at the A slew of measures in Railway Minister Shri outset. Prabhu's budget to take Indian railways on  The ecotourism plan/guidelines are green path largely driven by forest departments with little These measures include setting up 1000 MW participation of communities in decision making solar plants on railway/private land and and benefits largely going to state exchequers, railway buildings in the next five years, audit ecotourism is nevertheless being promoted as a for energy saving, additional water conservation scheme. conservation measures, using energy  Community-owned tourism initiatives are efficient LED luminaries and turning diesel still playing a marginal role compared to the units into a dual fuel mode using CNG. Other other tourism schemes, which are often labelled efforts will include bringing down noise levels as ecotourism and developed by large, often of locos at par with international norms, global, tour operators. They consider ecotourism taking measures to protect wildlife (by as a source of sustainable livelihood supplement avoiding human-animal conflict scenario and not to compete for markets. It is extremely while laying\maintaining railway lines), hard for communities to compete with a market creation of an Environment Directorate, that is fiercely competitive and which controlled initiatives like Bio-toilets, energy audit, water by financial interests in tourist destinations. Also, and energy recycling. negative impacts on local communities can be Three countries discuss Kanchanjunga significant as operators are very likely to export project their adverse environmental impacts, such as refuse, waste water and sewage, to parts of the Government officials from Nepal, India and surrounding area unlikely to be visited by Bhutan have agreed to develop a regional tourists. Most often, governments have cooperation framework for conservation and overlooked these initiatives and have extended development of Kanchanjunga Landscape, an little support. They have also promoted different area that spreads across parts of these versions of tourism as ecotourism with no inkling countries. Concluding the third regional of conservation. strategic consultative meeting held in Source: Kathmandu from February 23-24, the officials http://www.moef.nic.in/downloads/public- discussed the one and a half years of information/Draft%20Ecotourism%20Guidelines%202%20Ju preparatory phase of the project for greater ne.pdf; http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/magazines/conservation/70 collaboration across borders and 75--guidelines-for-ecotourism-can-be-turned- opportunities for socioeconomic around.html; http://www.globalforestcoalition.org/wp- content/uploads/2010/11/ecotourismbriefingpapermarch20 development in the local level. 07.pdf; KSPCB to monitor pollutants from big http://www.ijacp.org/ojs/index.php/ISG/article/view/161; http://www.sustainabilityoutlook.in/content/making-indian- industries live ecotourism-sustainable; 2 KSPCB has installed a large screen at its head office in Bengaluru, from where it will monitor the pollutants discharged by IV. Snapshots: Environment industries. The system will be officially launched in a week. According to KSPCB news officials, there are 261 industries across Karnataka which are categorised as 17 highly

2 Kerala State Pollution Control Board

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015 polluting ones. Under this system, the “consent to operate” wasn’t akin to respective company will have to install registration. monitoring sensors at its chimneys/effluent 'Illegal' Yettinahole work raises hackles discharge points like water or air outlets. These sensors will be linked with the KSPCB The State government has quietly started monitor in Bengaluru from where the work on the Yettinahole project in the chairman and scientific officers will monitor pristine in Sakleshpur taluk of real-time data who will have the option to Hassan district, much to the locals’ chagrin. send immediate inputs to the company The residents are terming the work illegal as regarding pollution levels. KSPCB will store the project lacks the necessary green the data observed for future comparison in clearances. Through the Rs 13,000-crore case of episodic accidents. project, the government plans to provide drinking water to the Kolar, Chikkaballapur Desi thermal plants worst polluters and Tumakuru districts and parts of A first-ever environmental rating of coal- Bengaluru City. based power plants has found that India's Govt begins steps to implement thermal power generating units figure among environment panel recommendations the worlds “most inefficient” in terms of compliance to pollution norms, use of Environment Ministry has initiated steps to resources and overall operation efficiency. implement some of the key Though private sector thermal plants in the recommendations made by a high-level country perform better than government committee constituted by it to review laws owned ones, there is immense scope for related to forests, wildlife, water and air. The improvement in almost all units so that they committee, which reviewed the green laws, can pollute less and generate more electricity has made important observations and 55 with efficient use of available resources. Delhi recommendations. The important among is home to one of the most polluting power them outline that the present set up is not plants in the country• NTPC's Badarpur structured to make a coordinated attack on Thermal Power Plant• which has contributed the pollutants which debase the air, water, in turning the capital into the most polluted and the land and recommended constituting city in the world. National Environment Management Authority (NEMA). NEMA is proposed to an effective Green curbs on polluting firms still in place, approach to pollution control which include Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) identify pollutants, trace them through the clarifies entire ecological chain, determine the total A day after the Delhi government did away exposure of man and his environment, with the requirement of “consent to operate” examine interactions among forms of from DPCC for issue of acknowledgment to pollution and identify where in the ecological small enterprises, officials claimed the chain interdiction would be most decision would not trigger a spike in pollution appropriate. Functions carried out under and the onus of ensuring industries don’t various legislations including Water Act, pollute will remain with the DPCC. DPCC 1974, Air Act 1981, Environment (Protection) officials will continue to monitor parameters Act, 1986, the functions carried out in relation of pollution and ensure action is taken in case to Solid Waste Management and authority to of non-compliance of existing green norms perform studies relating to ecological systems during registration, while clarifying that could be subsumed in the proposed body –

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NEMA and State Environment Management million, thanks in large part to the burning of Authority (SEMA). fossil fuels, researchers say. And while this Govt keeps Gadgil’s report on flawed shows a rise in CO2, how does it prove it Environment Assessment reports for mining contributed to the greenhouse gas effect? For leases under wraps this, the team used special spectroscopic instruments to measure radiative forcing - A report on the manner in which the rate at which the atmosphere warms up. Environmental Impact Assessments were It turns out that because of the recent surge conducted and Environmental Clearances in atmospheric CO2, radiative forcing has (EC) given for mining leases has been lying increased two-tenths of a Watt per square with the State government. The report, meter per decade. This may not seem like a commissioned by the Government of Goa, lot, but in relative terms, it's significant. under the guidance of Professor Madhav What's even more concerning is that the Gadgil, has indicted the government and greenhouse effect doesn't seem to be letting project proponents (mining lease holders) of up anytime soon. Just last year, greenhouse getting legally mandated clearances as gas levels hit a record high, with a 34 % quickly and with little effort or involvement of increase in radiative forcing. The findings the society at large as possible. The reveal a directly measured correlation government has chosen not to act on the between rising CO2 levels and heating - a link report, or even acknowledge it, even as it that was mathematically proven just two renewed all the 88 leases and then asked the months ago. Ministry of Environment and Forests to Karnataka to spend Rs 2,000 cr to repair revoke the suspension of all the EC it had imposed on September 14, 2012. One of its environment damage in mining areas most significant recommendations was that The Karnataka government has incorporated EC should not be once for all, but should be a new company to undertake ameliorative reviewed periodically, for instance, every five measures in and around mining areas in the 3 years.” districts of Ballari, Chitradurga and First Direct Evidence that Rising CO2 is Tumakuru. 3 districts. The new firm, heating up the Earth Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC), has come into It has been known for some time that existence with an action plan for Rs 2,000 atmospheric CO2 influences the planet's crore as per the Supreme Court, in April 2013. natural energy balance - that is, the The rampant illegal mining in these districts equilibrium between incoming energy from had devastated the environment and the Sun and outgoing heat from the Earth. agriculture, which was brought to the notice However, until now, this effect had never of the apex court through a PIL. been directly observed (outside the lab). A Subsequently, the apex court directed the team of scientists from the US Department of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National recommend measures for the restoration of Laboratory found their proof from two sites - the mine ravaged areas. The CEC one in Oklahoma and the other on the North recommended a Comprehensive Slope of Alaska - after measuring CO2's heat- Environmental Plan for the Mining Impact trapping ability over an 11-year period. Zone (CEPMIZ) and the setting up of a Between 2000 and 2010, atmospheric CO2 company to undertake ameliorative increased by a staggering 22 parts-per- measures.

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015

Sewage still pours into Tapi downstream forest clearance to the Mahan coal block has There is no improvement in the quality of already been accorded, the mining in the water in Tapi river, despite several measures block has not been started. The said block claimed to have been taken by Surat may therefore not be auctioned as the block Municipal Corporation (SMC). SMC had in is located in inviolate forest area.” 2013 said there were 1,544 outlets releasing Act against illegal hotels around Gir sewage into Tapi river. It later claimed to have sanctuary: HC to Gujarat government stopped 80 % of these outlets from releasing The Gujarat High Court has directed the state sewage into the river. However, in the government to take action against the illegal downstream of weir-cum- causeway, the establishments operating in the buffer zones dissolved oxygen (DO) levels are still found to of Gir wildlife sanctuary, the sole home of the be much lower than what is considered ideal Asiatic lions. The High Court acted on a report for marine life. of the Gujarat government which said that Air Pollution Cutting 660 M Lives Short By 3 there are 128 such units, including hotels and Years: Report resorts that are being illegally run around the The latest pointer to the magnitude of the sanctuary. problem is a study by environmental Cooler Pacific has slowed global warming economists from University of Chicago, but pause unlikely to last, scientists say Harvard, and Yale. Their report, published on A natural cooling of the Pacific Ocean has Saturday, says that 99.5% of the Indian contributed to slow global warming in the population breathes air that has pollutants past decade but the pause is unlikely to last way above the levels considered to be safe by much longer, US scientists said in February, the World Health Organisation. In many parts 2015. The slowdown in the rate of rising of the country, including 77% of urban areas, temperatures, from faster gains in the 1980s the pollution levels exceed national and 1990s, has puzzled scientists because standards. This is cutting short the lives of 660 heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions from million Indians by a little more than three factories, power plants and cars have hit years, the report adds. The 660 million record highs. Understanding the slowdown is people, or 54.5% of the population, the study vital to project future warming and to agree refers to live in areas where the level of curbs on emissions, linked by scientists to pollution exceeds the limits set out in National heatwaves, floods and rising seas. Ambient Air Quality Standard. India's national air pollution sets the permissible PM 2.5 levels Development projects take toll on green at 40 micrograms per cubic metre, which is cover in Amritsar four times WHO's safe level. Scores of full grown trees along the boundary Don’t auction Mahan coal block: MoEF wall of the historic Company Bagh on the Mall Road were axed today to pave way for the Not for the first time, the Ministry of upcoming BRTS (Bus Rapid Transport Environment, Forests and Climate Change has System). Around 800 trees have been marked asked the Coal Ministry to not auction the for facilitating the BRTS project. The Mahan coal block in Singrauli as it is located centuries-old trees such as banyan, pipal, in an inviolate forest area. According to an mulberry, jamun and shisham were chopped office memorandum obtained under the off and saplings of palm trees are being Right to Information (RTI) Act, the Ministry on planted in lieu of those. December 22, 2014 said “though stage 2

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015

Green cover in Pune diminishing, birds now there has been a delay in setting up this build nests with plastic dedicated force that was aimed at protection Birds in the city no longer live on trees or in of tigers/ wildlife and curbing man animal nests made of twigs and leaves. Plastic conflict. threads from cement bags and carry bag 3 new plant species found in the Ghats strings now line their nests, which they build A research team from SNM College, on electric poles, skyscrapers and mobile Maliankara, has reported the discovery of towers. Experts trailing bird nesting patterns three new plant species from the in Pune have found that the urban setting has Pooyamkutty-Edamalayar region, robbed birds of their natural habitat of trees, highlighting the rich biodiversity of the rock cliffs and bushes, and even exposed Western Ghats. The investigations were part them to threats. Ornithologist Umesh of a UGC-sponsored project on flowering Vaghela has documented nests of 19 bird plants of district. The shrub species in unusual places in and around the named Thottea adichilthottiana was city and attributed the scarcity of natural collected from the Adichilthotty tribal colony material that birds used for building nests to within the Edamalayar forest range. The human interference with their habitat. other two (grass family) are Arundinella Restore areas destroyed by mining in Alwar, pradeepiana and Garnotia variyamensis. green tribunal tells Rajasthan Panchayat makes a mark in solid waste After making it mandatory to seek management environmental clearances for mining near the Puliyur town panchayat has made a sound Sariska Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan, the beginning in solid waste management by National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up generating revenue from the waste collected the state government for 'shutting its eyes' to from the public. Though several other indiscriminate mining activities in Alwar. The panchayats have already forayed into the tribunal directed the state government to file process of making manure from waste, a comprehensive plan for 'restoration, Puliyur town panchayat has gone a step reforestation and reclamation' of the entire ahead by incorporating four other methods area. The environmental body held that to generate revenue. Besides compost yard, indiscriminate mining has affected flora and it has set up a bio-gas plant, shredding plant, fauna in Alwar. duck rearing pond, and vermin-compost yard. More STPF Needed For Tiger Reserves Similarly, an herbal nursery has also been Against a total of 47 tiger reserves at present established. Except shredding plant, bio- including 13 sensitive tiger reserves, Special degradable waste is used as the raw material Tiger Protection Force (STPF) has been raised, for all other solid waste management armed and deployed only in four tiger processes. reserves. These include Bandipur (Karnataka), Source: http://www.indiaenvironmentportal. org.in Tadoba-Andhari and Pench (Maharashtra) and Similipal (Odisha). This was stated by Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in a V. State in Focus: Kerala written reply to Rajya Sabha on Thursday. With the Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Based on the recommendation of Tiger Task Ghats towering 500-2700 m in the east and Force, 13 sensitive tiger reserves of the networked by forty-four rivers, Kerala enjoys country were to be deployed STPF. However, diverse geographical features. Kerala is

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015 divided into three geographical regions: enhanced levels of CO2 to result in an increase Highlands, which slope down from the in the net primary productivity (NPP) of forest Western Ghats onto the Midlands of ecosystems in more than 75 % of the forest undulating hills and valleys into an unbroken area. Environmentalists point out that the coastline with many picturesque backwaters, erroneous policies by the state government is interconnected with canals and rivers. The the major reason behind the destruction of Western Ghats are nowhere more than 120 forest. The ghats region of Kerala covers kms from the sea. nearly 21,856 sq km or 56 % of the total (1) Environment Scenario geographical area of the State. According to INCCA report 3934.08 sq km forest area in this (a) Forests region will be under threat of destruction in The recorded forest area in the state is 11,265 the coming 15 years. km2 which constitutes 28.99 % of the state’s Mining: The major mining activity in the state geographical area. Reserved forests is confined to beach placers and china clay constitute 98.74% and protected forests deposits. There is also unorganised mining in 1.26% of the state’s forests. The forest cover the state of tile and brick clay, alluvial sands, in the state is (2009) is 17,300 km2 which is crystalline rocks, soils etc. Many of the 44.52% of the state’s geographical area. Out mineral occurrences are in very fragile of this, 3.71% is very dense forests, 24.17% is physical, biological and social environments moderately dense forests, 16.63% is open and therefore the pressure exerted and forests and 0.15% is scrub. impacts are high in terms of magnitude and Invasive alien species: Based on field surveys intensity and mostly permanent in nature. In and using a risk assessment protocol, a study Kerala, sand mining is practiced in all rivers by Forest Health Programme Division Kerala having varied channel morphology, elevation, Forest Research Institute identified 38 alien vegetation patterns, aquatic habitats and invasive species in the forests of Kerala. Of aggregate deposits. By directly altering the them, 10 are of high risk, 12 pose medium risk, channel geometry and elevation, sand mining 10 pose low risk and 6 insignificant as per the induces marked channel adjustments. risk assessment conducted. There are 5 trees, Further, continued sand mining disrupts the 11 shrubs, 4 subshrubs, 12 herbs and 6 sediment mass balance in the river climbers among the alien invasives found in environment. ln a study of the lthikkara river the forests of Kerala. Most of the (Kollam district) it was found in 2003 that, out introductions of alien species into the forests of the 25 freshwater fishes recorded in the of Kerala was intentional (31 species). river, a total of l6 fish species are under threat, mainly, due to habitat loss resulted from sand Impact of development activities: An expert mining. The demand for river sand is very high report suggests that 18 % of the forest area in and all the rivers and its tributaries are Kerala would be vulnerable by 2030. subjected to indiscriminate removal of sand. According to a report by the Indian Network It is estimated that the total quantity of river on Climate Change Assessment, forests in sand used in Kerala is about 32 million tons. Kerala will indicate shifts in boundary, The annual extraction of sand, on an average, changes in species-assemblage or forest is almost 31 times more than the annual sand types, changes in net primary productivity, replenishment rate. This, in turn, is lowering possible dieback in the transient phase, and the river bed by 5 cm/yr to 18 cm/ Yr. In 2014, potential loss or change in biodiversity in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned 2050’s and 2080’s. The study also projects

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015 beach sand mining from the sea coasts of threatened due to Heavy soil erosion, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. pollution and increased pesticide level in the (b) Biodiversity habitat ; Deccan mahseer endangered due to Habitat alteration, pollution, sand mining, The major habitats of Kerala include tropical over exploitation, fish poisoning, alien rainforests, shola rolling grasslands, scrub invasive fish species, dynamiting and jungles, grass lands, wetlands, estuaries, electrocution; Cochin Forest Cane turtle mangroves, coral reefs, marine and agro endangered due to Habitat destruction, ecosystems. The varied ecosystems serve as Green turtle endangered due to Shrimp natural habitats for innumerable number of trawlers: Bengal Monitor lizard at risk due to species. The indigenous flora of the state is commercial hunting for its skin, meat and use represented by 14435 plant species including of fat in traditional medicine; Rhacophorus 4575 species of angiosperms, 329 lateralis Boulenger endangered due to pteridophytes, 226 bryophytes, 428 lichens conversion of forest areas to cultivated land and 886 algae. The indigenous fauna is (including timber and non-timber plantations; represented by 8452 taxa of animal species. guar or Indian Bison vulnerable due to The unique and diverse avian fauna in Kerala poaching, loss and alteration of habitat, is represented by 546 species belonging to 66 competition with the domestic cattle, families, constituting more than 25% of Indian diseases; Crimson Rose threatened due to birds. Insect fauna is the most diverse with deforestation, land use change, pollution and 6000 species, mammals 145 species, reptiles illegal trade; Danaid Eggfly threatened due to 176 species, amphibians 105 species and loss and alteration of habitat, pollution, inland fishes 282 species. Kerala also records pesticide, fungicide and weedicide application high endemism. The highest endemics is and industrial pollution; Indian Flap-shelled found among the amphibians (78%) followed Turtle threatened due to over-exploitation, by reptiles (62%), fish (53%), mammals (12%) loss and alteration of habitat, pollution, and birds (4%). pesticide, fungicide and weedicide application Kerala has 22 protected areas-- Periyar Tiger and industrial pollution; Glyptopetalum Reserve (PTR Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, grandiflorum Bedd, Humboldtia unijuga Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary, Bedd, Polyalthia shendurunii, Palaancheera, Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad oniothalamus wynaadensis (Bedd.) Bedd, Wildlife Sanctuary, Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary, Ixora lawsonii Gamble, Miliusa nilagirica Bedd , Peppara Wildlife and Trias stocksii Benth endangered due to Sanctuary, Thattekkad Bird Sanctuary, destruction of habitat; Asian Elephant; King Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary, Chinnar Cobra; Great Hornbill (Near Threatened). Wildlife Sanctuary, Chimmony Wildlife (c) Wetlands Sanctuary, SilentValley National Park, Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary, Pampadum Shola National Geomorphologically, wetlands in Kerala may Park, Mathikettan Shola National Park, be divided among 5 major systems at the Shola National Park, Mangalavanam broadest level as marine, estuarine, riverine, Bird Sanctuary, Kurinjimala Sanctuary, and lacustrine and pinstripe. Kerala has some Choolannur Pea Fowl Sanctuary and unique types of wetland ecosystems like the Kadalundi-Vallikunnu Comm. marshy and water-logged areas and vast paddy cultivating areas associated with the Some of the threated taxa of Kerala are: backwaters and the MVristica Swamps of Periyar trout, Periyar barb, Cardamona garra Western Ghat forests. Five wetlands of

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015

Kerala-- -kol, Ashtamudi and MSW generation in the state is about 8300 Samsthamkotta, (Ramsar sites); Kottuli and TPD. These studies indicated that 70-80% of Kadalundi were identified by MoEF for the total waste generated is biodegradable in implementing management action plan under nature and these putrescible waste needs to National Wetland Conservation Programme. be managed within 24 hours. 13% of the Wetlands in Kerala are currently subjected to waste is generated by the five City acute pressure owing to rapid developmental Corporations, 23% by the 53 Municipalities activities and indiscriminate utilization of land and water. Infrastructure development in the form of roads, railways, and other lines of communication fragmented the continuity of the wetlands, and destroyed extensive tracts of coastal vegetation thereby upsetting the entire complex ecology; rapid urbanisation encroached into the rich and the rest by the 999 Gram Panchayats. and luxuriant mangrove forests, while Based on the studies carried out by the Centre industrial development not only caused for Earth Science Studies and data compiled pollution but prevented any regeneration by the Clean Kerala Mission for all the possibilities as well; modern shrimp farms Municipalities and Corporations of the State, brought in the final onslaught - the the average daily per capita generation comes irreversible destruction of wetlands. The to 0.178 kg with a very high variation from major issues facing the wetlands of Kerala are 0.034 kg for Koothuparamba to 0.707 kg for mainly related to pollution, eutrophication, Thalassery. The generation of MSW by the encroachment, reclamation, mining and Guruvayoor Temple is reported to be 3.30 biodiversity loss. tons/day and that of elephant dung and The major driving forces are: (i) elephant food is 7.80 tons. The chemical population/households growth and composition of MSW from four major cities of urbanization, (ii) industries (iii) infrastructure the state indicates high moisture content, low (iv) agriculture (v) aquaculture (vi) fishing (vii) calorific value and high nutrient content poaching (viii) mining (ix) deforestation (x) making the dominant organic fraction of services (xi) water transport and xii) tourism. waste more conducive for recycling in the The major pressures identified are from (i) form of manure. The data reported from industrial effluents (ii) rotting of coconut husk other towns also indicate a similar pattern in (iii) leachates from agricultural fields (iv) chemical composition. waste disposal (v) petroleum hydrocarbons Biomedical waste management (vi) land use changes (vii) hydraulic interventions (viii) overexploitation of Kerala is a state with considerable medical resources and (ix) weed infestation. infrastructure. The advent and surge of medical (d) Waste management tourism has also played its part in bringing the medical infrastructure of Kerala in the spot light. Municipal Solid waste management (MSW) But when it comes to managing the waste A sectoral status study on MSW management produced from these healthcare facilities, the in Kerala in 2007, indicated that the total State is lagging behind and this presents a

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015 serious situation. There is no system of state collection centre. The company has converted a level registration of Health Care Establishments portion of its 2,000-sq.m storage facility for the (HCEs) and State level listing of HCEs. 83 % of collection centre with the capacity to handle the identified institutions are functioning four tonnes of e-waste a day. It secured consent without authorization. Out of 1,278 HCEs under from the Kerala State Pollution Control Board to Government sector, only 14 % had obtained establish the centre last September and is now awaiting the Board’s final approval to begin authorization as of March 2007. In the absence operations. The clearance is likely to come in a of State level inventory of HCEs and non- few weeks’ time. possession of authorisation by 83 % of identified HCEs, the prescribed authority/State Another initiative involves Corporation Government have no mechanism to monitor teaming up with an NGO. Citizens must take e- the proper segregation of waste generated. The waste to collection facilities set up by churches located across 22 health circles of the Kochi Government in February 2004 approved the Corporation; special trucks have been arranged establishment of 3 Common Bio-Medical to collect the hazardous waste and transport it Treatment and Disposal Facilities (CBWTF) in to recycling units or processing centres outside Kannur, Thrissur and Alappuzha districts. The the state. facilities are to be established at the identified centres on Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis. (e) Water issues However, these facilities are yet to be Surface water pollution established (May 2007). Indian Medical Kerala is one among the most thickly Association Goes Eco-friendly (IMAGE), erected populated region in the world and the a CBWTF at Kanjikode in Palakkad District. This population is increasing at a rate of 14% per Facility with a waste treatment capacity of three decade. As a result of the measures to satisfy MT per day was established in December 2003. the needs of the huge population, rivers of Hazardous waste Kerala have been increasingly polluted from industrial and domestic waste and from the Kerala generates of a total of 82899 MTA of pesticides and fertilizer in agriculture. hazardous waste, with 59591 MTA being Industries discharge hazardous pollutants like landfillable, 223 MTA being incinerable, 23085 phosphates, sulphides, ammonia, fluorides, being recyclable. Kerala has a Treatment, heavy metals and insecticides into the Storage & Disposal Facility (TSDF) at downstream reaches of the river. The river Ambalmughal, Earnakulam with 50,000 MTA Periyar and Chaliyar are very good examples capacity. for the pollution due to industrial effluents. It E waste is estimated that nearly 260 million litres of trade effluents reach the Periyar estuary daily According to a report published by the Kerala from the Kochi industrial belt. Pollution Control Board (PCB) in 2010, the amount of e-waste generated in Kerala could The major water quality problem associated come to 1,50,000 tonne per year. Despite this, with rivers of Kerala is bacteriological the state does not have e-waste treatment and pollution. The assessment of river such as disposal facility. The Kerala Enviro Chalakudy, Periyar, , Infrastructure Limited — which runs the Meenachil, Pamba and Achenkovil indicates Common Hazardous Waste Treatment, Storage that the major quality problem is due to and Disposal Facility (CHWTSDF) at bacteriological pollution and falls under B or Ambalamedu — is ready with an e-waste C category of CPCB classification. There are

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015 local level quality problems faced by all rivers growth of automobile population by 2002 is especially due to dumping of solid waste, estimated to rise 20 times that of 1970. Kerala bathing and discharge of effluents. has over 25 lakh licensed vehicles on the road Ground water pollution today while the total length of the carriage way is only 21347 km. Vehicular emission and More than 90 % of wells in Kerala have been noise from these vehicles are severe in the affected by pollutants from sewage, and well three major cities of Kerala, viz., water still remains one of the major sources Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. of drinking water in Kerala. Ground water Pollution from industries are mainly quality problems in the coastal areas are contributed by the four major industrial areas mainly because of the presence of excess of the state, 3 in Ernakulam (, chloride. Chloride concentration >250mb/l Ambalamughal and Udyogamandal) and 1 in was detected in the well water samples of Kanjikode at Palakkad. Bulk of the Azhicode, Kakkathuruthy, Edathinjil, major/medium industries and the maximum Kadalundi, Chellanum, Nallalam, Mankombu number of vehicles are in Ernakulam which and Haripad. In Alappuzha district, flouride has naturally resulted in an adverse impact in concentration in the wells was observed to be the air quality. The Kerala State Pollution high. In midland region, concentration of Control Board (KSPCB) has brought out 592 flouride iron and chloride were found to be on large/medium and 2700 SSI units under the the higher side. The flouride content was consent regime of Air (Prevention Control of observed to be beyond the permissible limit of 1 mg/1.Deep wells in Chittur taluk and Pollution) Act. The ambient air quality Knajikod areas of Palakkad district are found monitoring, being carried out by the KSPCB at to contain flouride concentration greater than 11 stations in the state, has reported that 1mg/l. Suspended Particular Matter (SPM) and Open wells of Kerala are under threat of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter bacteriological contamination. In Kerala (RSPM) levels exceed the ambient air quality 2 about 60% of the population relies on ground standards. However, SO & NoX levels are water for drinking. At the same time studies within the stipulated standards. The shift in have shown that faecal contamination is focus in the energy sector from hydel sources present in 90% of drinking water wells. The to fossil fuel, i.e., 791 MW power generation open character of the wells, and conventional using fossil fuel out of total generation of maintenance habits, and use of buckets and 2621 MW also contributes to an increase in air rope to draw water, kitchen wastes and pit pollution. The unplanned urban growth also latrines with average family load factor (5 augments the air quality and noise pollution members) at a distance of less than 5 meters considerably. from wells are some of the factors, which are contributing to the bacteriological (2) Laws and Polices contamination. Ground water contamination Some of these are: due to industrial pollution has been reported from places of Kochi (eastern part of ),  Kerala Forest (Amendment Act), 2010 Palakkad and some parts of Kollam, Kozhikode  The Kerala Water (Prevention and Control of and Kannur. Pollution) Appellate Authority Rules, 1977 (f) Air Pollution  The Kerala protection of river banks and The major causes of air pollution in the state Regulation of removal of sand Act, 2001 are due to automobiles and industries. The

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015

 The Kerala ground water (control and http://www.kerenvis.nic.in/Database/Waterpollution_834.a spx regulation) Act, 2002

 The Kerala Forest (Vesting and Management of Ecologically Fragile Lands) Act, 2003 VI. Audit Report Report of the  Kerala Municipality Building (Amendment) Comptroller and Auditor General of Rules, 2004 - RAINWATER HARVESTING India on Controls and Systems for  The Kerala Tourism (Conservation and Sustainable Mining in Karnataka Preservation of Areas) Act, 2005 (Government of Karnataka Report No. 2 of the year 2012)  The Kerala Irrigation and Water Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2006 (1) Background  Ban on plastics with thickness below 30 Minerals are valuable natural resources microne which are finite and non-renewable. Mineral  Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and exploration and development is closely linked Wetland Bill, 2007 with the development of country’s economy and people. However, as it intervenes with (3) Environment Sustainability Index (ESI) the environment and social structure, a harmony and balance is to be maintained Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) is a between conservation and extraction in the comparative analysis of environmental interest of sustainable development. achievements, challenges and priorities among Indian states. ESI measures the In India, the responsibility for the potential of states to maintain their management of mineral resources is shared environment in the coming decades given the between the Central and State Governments various environmental resources that a state in terms of entry 54 of the Union list and entry is endowed with. Dimensions of sustainability 23 and 50 of the State list of the Seventh both as historical conditions and present Schedule of the Constitution of India. The efforts are mapped through 40 indicators. Mines and Minerals Development and th Kerala ranks 12 on this scale. Regulation) (MMDR) Act, 1957, enacted by the Central

Government, lays down the legal framework Source: http://docs.kfri.res.in/KFRI-RR/KFRI-RR255.pdf for regulations of mines and development of http://www.keralabiodiversity.org/index.php?option=com_ content&view=article&id=71&Itemid=82; minerals. The Mineral Concession (MC) rules, http://tropicalgreenschool.org/biodiversity.html; 1960, the Mineral Conservation and http://www.cpcb.nic.in/upload/NewItems/NewItem_149_P rotocol.pdf; Development (MCD) Rules, 1988 and the http://toxicslink.org/docs/kerala_workshop_report.pdf Granite Conservation and Development

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Rules, 1999 have been framed for (3) Audit findings conservation and systematic development of  A committee for implementation and minerals and for regulating grant of permits, monitoring of Karnataka Mineral Policy, 2008 was licences and leases. The state of Karnataka, in formed in 2009, however, even after a lapse of India is abundant in mineral resources. It is three years, the Committee did not formulate any said to be one of the most mineral rich states time bound action plan to monitor of India. The mineral belt covers an area of implementation of the Policy. 1.92 lakh sq.km including 29 districts of the state. Karnataka is also endowed with the  Procedural inconsistencies and lack of green stone belt with valuable mineral transparency in the department of Mines and resources such as gold, silver, copper, iron- Geology while considering applications for mining ore, manganese, limestone, dolomite, leases triggered a number of court cases. asbestos, bauxite, chromite, and kaolin and  Quarry plans in 104, out of 120 granite quarry granite rock. leases test checked, were not available, leading to (2) Audit objectives and criteria non-monitoring of activities of lessees as per the mining plan. The audit objectives were to ascertain whether:  Rules to prevent illegal mining, transportation and storage of minerals were not  monitoring and implementation of mining framed till April, 2011 which resulted in irregular policies of the Government; mining and transportation.  levy and collection of fees, rent, royalty,  Mining operations were taken up without penalty etc.; obtaining statutory clearances from Ministry of  grant and renewal of mining and quarrying Environment and Forests/Karnataka State leases for prevention of illegal excavation of Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). Further, National minerals; Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur had proposed phase wise  estimation of mineral resources and for production of iron ore compatible with fixing targets of production; environmental preservation. However, the  ensuring that environmental and ecological quantity of mineral valued at Rs.562.79 crore concerns were addressed and preventive produced was more than the quantity prescribed measures were useful; and in environment clearances and the consent issued  addressing the socio-economic concerns of by KSPCB, which resulted in disregard of the persons affected by mining. environmental concerns. Audit criteria were drawn from central and  High level of air pollution contributed to the state laws and rules made under them. Some growth of diseases like tuberculosis and other of these included MMDR Act, 1957; the MC respiratory infections in the mining areas. rules, 1960; Water (Prevention and Control of  The area under cultivation and irrigation in Pollution Act, 1974; Forest Conservation Act, Bellary had declined leading to the increase in the 1980; Environment protection Act, 1986; barren land. Cases of violation of the Child Labour Mineral Conservation and Development Act were indicative of prevalence of child labour Rules, 1988; National Mineral Policy, 1993 & which was against the principle of sustainable 2008; Karnataka Mineral Policy, 2000 & 2008.

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015

development.  The Government may take up the matter for framing the guidelines/standards for  Afforestation in degraded forest area at one controlling air, noise and water pollution in and half times of the safety zone area was not respect of minor mineral quarries with MoEF. done to an extent of 281.16 hectare in 81 mines. Regeneration of safety zone area was not done to  The Government may consider evolving a an extent of 321.51 hectare in 67 mines. participatory approach by involving local population after a thorough study of likely impact  An area of 900.68 hectare (68.36 percent of on life, lifestyle and livelihood of the communities 1317.40 Ha covered by overburden waste dumps) for greater common good before grant of mining was not taken up for reclamation/rehabilitation. leases.  The authorities did not ascertain the factual Source: position regarding actual number of seedlings http://saiindia.gov.in/english/home/Our_Products/audit_re port/Government_Wise/state_audit/recent_reports/Karnata raised, as against the total reported seedlings of ka/2012/Revenue/Revenue.html 35.92 lakh, and their survival rate.

 Waste dumps were not covered with geo- VII. International Audit Report: coir mat and plantations were not done on the surface of the waste dumps which led to erosion Performance Audit Report Of the during rainy season. Office of The Auditor General of The Republic of Fiji: Managing Sustainable  KSPCB did not monitor mandatory spending fisheries of two percent of their total turnover towards afforestation, two percent of profit towards road (1) Background and purpose of audit repairing, whether lessees had invested in Fisheries are an important source of food, rainwater harvesting and ground water employment, economic activity and recharging. Thus, monitoring system of KSPCB was recreation for the people of Fiji. Effective very weak resulting in violation of statutory management of fisheries resources is provisions. important not just from an environmental perspective but also because of its impact on (4) Audit recommendations the country’s economy and the livelihood of Major audit recommendations are as under:- its population. The audit on “Managing sustainable fisheries” looked into three main  The Government may consider putting in areas which include the Planning of offshore place a mechanism to prescribe parameters for fisheries”, Economic returns from offshore fixation of targets of annual production of mines fisheries” and “Management information is giving due importance to the areas proposed for informed by accurate information”. The audit dumping the overburden in the mining plan so as focused on the Department of Fisheries as the to discourage unauthorised dumping. agency entrusted for regulating,  The Government may issue instructions for administering and monitoring the fisheries sector. taking necessary measures for proper accounting of the plantations raised by the lessees in the (2) Audit objective, scope and criteria mining areas and monitor their periodical survival The objective of the audit was to assess the status in coordination with Forest Department. effectiveness of the management of off- shore fisheries (in particular the tuna fishery) by national fisheries authorities in

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Volume no. 13, for the quarter ending March, 2015

accordance with national fisheries policies  Observer programs are hindered by a lack and frameworks. The scope of the audit was of human and financial resources. limited to the management of fisheries  There is no database maintained to record within Fiji’s EEZs and the actions taken by illegal fishing vessels responsible agencies to manage this resource within the legal/policy framework Despite the lack of an all-encompassing that applies in Fiji. framework on offshore fisheries management and a relevant documented TMP or the current (3) Key findings term, planning for offshore fisheries for the two Planning of offshore fisheries years 2011 to 2012 has been provided for under the Department of Fisheries’ Annual Corporate  The draft decree on Offshore Fisheries Plans for the respective years. submitted to the Attorney General’s Office for vetting in November 2010 includes provisions for However there is no evidence to support that the the management, development and sustainable Department utilises information gathered from use of fisheries and marine resource, is yet to be economic, surveillance and monitoring reports to vetted. influence its decisions on maximising economic returns from its tuna industry  The last Tuna Management Plan developed provided a framework for the conduct of a stable (4) Recommendations and profitable tuna fishery in Fiji for the years The Department of Fisheries should 2006 to 2010. A similar documented strategy for continuously follow up with the Solicitor the ensuing years has not been developed. General’s Office in having the draft decree  There are no formal arrangements on offshore fisheries management vetted to between the Department of Fisheries, the Naval enable its transmission to Cabinet for Division and the Police Department to define endorsement. The Department should also roles and expected outcomes from surveillances consider developing a TMP for the current conducted and any legal proceedings for term as this document provides strategies incidences of non-compliance with the which are more descriptive for the legislations respectively. management of sustainable fisheries. The Economic returns from offshore fisheries Department should continue to make the best use of information gathered from  Increase in licences issued over the 4 years economic analysis, surveillance and 2008 to 2011 resulted in corresponding increases monitoring activities to enhance decisions in the revenues earned from issues of such made that will maximise its economic licences for those respective years. However returns. despite the growth in revenues, total catches Source: from offshore fisheries for those years fell short http://www.environmental- of the annual total allowable catch quotas of auditing.org/Portals/0/AuditFiles/202_report_Managing%20Sust 15,000mt. ainable%20Fisheries.pdf  There is evidence that the Department utilises information gathered from economic, surveillance and monitoring reports to influence its decisions on maximising economic returns from its tuna industry.

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