Environment Minister’s Message on the Occasion of Independence Day

Environment Minister’s Message on the Occasion of Independence Day

The following is the text of the message by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar, on the occasion of Independence Day today:

“Independence Day is a very important occasion for us. It was a pledge made by Indians to improve the lot of the fellow citizens 69 years ago. Today, we have achieved some part of the dream, but much of it is yet to be redeemed. Our mission is Clean India, Green India.

When we started the Swacchh Bharat campaign, there were many realisations. Even after 68 years of independence, more than 80 per cent of the sewage does not get treated and one-third of the industrial pollution goes into water bodies. There are many impediments in making India clean. This year, we have done three things – more Sewage Treatment Plants and new technology, new rules of waste management – Solid Waste, E-waste, Plastic Waste, Hazardous Waste, Bio-medical waste and construction waste, all rules have been changed and new technology has been brought in and the base has been widened. These are the real efforts to make India clean.

Some of the other efforts include many river cleaning schemes, more plantation and more afforestation. Funds to the tune of $ 9 billion by 14th Finance Commission and $6 billion through Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill will soon be made available. We will put $15 billion in the next four years for real afforestation of the country, which will definitely increase our green stock, that is the carbon sink we are creating. I think this is an occasion for rededication.”