Initiatives of MoEFCC to protect India's Environment

Written by: Lisa Jani

Published: Sunday, June 5, 2016, 12:59 [IST]

As the pollution level rises and people across the globe started facing the negative consequences of the pollution it became imperative that all the nations will have to work together to save our planet Earth as it is our only home.
India too has never lagged behind when it comes to fighting climate change. Today on the World Environment Day, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Prakash Javadekar launched an initiative where he shared a selfie with the sapling he planted today and also requested fellow Indians too plant saplings and click and share their selfies with the planted selfies.

The theme is "Plant a tree and create your own Oxygen Bank". The selfies are to be shared on wedselfie.nic.in.

To celebrate #WorldEnvironmentDay,I took selfie with my planted sapling,u too click&share on https://t.co/I4K1gCVNDg pic.twitter.com/B8mtcgpUTp

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) June 4, 2016

Celebrate #WorldEnvironmentDay on June5, plant sapling,share pics on https://t.co/I4K1gCVNDg:https://t.co/JTcFWZQ7xF pic.twitter.com/rwjBQrlkKv

— Prakash Javadekar (@PrakashJavdekar) June 4, 2016

This World Environment Day:
Each year World Environment Day is celebrated on the 5th of June since 1974. This is UN's most important day for creating worldwide awareness about our environment. Since 1974 it has grown to become a global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated in over 100 countries.
Each World Environment Day is celebrated around a theme that focuses the attention of the people on a particularly pressing environmental concern. This year the theme is on the illegal trading of wild animals. The year's slogan is 'Go Wild for Life'. This theme is to encourage people to think about all the species of animals which are under the threat and people are to take action to help safeguard the wild animals for the future generations.
People can work to protect animals or plants that are threatened within their local area as well as at national or global level. People must know that when animals or plants become extinct at local level it adds to the species getting extinct at global level. On this World Environment Day the UN has urged people that whoever you are, and wherever you live, show zero tolerance for the illegal trade in wildlife in word and deed and make a difference.
Initiatives of India for protecting environment:
During two years as Minister of State for Environment Mr. Javadekar has undertaken various initiatives to ensure that India moves fast on the path of development but in a very responsible manner.
Here are some of the initiatives of his ministry:
1. Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill was introduced in the Parliament in 2015 with an aim to provide an appropriate institutional mechanism both at the Centre and in each State and Union Territory to ensure expeditious utilisation in efficient and transparent manner of amounts realised in lieu of forest land diverted for non-forest purpose.
2. e-Green Watch was developed as an integrated and online system that is completely transparent, reliable and accountable. It presents the data regarding Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds in real time and is accessible to all stakeholders and public at large. It allows for monitoring, evaluation, social and ecological audits by independent organisations, researchers and the public.
3. The National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) aims at preventing pollution of rivers and improving water quality. Users can access information on specific action plans for various rivers, details of sewage treatment plants, water quality monitoring and implementing agencies.
4. The Capacity Building for Industrial Pollution Management (CBIPM) project helps the Government of India to build capacity at the state and central level, and develop a framework to address these issues in a comprehensive and systemic manner under an area-wide management approach. The project is aligned with the endeavour of the GoI to establish a National Program for Rehabilitation of Polluted Sites (NPRPS) as a framework for scaling up the clean-up and rehabilitation of polluted sites and facilitate the reduction of environmental and health risks associated with legacy polluted sites.
5. The National Green Tribunal provides speedy environmental justice and helps reduce the burden of litigation in the higher courts. The Tribunal is mandated to make and endeavour for disposal of applications or appeals finally within six months of filing of the same.