Recent Development in Indian Environment - I

Recent Development in Indian Environment - I

1. YAMUNA ACTION PLAN

River Yamuna is one of the major rivers in India and also a major tributary to India’s largest river - river Ganges.

Riverine water resources, including river Yamuna, are increasingly becoming vulnerable to quantity decline and quality degradation due to human activities, the modified flow regime due to water holding structures or barrages, withdrawal of water for irrigation & drinking purposes and the cumulative discharge of domestic, industrial & agricultural wastewaters has converted the Yamuna into almost an open sewer in the stretch of Delhi and Agra. As a result, the river is impacting the bio-diversity of the ecosystem and endangering public health of the inhabitants. The prevalence of poor sanitation practices also contributes to the proliferation of a number of diseases and an adverse living environment.

Yamuna Action Plan I and II

• In 1977-78, CPCB initiated a study to assess the status of pollution of Yamuna River over its 1200 km course. The study examined the topography of the drainage basin, base flow, population, land use pattern, industries, and agriculture practices and estimated the pollution load from activities in the basin. Study conducted by the CPCB indicated that the major cause of pollution is the discharge of domestic wastewater into the river which is about two-third of the pollution load. The remaining pollution is contributed by industries and agriculture. Based on the findings of this study, the Government of India (GoI) decided to take up water quality restoration measures named as Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) under the mega project of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) phase–II. The Government of Japan provided loan assistance for implementation of YAP in December-1990. YAP was formally launched in 1993, now called as YAP phase I (YAP I). The main activities covered under YAP were interception and diversion works, pumping stations, STPs, low cost toilet complex, crematorium, plantation, bathing ghat / river front development, public participation and awareness and computer networking system. The limitation of YAP I were:
  • The STP capacity created remained under-utilised to the extent of 25-45% because of severe limitations in the collection system and power availability.
  • The strategy in YAP-I did not adequately address non-point sources.
  • Municipalities and agencies which were responsible for Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of sewerage infrastructure were constrained to maximize the operational efficiency of the system due to a combination of factors related to skills, finance, management systems, power cuts and upstream sewerage infrastructure.
• Subsequently, the work continued with the launch of YAP phase II (YAP II) in the year 2004 with the sanctioned cost of 647 crores. The project was completed in 2008 Under YAP II, emphasis was on the 22-km stretch of Yamuna in Delhi. The Yamuna Action Plan Project Phase II is regarded as the core project under the National River Conservation Plan of Government of India. The project addresses the abatement of severe pollution of the River Yamuna by raising sewage treatment capacity, caused by rapid population growth, industrialization and urbanization.
• The plan includes building new and expanding capacity of old sewage treatment plants and laying and rehabilitating sewers to enhance the treatment capacity particularly in Delhi and Agra. Public participation and awareness were also a part of project to ensure the residents' recognition of the necessity of water quality conservation in the River Yamuna, and would establish linkage between the river conservation and their own living environments. But, there had been no concrete results even though Rs.1, 500 crore had been spent through phases one and two of the Yamuna Action Plan. It has been observed that despite of the continuous efforts to minimize the pollution load still the BOD is not decreasing.
• The Yamuna Action Plan Phase - III project for Delhi has been approved by the Ministry in December, 2011 at an estimated cost of Rs 1656 crore with loan assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency. Besides this, two projects have also been sanctioned by the Ministry in July, 2012 at an estimated cost of Rs. 217.87 crore for taking up works for pollution abatement of river Yamuna in towns of Sonepat and Panipat in Haryana which are located on upstream of Wazirabad in Delhi. 

NGT rules related to Yamuna

• As a consequence of present deplorable state of the river, NGT has given directions to take up cleaning of Yamuna under Maily Se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalization Plan, 2017.
• In pursuance of this direction, the Centre and the Delhi government have come together to launch projects under phase three of the Yamuna Action Plan .
• This Yamuna Action Plan-3 will be the first plan to comprehensively help with sewage treatment and solid waste management along with river front development and providing a proper Chhat Ghat for devotees.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered that every household in Delhi will have to pay a monthly environmental compensation to clean up Yamuna River.
• According to the direction, the compensation to be paid will be directly proportional to the property or water tax whichever is higher, paid by a particular household. In case of unauthorized colonies households that do not pay property tax or water bill will have to pay an amount that would be between 100 rupees to 500 rupees.
• According to the Tribunal, industrial units within a particular industrial cluster have to pay these amounts on the ‘Polluter Pays’ Principle, for the pollution already caused by them and even which they are causing presently, as well as to prevent pollution in future on the Precautionary Principle. Major part of such costs, obviously have to be borne by the authorities concerned, let us say 2/3rd, while 1/3rd of the total costs should be borne by the industries.

Way forward

• Effective coordination between State and Central government agencies is required in terms of execution
• It is necessary to reduce the quantity of water being drawn from the river for irrigation. Efficient irrigation methods like sprinklers or drip method should be used.
• Effective check to ensure in situ treatment of effluents is done before discharge from industries.
• Steps must be taken to relocate the existing settlements and encroachments near the floodplains and no further encroachments should be allowed.
• There should be a ban on construction of new barrages
• Since there is shortage of landfill sites in Delhi, most wastes are dumped in the river. Keeping this in mind, immediate action needs to be taken to identify more landfill sites in Delhi.
• Public awareness is most important prevention measure. Effective steps should be taken to enhance public awareness.

2. National Water Mission

• The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) describes the features of National Water Mission as under: “A National Water Mission will be mounted to ensure integrated water resource management helping to conserve water, minimize wastage and ensure more equitable distribution both across and within states.”
• The Mission will take into account the provisions of the National Water Policy and develop a framework to optimize water use by increasing water use efficiency by 20% through regulatory mechanisms with differential entitlements and pricing.
• It will seek to ensure that a considerable share of the water needs of urban areas are met through recycling of waste water, and ensuring that the water requirements of coastal cities with inadequate alternative sources of water are met through adoption of new and appropriate technologies such as low temperature desalination technologies that allow for the use of ocean water.
• The National Water Policy would be revisited in consultation with States to ensure basin level management strategies to deal with variability in rainfall and river flows due to climate change.
• This will include enhanced storage both above and below ground, rainwater harvesting, coupled with equitable and efficient management structures.
• The Mission will seek to develop new regulatory structures, combined with appropriate entitlements and pricing. It will seek to optimize the efficiency of existing irrigation systems, including rehabilitation of systems that have been run down and also expand irrigation, where feasible, with a special effort to increase storage capacity. Incentive structures will be designed to promote water-neutral or water- positive technologies, recharging of underground water sources and adoption of large scale irrigation programmes which rely on sprinklers, drip irrigation and ridge and furrow irrigation.”
• Each Mission will be tasked to evolve specific objectives spanning the remaining years of the 11th Plan and the 12th Plan period 2012-2013 to 2016-2017. Where the resource requirements of the Mission call for an enhancement of the allocation in the 11th Plan, this will be suitably considered, keeping in mind the overall resources position and the scope for re-prioritization".
• Building public awareness will be vital in supporting implementation of the NAPCC. This will be achieved through national portals, media engagement, civil society involvement, curricula reform and recognition / awards, details of which will be worked out by an empowered group. The Group will also consider methods of capacity building to support the goals of the National Missions.
• The  appropriate technologies will be developed to measure progress in actions being taken in terms of avoided emissions, wherever applicable, with reference to business as usual scenarios. Appropriate indicators will be evolved for assessing adaptation benefits of the actions.
• These Eight National Missions taken together, with enhancements in current and ongoing programmes included in the Technical Document, would not only assist the country to adapt to climate change, but also, importantly, launch the economy on a path that would progressively and substantially result in mitigation through avoided emissions.” The ‘Technical Document’ annexed with the NAPCC has identified key areas related to:
  
  • Studies on management of surface water resources,
  • Management and regulation of ground water resources,
  • Upgrading storage structures for fresh and drainage system for wastewater,
  • Conservation of wetland, and
  • Development of desalination technologies etc. required to be considered while preparing the comprehensive document for the National Water Mission.
• NWM has identified five goals as under:
  1. Comprehensive water data base in public domain and assessment of the impact of climate change on water resource,
  2. Promotion of citizen and state actions for water conservation, augmentation and preservation,
  3. Focused attention to vulnerable areas including over-exploited areas,
  4. Increasing water use efficiency by 20%, and
  5. Promotion of basin level integrated water resources management.

3. SECURE Himalaya

• The Government of India and United Nations Development Programme, with support from the Global Environment Facility, are implementing a new programme in the high altitude Himalayas entitled “SECURE Himalayas - Securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems”, to ensure conservation of locally and globally significant biodiversity, land and forest resources in the high Himalayan ecosystem, while enhancing the lives and livelihoods of local communities.

Key Components

• Conservation of key biodiversity areas and their effective management to secure long-term ecosystem resilience, habitat connectivity and conservation of snow leopard and other endangered species and their habitats
• Securing sustainable community livelihoods and natural resource management in high range Himalayan ecosystems
• Enhancing enforcement, monitoring and cooperation to reduce wildlife crime and related threats
• Knowledge, advocacy, communication and information systems established

4. World Sparrow Day

• World Sparrow Day is a day designated to raise awareness of the house sparrow and then other common birds to urban environments, and of threats to their populations, observed on 20 March.
• It is an international initiative by the Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world.
• The Nature Forever Society was started by Mohammed Dilawar, an Indian conservationist who started his work helping the house sparrow in Nashik, and who was named one of the "Heroes of the Environment" for 2008 by Time for his efforts.
• The idea of marking World Sparrow Day came up during an informal discussion at the Nature Forever Society's office.
• The idea was to earmark a day for the house sparrow to convey the message of conservation of the house sparrow and other common birds and also mark a day of celebration to appreciate the beauty of the common biodiversity which is taken so much for granted.
• The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010 in different parts of the world.
• The day was celebrated by carrying out different various kinds of activities and events like art competitions, awareness campaigns, and sparrow processions as well as interactions with media.
• World Sparrow Day also has a broader vision to provide a platform where people who are working on the conservation of the house sparrow and other common birds can network, collaborate and exchange conservation ideas which will lead to better science and improved results.
• It aims to provide a meeting ground for people from different parts of the world to come together and form a force that can play an important role in advocacy and in spreading the awareness on the need of conserving common biodiversity or species of lower conservation status.

5. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)

• Desertification is threatening the livelihoods of 1 billion people in over 100 countries, and each year 12 million hectares of arable land are lost to drought. The extent and severity of land degradation worldwide, combined with the negative effects of climate change, population growth and an ever-increasing demand for natural resources, requires immediate and assertive action. The economic costs of desertification and land degradation are estimated at USD 490 billion per year. Avoiding land degradation through sustainable land management can generate up to USD 1.4 trillion of economic benefits.
• Policies and programmes to halt and reverse land degradation have long suffered from the absence of a clear overarching goal and quantitative, time-bound targets to guide action and make measurable progress. In October 2015, UNCCD country Parties reached a breakthrough agreement on the land degradation neutrality (LDN) concept.
• The LDN concept has been developed to encourage implementation of an optimal mix of measures designed to avoid, reduce and/or reverse land degradation in order to achieve a state of no net loss of healthy and productive land. LDN aims to balance anticipated losses in land-based natural capital and associated ecosystem functions and services with measures that produce alternative gains through approaches such as land restoration and sustainable land management.
• LDN is a simple idea and a powerful tool. It means securing enough healthy and productive natural resources by avoiding degradation whenever possible and restoring land that has already been degraded. At its core are better land management practices and better land use planning that will improve economic, social and ecological sustainability for present and future generations.
• Numerous direct links exist between LDN and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), such as eradicating poverty, ensuring food security, protecting the environment and using natural resources sustainably. LDN serves as a catalyst in achieving these goals.

LDN and climate change

• LDN provides significant benefits in terms of mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Halting and reversing land degradation can transform land from being a source of greenhouse gas emissions to a carbon sink, by increasing carbon stocks in soils and vegetation. Furthermore, LDN plays a key role in strengthening the resilience of rural communities against climate shocks by securing and improving the provision of vital ecosystem services.
• These links between land and climate are reflected in the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted by countries to COP 21 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in 2015. More than 100 of the INDCs included land-based activities for mitigation and adaptation. LDN targets and associated measures contribute to and depend on the implementation of national climate plans and vice versa. Such synergies should be taken into account when developing national plans for LDN and revising and updating the INDCs under the Paris Agreement.

6. Forest-PLUS 2.0

• US Agency for International Development (USAID) and India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) officially launched Forest-PLUS 2.0 on September 25, 2019.
• It is a five-year programme initiated in December 2018 that focuses on developing tools and techniques to bolster ecosystem management and harnessing ecosystem services in forest landscape management.
• Tetra Tech ARD, a consulting and engineering company headquartered in the US, was given the contract to implement the programme and IORA Ecological Solutions, a New Delhi-based environmental advisory group, is its implementation partner.
• Forest-PLUS 2.0, the second set of pilot projects, is meant to enhance sustainable forest landscape management after Forest-PLUS completed its five years in 2017.
• The programme’s first set focused on capacity building to help India participate in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+). It included four pilot projects in Sikkim, Rampur, Shivamogga and Hoshangabad.
• Under these, field tests, innovative tools and approaches for Indian forest management were developed. Promotion of bio-briquettes in Sikkim, introduction of solar heating systems in Rampur and development of an agro-forestry model in Hoshangabad were some of the achievements of this programme.
• Forest-PLUS 2.0 comprises pilot project in three landscapes — Gaya in Bihar, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Medak in Telangana. The choice of these sites was driven by the contrast in their landscapes – Bihar is a forest deficit area, Telangana is a relatively drier area where there is ample scope for community livelihood enhancement and Kerala is rich in biodiversity.

The targets of this set are –

• • 1,20,000 hectares of land under improved management
  • New, inclusive economic activity worth $12 million 
  • Measurable benefits accrued to 800,000 households
  • Three incentive mechanisms demonstrated in managing landscapes for ecosystem services

To achieve these targets, the programme has three focal points of action –

• • Developing tools for multiple services in forests management. The tools consists of innovative apps for automating forest planning processes, model forest management plans. These tools are expected to result in enhanced water flow and quality, improved livelihoods and resilience of forest-dependent communities.
  • Developing incentive-based instruments for leveraging finance. For example, a payment mechanism where a municipality or industry would pay upstream forest communities to use water flowing down because of improved forest management.
  • Unlocking economic opportunities for forest-dependent people by modelling and setting up conservation enterprises and mobilising investment from the private sector.

Important International Events to Protect Environment

Earth Day

• The Earth Day is an annual event celebrated across the world on April 22. Its celebration is coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network.
• In 1969, at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, the peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honour Earth and the concept of peace, the first to be celebrated on 21st March 1970, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Earth Hour

• The Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the WWF. The event is held annually, encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. It was started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. Since then, it has grown to engage more than 7,000 cities and towns across 172 countries worldwide. Every year, the event begins at Sydney’s Opera House and Bridge, Australia.

International Day of Biological Diversity

• The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The UN General Assembly adopted May 22 as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Earlier, IDB was celebrated on December 29, each year. The IDB was changed because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations on December 29, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of the year.

World Environment Day

• The World Environment Day (WED) that falls on June 5 every year, is the United Nation’s principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment.
• First held in 1974, the WED has grown to become a global platform. The WED was designated by the UN General Assembly in 1972 on the first day of United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.
• Two years later, in 1974 the first WED was held with the theme ‘Only One Earth’. Each year, WED has a new theme.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer  

• In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed September 16 as the International Day for the preservation of the ozone layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

International Day of Forests

• The International Day of Forests was established on March 21, by the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. Each year, various events celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations. The Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization, facilitates the implementation of such events in collaboration with governments and various organizations. International Day of Forests was observed for the first time on 21st March 2013.

World Habitat Day

• World Habitat Day is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world. It was officially designated by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1986.

Recent Development in Indian Environment - II

Recent Development in Indian Environment - II

1. YAMUNA ACTION PLAN

River Yamuna is one of the major rivers in India and also a major tributary to India’s largest river - river Ganges.

Riverine water resources, including river Yamuna, are increasingly becoming vulnerable to quantity decline and quality degradation due to human activities, the modified flow regime due to water holding structures or barrages, withdrawal of water for irrigation & drinking purposes and the cumulative discharge of domestic, industrial & agricultural wastewaters has converted the Yamuna into almost an open sewer in the stretch of Delhi and Agra. As a result, the river is impacting the bio-diversity of the ecosystem and endangering public health of the inhabitants. The prevalence of poor sanitation practices also contributes to the proliferation of a number of diseases and an adverse living environment.

Yamuna Action Plan I and II

• In 1977-78, CPCB initiated a study to assess the status of pollution of Yamuna River over its 1200 km course. The study examined the topography of the drainage basin, base flow, population, land use pattern, industries, and agriculture practices and estimated the pollution load from activities in the basin. Study conducted by the CPCB indicated that the major cause of pollution is the discharge of domestic wastewater into the river which is about two-third of the pollution load. The remaining pollution is contributed by industries and agriculture. Based on the findings of this study, the Government of India (GoI) decided to take up water quality restoration measures named as Yamuna Action Plan (YAP) under the mega project of the Ganga Action Plan (GAP) phase–II. The Government of Japan provided loan assistance for implementation of YAP in December-1990. YAP was formally launched in 1993, now called as YAP phase I (YAP I). The main activities covered under YAP were interception and diversion works, pumping stations, STPs, low cost toilet complex, crematorium, plantation, bathing ghat / river front development, public participation and awareness and computer networking system. The limitation of YAP I were:
  • The STP capacity created remained under-utilised to the extent of 25-45% because of severe limitations in the collection system and power availability.
  • The strategy in YAP-I did not adequately address non-point sources.
  • Municipalities and agencies which were responsible for Operation & Maintenance (O&M) of sewerage infrastructure were constrained to maximize the operational efficiency of the system due to a combination of factors related to skills, finance, management systems, power cuts and upstream sewerage infrastructure.
• Subsequently, the work continued with the launch of YAP phase II (YAP II) in the year 2004 with the sanctioned cost of 647 crores. The project was completed in 2008 Under YAP II, emphasis was on the 22-km stretch of Yamuna in Delhi. The Yamuna Action Plan Project Phase II is regarded as the core project under the National River Conservation Plan of Government of India. The project addresses the abatement of severe pollution of the River Yamuna by raising sewage treatment capacity, caused by rapid population growth, industrialization and urbanization.
• The plan includes building new and expanding capacity of old sewage treatment plants and laying and rehabilitating sewers to enhance the treatment capacity particularly in Delhi and Agra. Public participation and awareness were also a part of project to ensure the residents' recognition of the necessity of water quality conservation in the River Yamuna, and would establish linkage between the river conservation and their own living environments. But, there had been no concrete results even though Rs.1, 500 crore had been spent through phases one and two of the Yamuna Action Plan. It has been observed that despite of the continuous efforts to minimize the pollution load still the BOD is not decreasing.
• The Yamuna Action Plan Phase - III project for Delhi has been approved by the Ministry in December, 2011 at an estimated cost of Rs 1656 crore with loan assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency. Besides this, two projects have also been sanctioned by the Ministry in July, 2012 at an estimated cost of Rs. 217.87 crore for taking up works for pollution abatement of river Yamuna in towns of Sonepat and Panipat in Haryana which are located on upstream of Wazirabad in Delhi. 

NGT rules related to Yamuna

• As a consequence of present deplorable state of the river, NGT has given directions to take up cleaning of Yamuna under Maily Se Nirmal Yamuna Revitalization Plan, 2017.
• In pursuance of this direction, the Centre and the Delhi government have come together to launch projects under phase three of the Yamuna Action Plan .
• This Yamuna Action Plan-3 will be the first plan to comprehensively help with sewage treatment and solid waste management along with river front development and providing a proper Chhat Ghat for devotees.
• National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered that every household in Delhi will have to pay a monthly environmental compensation to clean up Yamuna River.
• According to the direction, the compensation to be paid will be directly proportional to the property or water tax whichever is higher, paid by a particular household. In case of unauthorized colonies households that do not pay property tax or water bill will have to pay an amount that would be between 100 rupees to 500 rupees.
• According to the Tribunal, industrial units within a particular industrial cluster have to pay these amounts on the ‘Polluter Pays’ Principle, for the pollution already caused by them and even which they are causing presently, as well as to prevent pollution in future on the Precautionary Principle. Major part of such costs, obviously have to be borne by the authorities concerned, let us say 2/3rd, while 1/3rd of the total costs should be borne by the industries.

Way forward

• Effective coordination between State and Central government agencies is required in terms of execution
• It is necessary to reduce the quantity of water being drawn from the river for irrigation. Efficient irrigation methods like sprinklers or drip method should be used.
• Effective check to ensure in situ treatment of effluents is done before discharge from industries.
• Steps must be taken to relocate the existing settlements and encroachments near the floodplains and no further encroachments should be allowed.
• There should be a ban on construction of new barrages
• Since there is shortage of landfill sites in Delhi, most wastes are dumped in the river. Keeping this in mind, immediate action needs to be taken to identify more landfill sites in Delhi.
• Public awareness is most important prevention measure. Effective steps should be taken to enhance public awareness.

2. National Water Mission

• The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) describes the features of National Water Mission as under: “A National Water Mission will be mounted to ensure integrated water resource management helping to conserve water, minimize wastage and ensure more equitable distribution both across and within states.”
• The Mission will take into account the provisions of the National Water Policy and develop a framework to optimize water use by increasing water use efficiency by 20% through regulatory mechanisms with differential entitlements and pricing.
• It will seek to ensure that a considerable share of the water needs of urban areas are met through recycling of waste water, and ensuring that the water requirements of coastal cities with inadequate alternative sources of water are met through adoption of new and appropriate technologies such as low temperature desalination technologies that allow for the use of ocean water.
• The National Water Policy would be revisited in consultation with States to ensure basin level management strategies to deal with variability in rainfall and river flows due to climate change.
• This will include enhanced storage both above and below ground, rainwater harvesting, coupled with equitable and efficient management structures.
• The Mission will seek to develop new regulatory structures, combined with appropriate entitlements and pricing. It will seek to optimize the efficiency of existing irrigation systems, including rehabilitation of systems that have been run down and also expand irrigation, where feasible, with a special effort to increase storage capacity. Incentive structures will be designed to promote water-neutral or water- positive technologies, recharging of underground water sources and adoption of large scale irrigation programmes which rely on sprinklers, drip irrigation and ridge and furrow irrigation.”
• Each Mission will be tasked to evolve specific objectives spanning the remaining years of the 11th Plan and the 12th Plan period 2012-2013 to 2016-2017. Where the resource requirements of the Mission call for an enhancement of the allocation in the 11th Plan, this will be suitably considered, keeping in mind the overall resources position and the scope for re-prioritization".
• Building public awareness will be vital in supporting implementation of the NAPCC. This will be achieved through national portals, media engagement, civil society involvement, curricula reform and recognition / awards, details of which will be worked out by an empowered group. The Group will also consider methods of capacity building to support the goals of the National Missions.
• The  appropriate technologies will be developed to measure progress in actions being taken in terms of avoided emissions, wherever applicable, with reference to business as usual scenarios. Appropriate indicators will be evolved for assessing adaptation benefits of the actions.
• These Eight National Missions taken together, with enhancements in current and ongoing programmes included in the Technical Document, would not only assist the country to adapt to climate change, but also, importantly, launch the economy on a path that would progressively and substantially result in mitigation through avoided emissions.” The ‘Technical Document’ annexed with the NAPCC has identified key areas related to:
  
  • Studies on management of surface water resources,
  • Management and regulation of ground water resources,
  • Upgrading storage structures for fresh and drainage system for wastewater,
  • Conservation of wetland, and
  • Development of desalination technologies etc. required to be considered while preparing the comprehensive document for the National Water Mission.
• NWM has identified five goals as under:
  1. Comprehensive water data base in public domain and assessment of the impact of climate change on water resource,
  2. Promotion of citizen and state actions for water conservation, augmentation and preservation,
  3. Focused attention to vulnerable areas including over-exploited areas,
  4. Increasing water use efficiency by 20%, and
  5. Promotion of basin level integrated water resources management.

3. SECURE Himalaya

• The Government of India and United Nations Development Programme, with support from the Global Environment Facility, are implementing a new programme in the high altitude Himalayas entitled “SECURE Himalayas - Securing livelihoods, conservation, sustainable use and restoration of high range Himalayan ecosystems”, to ensure conservation of locally and globally significant biodiversity, land and forest resources in the high Himalayan ecosystem, while enhancing the lives and livelihoods of local communities.

Key Components

• Conservation of key biodiversity areas and their effective management to secure long-term ecosystem resilience, habitat connectivity and conservation of snow leopard and other endangered species and their habitats
• Securing sustainable community livelihoods and natural resource management in high range Himalayan ecosystems
• Enhancing enforcement, monitoring and cooperation to reduce wildlife crime and related threats
• Knowledge, advocacy, communication and information systems established

4. World Sparrow Day

• World Sparrow Day is a day designated to raise awareness of the house sparrow and then other common birds to urban environments, and of threats to their populations, observed on 20 March.
• It is an international initiative by the Nature Forever Society of India in collaboration with the Eco-Sys Action Foundation (France) and numerous other national and international organisations across the world.
• The Nature Forever Society was started by Mohammed Dilawar, an Indian conservationist who started his work helping the house sparrow in Nashik, and who was named one of the "Heroes of the Environment" for 2008 by Time for his efforts.
• The idea of marking World Sparrow Day came up during an informal discussion at the Nature Forever Society's office.
• The idea was to earmark a day for the house sparrow to convey the message of conservation of the house sparrow and other common birds and also mark a day of celebration to appreciate the beauty of the common biodiversity which is taken so much for granted.
• The first World Sparrow Day was celebrated in 2010 in different parts of the world.
• The day was celebrated by carrying out different various kinds of activities and events like art competitions, awareness campaigns, and sparrow processions as well as interactions with media.
• World Sparrow Day also has a broader vision to provide a platform where people who are working on the conservation of the house sparrow and other common birds can network, collaborate and exchange conservation ideas which will lead to better science and improved results.
• It aims to provide a meeting ground for people from different parts of the world to come together and form a force that can play an important role in advocacy and in spreading the awareness on the need of conserving common biodiversity or species of lower conservation status.

5. Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN)

• Desertification is threatening the livelihoods of 1 billion people in over 100 countries, and each year 12 million hectares of arable land are lost to drought. The extent and severity of land degradation worldwide, combined with the negative effects of climate change, population growth and an ever-increasing demand for natural resources, requires immediate and assertive action. The economic costs of desertification and land degradation are estimated at USD 490 billion per year. Avoiding land degradation through sustainable land management can generate up to USD 1.4 trillion of economic benefits.
• Policies and programmes to halt and reverse land degradation have long suffered from the absence of a clear overarching goal and quantitative, time-bound targets to guide action and make measurable progress. In October 2015, UNCCD country Parties reached a breakthrough agreement on the land degradation neutrality (LDN) concept.
• The LDN concept has been developed to encourage implementation of an optimal mix of measures designed to avoid, reduce and/or reverse land degradation in order to achieve a state of no net loss of healthy and productive land. LDN aims to balance anticipated losses in land-based natural capital and associated ecosystem functions and services with measures that produce alternative gains through approaches such as land restoration and sustainable land management.
• LDN is a simple idea and a powerful tool. It means securing enough healthy and productive natural resources by avoiding degradation whenever possible and restoring land that has already been degraded. At its core are better land management practices and better land use planning that will improve economic, social and ecological sustainability for present and future generations.
• Numerous direct links exist between LDN and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), such as eradicating poverty, ensuring food security, protecting the environment and using natural resources sustainably. LDN serves as a catalyst in achieving these goals.

LDN and climate change

• LDN provides significant benefits in terms of mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Halting and reversing land degradation can transform land from being a source of greenhouse gas emissions to a carbon sink, by increasing carbon stocks in soils and vegetation. Furthermore, LDN plays a key role in strengthening the resilience of rural communities against climate shocks by securing and improving the provision of vital ecosystem services.
• These links between land and climate are reflected in the Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) submitted by countries to COP 21 of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris in 2015. More than 100 of the INDCs included land-based activities for mitigation and adaptation. LDN targets and associated measures contribute to and depend on the implementation of national climate plans and vice versa. Such synergies should be taken into account when developing national plans for LDN and revising and updating the INDCs under the Paris Agreement.

6. Forest-PLUS 2.0

• US Agency for International Development (USAID) and India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) officially launched Forest-PLUS 2.0 on September 25, 2019.
• It is a five-year programme initiated in December 2018 that focuses on developing tools and techniques to bolster ecosystem management and harnessing ecosystem services in forest landscape management.
• Tetra Tech ARD, a consulting and engineering company headquartered in the US, was given the contract to implement the programme and IORA Ecological Solutions, a New Delhi-based environmental advisory group, is its implementation partner.
• Forest-PLUS 2.0, the second set of pilot projects, is meant to enhance sustainable forest landscape management after Forest-PLUS completed its five years in 2017.
• The programme’s first set focused on capacity building to help India participate in Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+). It included four pilot projects in Sikkim, Rampur, Shivamogga and Hoshangabad.
• Under these, field tests, innovative tools and approaches for Indian forest management were developed. Promotion of bio-briquettes in Sikkim, introduction of solar heating systems in Rampur and development of an agro-forestry model in Hoshangabad were some of the achievements of this programme.
• Forest-PLUS 2.0 comprises pilot project in three landscapes — Gaya in Bihar, Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Medak in Telangana. The choice of these sites was driven by the contrast in their landscapes – Bihar is a forest deficit area, Telangana is a relatively drier area where there is ample scope for community livelihood enhancement and Kerala is rich in biodiversity.

The targets of this set are –

• • 1,20,000 hectares of land under improved management
  • New, inclusive economic activity worth $12 million 
  • Measurable benefits accrued to 800,000 households
  • Three incentive mechanisms demonstrated in managing landscapes for ecosystem services

To achieve these targets, the programme has three focal points of action –

• • Developing tools for multiple services in forests management. The tools consists of innovative apps for automating forest planning processes, model forest management plans. These tools are expected to result in enhanced water flow and quality, improved livelihoods and resilience of forest-dependent communities.
  • Developing incentive-based instruments for leveraging finance. For example, a payment mechanism where a municipality or industry would pay upstream forest communities to use water flowing down because of improved forest management.
  • Unlocking economic opportunities for forest-dependent people by modelling and setting up conservation enterprises and mobilising investment from the private sector.

Important International Events to Protect Environment

Earth Day

• The Earth Day is an annual event celebrated across the world on April 22. Its celebration is coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network.
• In 1969, at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, the peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honour Earth and the concept of peace, the first to be celebrated on 21st March 1970, the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere.

Earth Hour

• The Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organized by the WWF. The event is held annually, encouraging individuals, communities, households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour, from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. It was started as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007. Since then, it has grown to engage more than 7,000 cities and towns across 172 countries worldwide. Every year, the event begins at Sydney’s Opera House and Bridge, Australia.

International Day of Biological Diversity

• The United Nations has proclaimed May 22 as the International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues. The UN General Assembly adopted May 22 as IDB, to commemorate the adoption of the Convention on Biological Diversity. Earlier, IDB was celebrated on December 29, each year. The IDB was changed because it was difficult for many countries to plan and carry out suitable celebrations on December 29, given the number of holidays that coincide around that time of the year.

World Environment Day

• The World Environment Day (WED) that falls on June 5 every year, is the United Nation’s principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the protection of our environment.
• First held in 1974, the WED has grown to become a global platform. The WED was designated by the UN General Assembly in 1972 on the first day of United Nations Conference on the Human Environment.
• Two years later, in 1974 the first WED was held with the theme ‘Only One Earth’. Each year, WED has a new theme.

International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer  

• In 1994, the UN General Assembly proclaimed September 16 as the International Day for the preservation of the ozone layer, commemorating the date of the signing, in 1987, of the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer.

International Day of Forests

• The International Day of Forests was established on March 21, by the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in 2012. Each year, various events celebrate and raise awareness of the importance of all types of forests and trees outside forests, for the benefit of current and future generations. The Secretariat of the United Nations Forum on Forests, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization, facilitates the implementation of such events in collaboration with governments and various organizations. International Day of Forests was observed for the first time on 21st March 2013.

World Habitat Day

• World Habitat Day is observed every year on the first Monday of October throughout the world. It was officially designated by the United Nations and first celebrated in 1986.

Recent Development - in Indian Environment

Recent Development - in Indian Environment

1. Namami Gange

• The River Ganga is important not only for its cultural and spiritual significance but also because it hosts more than 40% of the country’s population. To translate this vision, the Government launched an integrated Ganga conservation mission called ‘Namami Gange’ to arrest the pollution of Ganga River and revive the river. The Union Cabinet approved the action plan proposed by Centre to spend Rs 20,000 Crores till 2019-2020 on cleaning the river, increasing the budget by four-fold and with 100% central share – a central sector scheme.
• Recognizing the multi-sectoral, multi-dimensional and multi-stakeholder nature of the Ganga Rejuvenation challenge, efforts have been made to improve the inter-ministerial and centre-state coordination with increased involvement in preparation of action plan and increased monitoring at central and state levels.
• The implementation of the program has been divided into entry-level activities (for immediate visible impact), medium term activities (to be implemented within 5 years of time frame), and, long-term activities (to be implemented within 10 years).
• Entry-level activities includes river surface cleaning to address the floating solid wastes; rural sanitation to arrest the pollution (solid & liquid) entering through rural sewage drains and construction of toilets; renovation, modernization, & construction of crematoria that prevents the disposal of un-burnt/ partially burnt bodies in the river; repair, modernization & construction of ghats to improvise the human-river connect.
• Medium-term activities will focus on arresting the municipal and industrial pollution entering into the river. To address the pollution through municipal sewage, 2500 MLD additional treatment capacity is to be created in next 5 years. Major financial reforms are underway to make the program efficient, accountable, and sustainable in the long term. Hybrid Annuity based Public Private Partnership model for project implementation is currently being considered by the Cabinet. If approved, Special Purpose Vehicle will manage concessionaires in all major cities, market will be developed for treated water, and long term sustainability of assets will be assured.
• For managing the industrial pollution, efforts have been initiated to improvise the compliance through better enforcement.
• Grossly Polluting Industries located along Ganga have been directed to reduce the effluent quality & volume or implement zero-liquid discharge. Action plan for the implementation of these directions by Pollution Control Boards are already prepared and timelines have been assigned for each category of industry with detailed consultations. All the industries have to install real-time on-line effluent monitoring stations.
• It is worth mentioning that cleaning river Ganga is extremely complex due to its socio-economic & cultural importance and yet, exploitation for various uses. Never in the world such a complex program has been implemented and will require participation across sectors and each and every citizen of the country.
• There are various ways in which each one of us can contribute to the cause of cleaning river Ganga:
  • Contribution of funds: Restoring the quality of a river with the length and population as large as that of Ganga requires huge investments. Government has already increased the budget by four-fold but still may not be enough to the requirements. Clean Ganga Fund has been established that provides a platform to all for contributing funds to clean river Ganga.
  • Reduce, Reuse and Recovery: Majority of us do not realize that used water and filth of our homes can end up in the rivers if not disposed properly. Sewerage infrastructure is already being constructed by the Government but citizens can reduce the usage of water and generation of waste. Reusing and Recovery of used water and organic waste & plastics can greatly benefit the program.

2. The Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019

Ministry: 

Chemicals and Fertilizers

• The Recycling of Ships Bill, 2019 on November 25, 2019. The Bill restricts the use of hazardous material on ships and regulates the recycling of ships.  
• Key features of the Bill include:
  • Applicability of the Bill: The Bill will apply to: (i) any new or existing ship which is registered in India, (ii) ships entering a port or terminal in India, or the territorial waters of India, (iii) any warship, or other ship owned and operated by an administration and used on government non-commercial service, and (iv) ship recycling facilities operating in India. 
  • Ship recycling: The Bill defines ship recycling as the dismantling of a ship at a facility to recover the components and materials for reuse, and taking care of the hazardous material so produced.  It includes associated operations such as storage and treatment of materials and components on site.
  • Requirements for ships: Ships should not use prohibited hazardous materials as notified.  The central government may exempt certain categories of ships from this requirement.  The National Authority will carry out periodic surveys to verify the prescribed requirements.  This Authority will be notified by the central government to administer, supervise and monitor all activities related to ship recycling.
  • The owner of every new ship must make an application to the National Authority to obtain a certificate on the inventory of hazardous materials. Existing ship owners must apply for the certificate within five years of the commencement of the Act.  The certificate must be renewed every five years.  It must be maintained and updated through the life of the ship to reflect any changes in the ship’s structure and equipment.  The certificate may be suspended for various reasons such as the ship not complying with the particulars of the certificate, or not maintaining the inventory of hazardous materials properly.  Using hazardous materials in a ship will be punishable with imprisonment of up to three months, or a fine of up to five lakh rupees, or both.
  • These requirements will not apply to: (i) any warship, or other ship owned and operated by an administration and used on government non-commercial service, and (ii) ships with internal volume less than 500 tonne
  • Recycling facilities: Ships will be recycled only in authorised recycling facilities.  An application to authorise such a facility must be submitted to the Competent Authority (which will be notified by the central government) along with a ship recycling facility management plan, and prescribed fee.  Existing facilities must apply for authorisation within 60 days of the commencement of the Act.  A facility will be authorised when the Competent Authority is satisfied that it follows the specified standards.  The certificate of authorisation will be valid for a period as specified but not exceeding five years.  Contravening these provisions will be punishable with imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh, or both.
  • Each Ship Recycler must maintain adequate measures for emergency preparedness and response, safety, health, training, and welfare of workers as per the Factories Act, 1948. It must also provide insurance coverage for the regular and temporary workers. 
  • Recycling process: A ship owner must apply to the National Authority for a ready for recycling certificate before recycling his ship.  The Ship Recycler must prepare a ship recycling plan which should be approved by the Competent Authority.  Each ship will be recycled after obtaining written permission from the Competent Authority.  The Authority must grant such permission after physically inspecting the ship. 
  • Every ship recycler must: (i) ensure safe and environmentally sound removal and management of hazardous materials from a ship, and (ii) comply with the specified environmental regulations. They must also ensure that no environmental damage is caused due to such recycling.  On contravening these provisions, the ship recycler will be liable to pay environmental damages and cleanup operation compensation as prescribed.  In case of an oil spill, a ship recycler will be punishable with: (i) a fine of up to five lakh rupees in case of no response within 12 hours of issue of the first notice, (ii) a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh in case of no response within 24 hours of issue of the second notice, and (iii) imprisonment of up to three months, and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh in case of no response within 24 hours of issue of the third notice.
  • Appeals: Decisions of the Competent Authority may be appealed with the National Authority within 30 days of receiving the decision.  Decisions of the National Authority may be appealed with the central government within 30 days of receiving the decision. 

3. The Dam Safety Bill, 2019

Ministry: 

Water Resources

Highlights of the Bill

• The Bill provides for the surveillance, inspection, operation, and maintenance of all specified dams across the country. These are dams with height more than 15 metres, or height between 10 metres to 15 metres with certain design and structural conditions.
• It constitutes two national bodies: the National Committee on Dam Safety, whose functions include evolving policies and recommending regulations regarding dam safety standards; and the National Dam Safety Authority, whose functions include implementing policies of the National Committee, providing technical assistance to State Dam Safety Organisations (SDSOs), and resolving matters between SDSOs of states or between a SDSO and any dam owner in that state.
• It also constitutes two state bodies: State Committee on Dam Safety, and State Dam Safety Organisation.  These bodies will be responsible for the surveillance, inspection, and monitoring the operation and maintenance of dams within their jurisdiction.
• Functions of the national bodies and the State Committees on Dam Safety have been provided in Schedules to the Bill.  These Schedules can be amended by a government notification. 
• An offence under the Bill can lead to imprisonment of up to two years, or a fine, or both.

Key Issues and Analysis

• The Bill applies to all specified dams in the country.  This includes dams built on both inter and intra state rivers.  As per the Constitution, states can make laws on water including water storage and water power.  However, Parliament may regulate and develop inter-state river valleys if it deems it necessary in public interest.  The question is whether Parliament has the jurisdiction to regulate dams on rivers flowing entirely within a state. 
• The functions of the National Committee on Dam Safety, the National Dam Safety Authority, and the State Committee on Dam Safety are listed in Schedules to the Bill.  These Schedules can be amended by the government through a notification.  The question is whether core functions of authorities should be amended through a notification or whether such amendments should be passed by Parliament.

4. The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019

Ministry: 

Labour and Employment

Highlights of the Bill

• The Code seeks to regulate health and safety conditions of workers in establishments with 10 or more workers, and in all mines and docks.
• It subsumes and replaces 13 labour laws relating to safety, health and working conditions. These laws include: Factories Act, 1948; Mines Act, 1952; Dock Workers Act, 1986; Contract Labour Act, 1970; and Inter-State Migrant Workers Act, 1979.
• Establishments covered by the Code are required to register with registering officers, appointed by the central or state governments.
• Welfare facilities, working conditions and work hours for different types of establishments and workers will be prescribed by the central or state governments through rules.
• The Code sets up occupational safety boards at the national and state level to advise the central and state governments on the standards, rules, and regulations to be framed under the Code.
• The Code creates special provisions for certain classes of establishments such as factories, mines, dock workers, and constructions workers. These include separate provisions on licenses, safety regulations, and duties of employers. 

Key Issues and Analysis

• The Second National Commission on Labour (2002) had recommended consolidation and simplification of existing health and safety laws.  However, the Code continues to retain special provisions for various categories of workers such as working journalists and sales promotion employees.  The rationale for retaining such provisions is unclear.  
• The Code covers workers employed in establishments with at least 10 workers or more. It has been argued that size-based thresholds for applicability of labour laws help in reducing compliance burden for small establishments.  On the other hand, it has been argued that occupational health and safety laws should cover all workers, to protect their basic rights.
• The Code bars civil courts from hearing matters under the Code. Therefore, the only judicial recourse for a person aggrieved under the Code is to file a writ petition before the relevant High Court.  It can be argued that a bar on civil courts from hearing any matters under the Code may result in the denial of an opportunity to challenge issues before a lower court.

5. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019

Ministry: 

Road Transport and Highways

• The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced on July 15, 2019. The Bill seeks to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to provide for road safety.  
• The Act provides for grant of licenses and permits related to motor vehicles, standards for motor vehicles, and penalties for violation of these provisions.
• Compensation for road accident victims: The central government will develop a scheme for cashless treatment of road accident victims during golden hour.  The Bill defines golden hour as the time period of up to one hour following a traumatic injury, during which the likelihood of preventing death through prompt medical care is the highest.  The central government may also make a scheme for providing interim relief to claimants seeking compensation under third party insurance.  The Bill increases the minimum compensation for hit and run cases as follows: (i) in case of death, from Rs 25,000 to two lakh rupees, and (ii) in case of grievous injury, from Rs 12,500 to Rs 50,000.
• Compulsory insurance: The Bill requires the central government to constitute a Motor Vehicle Accident Fund, to provide compulsory insurance cover to all road users in India.  It will be utilised for: (i) treatment of persons injured in road accidents as per the golden hour scheme, (ii) compensation to representatives of a person who died in a hit and run accident, (iii) compensation to a person grievously hurt in a hit and run accident, and (iv) compensation to any other persons as prescribed by the central government.  This Fund will be credited through: (i) payment of a nature notified by the central government, (ii) a grant or loan made by the central government, (iii) balance of the Solatium Fund (existing fund under the Act to provide compensation for hit and run accidents), or (iv) any other source as prescribed the central government. 
• Good samaritans: The Bill defines a good samaritan as a person who renders emergency medical or non-medical assistance to a victim at the scene of an accident.  The assistance must have been (i) in good faith, (ii) voluntary, and (iii) without the expectation of any reward.  Such a person will not be liable for any civil or criminal action for any injury to or death of an accident victim, caused due to their negligence in providing assistance to the victim. 
• Recall of vehicles: The Bill allows the central government to order for recall of motor vehicles if a defect in the vehicle may cause damage to the environment, or the driver, or other road users.  The manufacturer of the recalled vehicle will be required to: (i) reimburse the buyers for the full cost of the vehicle, or (ii) replace the defective vehicle with another vehicle with similar or better specifications.  
• National Transportation Policy: The central government may develop a National Transportation Policy, in consultation with state governments.  The Policy will: (i) establish a planning framework for road transport, (ii) develop a framework for grant of permits, and (iii) specify priorities for the transport system, among other things. 
• Road Safety Board: The Bill provides for a National Road Safety Board, to be created by the central government through a notification.  The Board will advise the central and state governments on all aspects of road safety and traffic management including: (i) standards of motor vehicles, (ii) registration and licensing of vehicles, (iii) standards for road safety, and (iv) promotion of new vehicle technology.
• Offences and penalties: The Bill increases penalties for several offences under the Act.  For example, the maximum penalty for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 10,000.  If a vehicle manufacturer fails to comply with motor vehicle standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to Rs 100 crore, or imprisonment of up to one year, or both.  If a contractor fails to comply with road design standards, the penalty will be a fine of up to one lakh rupees.  The central government may increase fines mentioned under the Act every year by up to 10%. 
• Taxi aggregators: The Bill defines aggregators as digital intermediaries or market places which can be used by passengers to connect with a driver for transportation purposes (taxi services).  These aggregators will be issued licenses by state. Further, they must comply with the Information Technology Act, 2000.

6. The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage and Advertisement) Bill, 2019

Ministry:

Health and Family Welfare

• The Prohibition of Electronic Cigarettes (Production, Manufacture, Import, Export, Transport, Sale, Distribution, Storage, and Advertisement) Bill, 2019 replaces an Ordinance promulgated in September 2019.  The Bill seeks to prohibits the production, trade, storage, and advertisement of electronic cigarettes.
• Electronic cigarettes: The Bill defines electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as electronic devices that heat a substance, which may contain nicotine and other chemicals, to create vapour for inhalation.  These e-cigarettes can also contain different flavours and include all forms of electronic nicotine delivery systems, heat-not-burn products, e-hookahs, and other similar devices.
• Banning of e-cigarettes: The Bill prohibits the production, manufacture, import, export, transport, sale, distribution and advertisement of e-cigarettes in India.  Any person who contravenes this provision will be punishable with imprisonment of up to one year, or a fine of up to one lakh rupees, or both.  For any subsequent offence, the person will be punishable with an imprisonment of up to three years, along with a fine of up to five lakh rupees.
• Storage of e-cigarettes: Under the Bill, no person is allowed to use any place for the storage of any stock of e-cigarettes.  If any person stores any stock of e-cigarettes, he will be punishable with an imprisonment of up to six months, or a fine of up to Rs 50,000 or both. 
• Once the Bill comes into force, the owners of existing stocks of e-cigarettes will have to declare and deposit these stocks at the nearest office of an authorised officer.  Such an authorised officer may be a police officer (at least at the level of a sub-inspector), or any other officer as notified by the central or state government.
• Powers of authorised officers: If an authorised officer believes that any provision of the Bill has been contravened, he can search any place where trade, production, storage or advertising of e-cigarettes is being undertaken.  The authorised officer can seize any record or property connected to e-cigarettes found during the search.  Further, he may take the person connected with the offence into custody.
• If the property or records found during the search cannot be seized, the authorised officer can make an order to attach such property, stocks or records.

7. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015

• The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill, 2015 seeks to establish funds at the national and state level to receive money collected for compensatory afforestation.
• Compensatory afforestation is defined as afforestation done in lieu of the diversion of forest land for non-forest use under the Forests (Conservation) Act, 1980.
• Creation of Compensatory Afforestation Funds: The Bill seeks to establish a permanent National Compensatory Afforestation Fund under the public account of India. It also allows states to establish State Compensatory Afforestation Funds.
• The National Fund will be under the central government, and managed by a National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
• The central government will appoint a State CAMPA in each state.
• The State CAMPA will be responsible for the management of the State Fund.
• Sources of funds: At present, an ad hoc National CAMPA and ad hoc State CAMPAs, established by government orders, receive money collected for compensatory afforestation. Once the National Fund is created, money collected by state governments which has been placed with the existing National CAMPA will be transferred to the National Fund. Other sources of funds for the National Fund will be: (i) 10% of the funds collected for compensatory afforestation by states each year; and (ii) grants-in-aid/other sums received by, and loans/borrowings taken by the National CAMPA.
• The major sources of funds for the State Fund will be: (i) unspent balances lying with existing State CAMPAs; (ii) money transferred from the National Fund to the State Funds (90% of the money transferred from the existing National CAMPA to the National Fund); (iii) money received for compensatory afforestation; and (iv) grants in-aid/other sums received by, and loans/borrowings taken by the State CAMPA.
• The balance with both funds will be non-lapsable and get interest as per a rate declared by the central government on a yearly basis.
• Utilization of funds: The money in the National Fund will be used to meet expenditure for the management of the National CAMPA, and on schemes approved by the National CAMPA.
• The money in the State Fund will be used for the following purposes: (i) site-specific schemes implemented by the state; (ii) artificial regeneration, forest management and wildlife protection; and (iii) protection and conservation activities in protected areas under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
• If the diversion of forest land affects multiple states, the National CAMPA may order that money be transferred to one of those states.
• Composition and functions of Authorities: The National CAMPA will consist of a governing body, an executive committee, and a monitoring group, in addition to an administrative support mechanism.
• The governing body will be responsible for formulating the broad policy framework for the functioning of the National CAMPA. The executive committee will be responsible for the approval of annual plans of State CAMPAs and the formulation and implementation of schemes approved by the governing body. The monitoring group will be responsible for the monitoring and evaluation of works implemented by states and fund utilisation by the CAMPAs.
• The State CAMPA will consist of a governing body, a steering committee, and an executive committee. The governing body, chaired by the Chief Minister of the state, will be responsible for formulating the broad policy framework for the State CAMPA, within the overall framework laid out by the National CAMPA. The executive committee will be responsible for formulating the annual plan of operations, after obtaining the approval of the steering committee. The executive committee will also monitor works funded by the State Fund, and invest the surplus amounts available with the State Fund.