Haryana launches Integrated Water Resources Action Plan

Haryana launches Integrated Water Resources Action Plan

Haryana recently took a step towards ensuring that future generations have access to clean and safe water as it launched the biennial Integrated Water Resources Action Plan (2023-25). A two-day 'water conclave' was held in Panchkula, whose main objective was to discuss an Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy and approach in view of the depleting groundwater levels. 

The total water availability of the state is 20,93,598 crore litres whereas the total water demand is 34,96,276 crore litres. The maximum amount of water is used in the agriculture and horticulture sectors. Continuous efforts are needed to reduce water consumption by adopting water conservation methods.

"All water related Departments have come forward and taken the responsibility to conserve water through various demand and supply side interventions, which would save around 6.97 lakh crore litres of water in next two years," as per an official statement.

The Agriculture Department has included various measures in the action plan. According to this, 3.14 lakh acres of the area will be covered under crop diversification, which will save 1.05 lakh crore litres of water. Direct seeding of paddy will be done in 4.75 lakh acres and will save 1.18 lakh crore litres. 27.53 lakh acres will be brought under conservation tillage to save 0.51 lakh crore litres. (The Outlook)

NGT asks Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority to redo Ennore Coastal Zone Management Plan

The southern bench of National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority (TNCZMA) to redo the ‘faulty and incomplete’ draft Ennore Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) map for omitting large tracts of salt pans and water bodies amounting to around 2,000 acres of CRZ area risking further degradation of critical coastal wetlands.

The green bench comprising judicial member Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and expert member K Satyagopal said, “TNCZMA has not adverted to the direction issued by this tribunal on February 22, 2021, besides stating that preparation of the latest CZMPs based on 2011 and 2019 CRZ notifications would be more scientific and technical. TNCZMA should have followed the direction, rather than coming up with some excuses that too only after the applicant filed an application alleging non-compliance. We deplore the attitude of the authorities.”

In February 22, 2021, the NGT specifically instructed TNCZMA to take into account the 1996 approved plan as far as the Tiruvallur district is concerned when preparing the plan under the CRZ notification 2019. However, TNSCZMA and National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management, who produced the maps, disobeyed the tribunal's order, incurring its wrath. (New Indian Express)

Rajasthan forest policy to focus on steps to boost ecological health 

The Rajasthan Forest Policy will focus on forest protection through constant vigil in the forest area to ensure the growth and ecological health of forest areas in the state. The policy states that the authorities will ensure regular engagement with stakeholders and augmentation of protection capability proportional to the gravity of the threat, whether biotic or abiotic pressure. The forest policy also focuses on grassland management as the livestock population of the state is immensely dependent on grasslands for their fodder and forage requirements.

Species like the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), florican, black buck, chinkara, etc, are dependent on grasslands for their survival,” states the policy. The latest policy also has a provision for working on desertification and land degradation in the state, the main causes for which have been identified as wind erosion, water erosion, water logging.

“Sand dune stabilisation of actively shifting sand dune shall be promoted, wind-breaks and shelter-belt plantation shall be promoted on public as well ad private lands to arrest desertification,” are some of the measures mentioned in the policy. (The Times of India)

Himachal Pradesh to frame policy to find alternatives to plastic

Himachal Pradesh will develop a policy within a year aimed at discovering alternative options to plastic. The state plans to create this policy and encourage industries to explore substitutes for plastic. The Chief Minister emphasized the importance of utilizing plastic waste in road building and suggested incorporating culture and environment-focused subjects into the educational curriculum to foster environmental consciousness among children, according to an official statement.

The Government is actively seeking alternatives to boost and preserve the environment said the Chief Minister, and urged people to cooperate with the government’s efforts in environmental protection and reducing pollution. (The Print)

Puducherry unveils the pioneering green budget report 

On the 50th World Environment Day, the Union Territory of Puducherry released the green budget report, making Puducherry the first Union Territory to adopt the policy innovation of green budgeting. Earlier this year, the UT in its budget session announced green budgeting, gender budgeting, and child budgeting as a triad of nudges towards a more inclusive and sustainable Puducherry. 

Green budgeting is a policy innovation that serves as a planning and assessment tool that can contribute to institutionalizing and integrating environmental sustainability in various government initiatives and promote a system-wide approach.

Through ex-ante planning and ex-post reflection, departments need to reorient their goals, schemes, and policies to become more environmentally and climate sensitive. By doing so, departments could also assess how much a particular department contributes to climate change.

The green budget of the Union Territory increased by 153% from INR 191 crores in the baseline year of FY 2022-23 to INR 483 crores in FY 2023-24. The percentage of the green budget in the identified schemes increased from 7.78% to 16.42%. As a share of total expenditure (revised estimates for FY 2022-23 and budget estimates for FY 2023-24), the green budget component increased from 1.66% to 4.17%. (TERI)

NGT directs UP Pollution Control Board to look into the operation of brick kilns in Deoria

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) directed the  UP Pollution Control Board  and District Magistrate, Deoria to look into the matter of  operation of 375 brick kilns in District Deoria and take such remedial action as may be found necessary in accordance with law and file an action taken report with the Registrar General of this Tribunal within one month.

The said brick kilns are emitting black smoke and are located close to sensitive establishments. No action is taken against pollution caused by the said brick kilns due to influence of higher level officers. The applicant has filed a list of all the brick kilns in question. It is stated that in many cases there are no consents from the State PCB.

On the issue against failure to scientifically manage the solid waste, it was stated that there is water pollution and encroachment in Deoria Nagar Palika Parishad. Garbage is being dumped into the drain. The drain is being encroached from Kotwali crossing to Jalkal Road and Sabji Mandi. Certain other locations are also mentioned. The NGT is of view that the issue can be first looked into by Nagar Palika Parishad, Deoria and action taken in accordance with law. An action taken report be filed with the Registrar General of this Tribunal within one month.

As per Rule 14 of the National Green Tribunal (Practices and Procedures) Rules, 2011, the application has to be based on a single cause of action and an omnibus application against a large number of entities cannot be entertained, without impleading the said affected entities as parties. The bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel (Chairperson), Justice Sudhir Agarwal and Dr.A. Senthil Vel disposed of the six applications. (India Legal Live)

Lokayukta files suo motu case over water crisis in Whitefield

The Karnataka Lokayukta registered a suo motu case on June 3 following a news report in connection to problems faced by residents of Ramagondanahalli near Whitefield. Residents of Ramagondanahalli, Siddapura, and Thubarahalli villages do not have Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) connection, due to which they are dependent on water tankers. 

In the last five months, many villagers have spent nearly ₹50,000, and a large chunk of their earnings goes into arranging water for day-to-day needs. While earlier, their average spending was ₹500 to ₹600 per month, the situation changed after a water supply agent started to transport water to urban areas from these villages from borewells dug rampantly.

The Deputy Lokayukta, Justice K.N. Phaneendra, issuing the order, directed his office to file a suo motu case and said, “An entitlement to receive safe drinking water (potable water) is part of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The right to access clean drinking water is a fundamental right, and it is a duty on the part of the State under Article 21 to provide clean water to citizens.” Deputy Lokayukta, taking cognisance of media reports, directed his office to act suo motu acting under section 7(1) R/w 9(3)(a) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act 1984.

The Lokayukta, making two revenue officials of the BBMP respondents in the case, directed them to immediately restore regular water supply to Ramagondanahalli. (The Hindu)

Odisha constitutes committee to recognise and release traditional millet varieties 

The Odisha government has constituted a ‘Landrace Varietal Release Committee (LVRC)’ for the release of traditional millet varieties as certified seed, the first State to develop a protocol for the release of millets landraces.

The LVRC is mandated to advise the State government on all matters relating to mainstreaming of the landraces on millets, besides reviewing the implementation of government-approved standard operating procedure on landrace millets.

The committee will be responsible for assessing and releasing landraces of millet crops for the State considering the different traits of traditional varieties and community or farmer preferences.

Farmers especially tribals in interior pockets of Odisha grow about 62 varieties of millets. However, farmers in Odisha largely grow finger millets. The State government is currently studying their characters, yield patterns and custodians (farmers).

Realising the importance of highly nutritious and climate-resilient millets in tribal society, the State government launched Millet Mission in 2017 and subsequently in 2022, the programme was expanded to 177 blocks in 30 districts with an additional investment of over ₹2800 crore. The objective behind the mission was to promote millet, incentivise its production and providing market linkage to millet crops. (The Hindu)

This is a roundup of important policy matters from June 1 - June 15, 2023.