The government argued for a plan for sustainable development, balancing the need to protect the environment and continued growth at the third World Conference on Environment organised by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in New Delhi.

Finance minister Arun Jaitley pointed out that the Indian society was at a “critical juncture” with challenges like pulling out 25-30% of population from below the poverty line, urbanisation, creation of physical infrastructure across the country.

“What are the best practices a society needs to follow to ensure that this balance between growth of the country and protection of environment can take place,” he asked.

Attorney general Mukul Rohatgi took the example of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms introduced 25 years ago. He highlighted that these regulations disabled creation of appropriate infrastructure around the coasts, making neighbouring countries like Thailand, Vietnam more tourism friendly than India. “If they can do it, it’s time for us, the government and courts and stakeholders to have some kind of an audit and then take a call. Why should we not have a consultative process between the stakeholders in advance. For a mega project, involve the National Green Tribunal, government, (project) proponent and stakeholders — it avoids a catastrophic (legal) challenge that comes in after millions of dollars put in,” he suggested.

Rohatgi added that this was the need of the hour to ensure that there was no “legacy of challenge to every project”.

Chief justice of India J.S. Khehar, however, countered this by saying that courts interfered only when industrialisation was allowed without adequate measures to protect the environment.

He added that the issue of the environment ought not to be seen as a competition, referring to the issue of tourism and the CRZ norms. “When the attorney general referred to CRZ, and the comparison with tourist spots in India and otherwise, it seemed as if we were competing with somebody else. Environment is not a matter of competition. Environment is not we and they. It is humanity at large,” he said.

President Pranab Mukherjee, on the other hand, said that there was no “inherent contradiction between environmental protection and developmental requirement if we can check our lust for appropriation beyond our requirement.”

In doing so, the President posed four questions for the other sessions of the conference to deliberate — to what extent can we allow environmental degradation; what are we going to leave behind for future generation; what steps can be taken to curb the perils of environmental degradation; and can we completely squander the assets received from forefathers without leaving anything for our future generations?

The conference, the third of its kind, continued over Saturday and Sunday with ten technical sessions on various issues like air pollution, water pollution, economics and clean technology, and the role of courts and tribunals.

(Live Mint)

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The figures are stark. Nearly 1.8 billion people – or about 25 % of the world’s population, do not have access to safe drinking water and an estimated two-thirds of the world’s population may face water shortages by 2025.

In India, more than 81 percent of adults, well over the global average, say they have changed their behavior as a result of water concerns, according to research conducted for Ford Motor Company as part of the Ford 2017 Trend Report.

Water in India is profoundly interlinked with the tradition of country having social and economic undertones. Reckoned as second most populated country in the World with over 1.2 billion people (Census, 2011); India’s natural resources are under tremendous pressure, with water being the most vital amongst them. Increasing population has decreased the per capita water availability from 2,309 cu m (Sharma & Bharat 2009) in 1991 to 1,588 cu m in 2010, (CWC, 2010).

If taken into account the projection of population growth by 2025 the per capita water availability can further decrease t 1,000 cu m leading to a situation called ‘water scarcity’.

At present, India does not fall under the category of a ‘water scarce nation’ but is stated as a “Water stressed” nation. Many towns and villages in various parts of the country are fighting with water stress. Ironically, the area where water is available, the quality of water is a serious concern. In the recent Union Budget 2017-18 there were various policy initiatives introduced such as UDAY, amendments in National Electricity Act, new solar RPO target for states, bio fuel policy, small hydro policy, offshore wind policy, and new hydrocarbon policy. These changes will help boost the ecosystem and have the ability to attract global investors to India. “We regularly read about water mismanagement and clashes over water resources between states, I see then next wars, if it happens will be fought for water. Reforms are required and the focus should be to reduce non- revenue water, groundwater exploitation and steps should be taken for waste water controlling. Today, the world is keeping a close eye on India as they would like to see how it can translate words into actions as well accelerate the reform momentum for more sustainable and comprehensive growth,” said Mr Sajiv Nath, Managing Director, Endress + Hauser, India.

Varanai, an organisation, is working towards sustainable development of villages through people’s participation. Through watershed management, afforestation, women empowerment, education, health, sanitation and imparting training to villagers for Modern Agricultural practices. The purpose is development, making them self-reliant, sensitizing the community, and encouraging people’s participation through training and awareness camps. At present, 90,000 hectares of wasteland productive have been rendered and united over 1, 85, 314 villagers throughout Maharashtra. Through Vanarai’s facilitation, the rural community in Maharashtra from Western Maharashtra, Marathwada, Konkan, and Vidarbha region under the leadership of Gram Panchayats and affiliated NGOs, have planted more than 20 million plants of various species.

Most of us do not realise that unlike electricity there are no alternative sources of water. In the history of mankind’s evolution, no new water source was ever found. Being habituated to having water all around us, we have forgotten that unlike energy we have not found new sources of water and are not making any new water. What we have is all we have. The climate changes have resulted in severe droughts all over the world whether it is in California, São Paolo and all across India. It is now important for us to take a serious note of this impending crisis and work towards leaving a better place for future generations.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

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The CSR Journal Team