Environment

E-WASTE

  • Based on a survey carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board, it was estimated that 1,416,800 tones of E-waste was generated in the country in the year 2005.
  • From the result of that survey it was extrapolated that the quantity of waste will increase to 8, 00,000 tones by 2012.

MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE (MSW) MANAGEMENT

  • The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC), has notified the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) (Management and Handling) Rules,
  • The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is coordinating with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to implement the Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2000.
  • As per the MSW Rules, the municipalities are responsible for implementing the provisions of the rules in their respective territories.
  • The SPCBS/PCCs are responsible for monitoring the compliance as per provisions / standards specified under the MSW rules.
  • Based on the information received from SPCBS, CPCB compiles the ‘Consolidated Annual Review report’ every year and forwards to the Central Government.
  • Based on annual reports, a total of 71 landfills have been constructed in the country.
  • Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Maharashtra and Kerala have established Waste-to-Energy plants including Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) and Biogas plants.

NATIONAL RIVER CONSERVATION DIRECTORATE (NRCD)

NRCD functioning under the Ministry is engaged in implementing the River and Lake Action Plans under the National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) and National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP) by providing financial assistance to the state governments.

  • National River Conservation Plan (NRCP): The objective is to improve the water quality of the rivers, through the implementation of pollution abatement efforts.
  • National Wetland Conservation Programme (NWCP): NWCP was initiated in 1987 with the objectives to lay down policy guidelines for conservation and management of wetlands in the country and to prepare an inventory of Indian wetlands.

CENTRAL WETLANDS REGULATORY AUTHORITY

  • Central government notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 dated December 4, 2010.
  • As per the provision under Rule 5 of these wetlands rules, Central Wetlands Regulatory Authority (CWRA) has been constituted under the chairmanship of Secretary (MOEFCC).
  • The main functions of CWRA are: appraise proposals for identification of new wetlands: to enforce the provisions contained under these rules along with other laws in force; issue directions for the conservation, preservation of wetlands to state governments; and review the list of wetlands.
  • Based on the recommendations of National Wetlands Committee, 115 wetlands have been identified so far for conservation under this Programme.

RAMSAR CONVENTION

  • 26 sites have been designated as Ramsar sites in the country.
  • Six more wetlands are under process of being designated as Ramsar sites.
  • India represented Wetlands International on the Board of Directors and was elected as member of Supervisory Council of Wetlands International twice which is a partner organization of the Ramsar Convention.
  • India is also a partner to the Himalayan initiatives along with other Himalayan countries.
  • Indian delegation participated in Ramsar Convention COP-II meeting held at Bucharest, Romania in 2012 and intervened in almost all 22 resolutions passed.

 NATIONAL AFFORESTATION AND ECO-DEVELOPMENT BOARD (NAEB)

  • The National Afforestation and Eco-development Board (NAEB) was set up in August
  • Special attention is also given by NAEB to the regeneration of degraded forest areas and lands adjoining forest areas, national parks, sanctuaries and other protected areas as well as the ecologically fragile areas like the Western Himalayas, Aravalis, Western Ghats, etc.

NATIONAL AFFORESTATION PROGRAMME (NAP)

  • National Afforestation Programme (NAP) Scheme continues to be the flagship scheme of NAEB, as it provides support to the Forest Development Agencies (FDAs) which are main organs to move forward institutionalization of Joint Forest Management.
  • The FDA has been conceived and established as a federation of Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCS) at the Forest Division level to undertake holistic development in the forestry sector with people’s participation.
  • This decentralized three-tier institutional structure (SFDA, FDA and JFMC) allows greater participation of the community, both in planning and implementation to improve forests and livelihoods of the people living in and areas around forests.
  • The village is reckoned as a unit of planning implementation and all activities under the programme are conceptualized at the village level.
UPSC Prelims 2025 Notes