[Policy and Law, Citizen’s Charter]
The Ministry continued various activities aiming at creating a comprehensive legal and institutional infrastructure for safeguarding the environment. Such activities include framing of rules, notification of standards, recognition of environmental laboratories, delegation of powers, identification of agenda for management of hazardous chemicals etc. The existing acts, laws, rules etc are also amended from time to time to make them more effective.
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977 was enacted to provide for the levy and collection of cess on water consumed by specified industries and local authorities to augment the resources of the Central and State Pollution Control Boards. The existing rates of water cess were revised in 1991 as the responsibility and workload of Pollution Control Boards increased considerably and funds available with these Boards had not kept pace either with increase in costs or with the overall commitment involving heavy financial liabilities. There is a proposal to amend the Water Cess Act to enhance the water cess rates for augmenting the resources of Pollution Control Boards. A Bill in this regard has been introduced in the Lok Sabha on 15.12.2000.
Labelling of Environment Friendly Products
The Government has instituted a scheme for labeling of Environment Friendly Products as "ECOMARK" with a view to provide accreditation and labelling for house-hold and other consumer products which meet certain environmental criteria along with quality requirements of the India Standards Institute for those products. Any product, which is made, used or disposed of in a way that significantly reduces the harm it would otherwise cause the environment, could be considered as a Environment Friendly Product. This is a social scheme to help consumers to contribute their mite in the protection of the environment. Till date, this Ministry has issued 18 notifications on different products criteria. A brochure on ECOMARK has been brought out for awareness building. Steps for dissemination of information to popularize the scheme are also being taken up by the Ministry.
The Ministry awarded a project on the green rating of the industry to the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi. The project has been sponsored by the UNDP. Rating serves as a means to recognize good environmental performance as well as improvements in performance of the unit. By simplifying and condensing environmental risk into a single indicator, ‘Rating’ helps stakeholders understand environmental risk issues better. It enables them to incorporate environmental risk criteria in their decision-making processes. The project would help in capacity building by conducting training workshops, seminars, conference, etc. on the issues pertaining to the industry and environment interface. This would facilitate the change in attitude of the stakeholders and the industry on the need to support the proactive industry. Reports on environmental rating of Indian automobile sector has been released during the year.
Trade and Environment and ISO 14000
The Ministry is also dealing with another important area of trade and environment. Workshop/seminars and symposia have been organized on the policy matters. The Ministry of Commence and Industry is the nodal Ministry for trade and environment.
The ISO 14000 Series provide guidelines to industry to have environmental management systems to facilitate best supporting technologies and environmental aspects such as eco-labelling, life cycle analysis and product standards. For awareness building, some programmes have been organized for government, industry, NGOs, and others. So far, 450 industries, including other organizations have taken ISO 14000 certification. Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) is the nodal agency for ISO 14000 certification and other related matters.
The Environmental Law Component under Environment Management Capacity Building (EMCB) Project
The details about environmental law component under EMCB are given in Chapter 10.
A Citizen’s charter relating to the Ministry has been prepared on the guidelines provided by the Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) during the year. The Charter was examined by the Core Group set up by the DARPG and was approved. The details of the Charter of the Ministry are as follows:
The Ministry of Environment & Forests is the nodal agency in the administrative structure of the Central Government for planning, promotion, coordination and overseeing the implementation of various environmental and forestry programmes. The Ministry is also the nodal agency in the country for the multilateral and bilateral co-operation in the field of sustainable development.
Conservation and survey of flora, fauna, forests and wildlife;
Prevention and control of pollution;
Afforestation and regeneration of degraded areas; and
Protection of environment in order to promote sustainable development.
We fulfill the objectives through
Environmental impact assessment,
Eco-regeneration ,
Assistance to organizations implementing environmental and forestry programmes,
Promotion of environmental and forestry research, extension, education and training,
Dissemination of environmental information.,
International cooperation; and
Creation of environmental awareness among all sectors of the country’s population.
Details of Business Transacted by the Ministry
We strive for conservation and protection of:
Initiating measures including legislative measures for environmental protection and conservation;
Establishing information systems for monitoring quality of environment,
Drawing appropriate guidelines for environmental impact assessment of projects,
Promoting environmental protection and conservation through research and development and other programmes including field surveys, studies, etc,
Management of natural resources in order to protect livelihood and productivity,
Development of standards in respect of new categories of industries and review of existing standards keeping in view the techno-economic situation, assimilating and carrying capacity of the region, meteoro-logical condition, health implications, etc,
Continuation of on-going programmes on water and air quality monitoring through Central Pollution Control Board in coordination with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees,
Continuation of activities for control of vehicular and noise pollution,
Ensuring pollution control compliance in 17 categories of highly polluting industries and industries discharging waste water into rivers, lakes, coastal waters, etc,
Environmental epidemiological studies in specific areas,
Control of environmental pollution by executing plans for prevention of pollution in all major rivers of the country as well as through Lake Conservation Programmes,
Promotion of "cleaner production" by adopting cleaner technologies, and
Establishing centres of excellence and institutions in the field of environmental conservation.
Conservation of existing forests,
Encouraging afforestation, including social forestry and other forest developmental activities,
Checking further degradation of forests by judicious use of resources,
Rehabilitate degraded forests and adjoining lands to increase their sustained productivity,
A centrally sponsored scheme is in operation on 50 : 50 sharing basis between the State Governments and the Central Government to augment production of fuel-wood and fodder in the 242 identified fuel-wood deficient districts of the country to meet the needs of the communities,
Intensification of forest research towards development of the forest resources and its sustainable management,
Wildlife conservation and research through creation of Protected Area Network,
Actively promote people’s participation, especially women, through Joint Forest Management, and
A concept of Forest Development Agency (FDA) is being implemented to take up rural development works in the forest-fringe villages as pilot project in the selected territorial/wildlife divisions in all States/Uts, which have adopted Joint Forest Management Resolution.
We serve every organization, public or private and all citizens. We also provide financial assistance to both governmental/non-governmental registered organizations in respect of the programmes of eco-regeneration, eco-development, afforestation, environmental research, field demonstration projects for integrated ecological improvements, organization of seminars/symposia, workshops in environment related subjects, formation of eco-clubs, capacity building and infrastructural development, creation of environmental awareness, publication of books related to environment, setting up of environmental information system (ENVIS) for collection, collation, retrieval, storage and dissemination of environmental information on specific subject-areas relating to environment to all concerned.
We also support the exemption of custom duty on specific equipment for safety in chemical industry and for use in pollution control under the provisions of relevant Act. Besides, exemptions on income tax under the provisions of the relevant Act is also given on donations received for activities leading to conservation of natural resources.
Statement of Services Provided
Programmes, which attempt in arriving at appropriate solutions to environmental problems and to regenerate environmental natural resources,
Programmes for improving the quality of life of the people living below the poverty line,
Voluntary agencies, NGOs, universities and research institutions for environmental research, eco-development, conservation, environmental education and awareness, dissemination of environmental information,
Research in the areas of environmental sciences and technology to mitigate problems arising from degradation of environment,
Afforestation, soil conservation, land use planning preservation of flora and fauna, control of air, water, noise and land pollution, regeneration of degraded ecosystems, action plans to control pollution in critically polluted areas and major cities of the country, Urban Management Plans, and
Augment the requisite manpower, collection, collation and dissemination of environmental information and creation of environmental awareness at the national level.
For Clearance under Forest Conservation Act
Apply directly to State Governments for diversion of forestland for non-forest purposes. For diversion of forestland upto 20 hectares, State Governments will forward the application to Regional Offices located at Lucknow, Shillong, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Bhubaneshwar and Bangalore as the case may be and the proposals above 20 hectare will be forwarded by the State Government to the Ministry. The Regional Offices have been empowered to clear the proposals upto 5 hectares, except in respect of proposals for regularization of encroachment and mining. Detailed guidelines including proforma for application and for the forest clearance have been laid down.
All proposals which are complete in all respects and which relate to diversion of forest land are disposed of within the stipulated time limit of 90 days from the date of receipt of proposal under Forest Conservation Act guidelines.
Forest clearance of projects along with stipulated conditions is displayed on the Ministry’s website at URL: http://envfor.nic.in. These are also included in the bi-monthly newsletter of the Ministry, entitled "ENVIRONEWS". This newsletter could be obtained directly from the Ministry or could be downloaded from the Ministry’s website directly by the user. No subscription fee is required to get this newsletter.
For Clearance in Respect of Industrial Projects under Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification
The proposals for seeking the environmental clearance except under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) Notification and mining cases may be sent directly to the Ministry. The mining cases and cases of environmental clearances under Coastal Regulation Zone Notification are to be sent to Ministry through the State Government. Guidelines and questionnaire are available for various sectors such as industry, thermal power, mining, river valley, hotels & beach resorts, ports and harbours and roads, etc. The proposals have to be submitted in a floppy/CD as well as in hard copy. Detailed information in this regard can be seen at Ministry’s website at URL: http://envfor.nic.in.
The proposals for environmental clearance and which are complete in all respects are considered and decisions taken within 90 days of receipt of the requisite information.
When a project requires both environmental clearance as well as approval under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, proposal for both are processed independent of each other. However, environmental clearance is accorded only after forest clearance is accorded in applicable cases by the concerned Division of the Ministry.
We have also set up an Information Facilitation Counter (IFC) with the following major objectives:
The user agencies, NGOs, voluntary bodies, could seek assistance from the IFC or access Ministry’s website at URL: http://envfor.nic.in.
The IFC Counter is located in the ground floor of the Ministry and could be accessed through telephone No. 4361669 - Extension 209.
Disseminating information to the general public in respect of various schemes of the Ministry, procedures and guidelines for submitting applications seeking financial assistance, accession of website of the Ministry various types of publications published by the Ministry from time to time, etc.
Details of Grievance Redress Mechanism
A Grievances Cell has been constituted to attend to the complaints of public regarding environmental problems. Joint Secretary (Administration) has been nominated as Public Grievance Officer of this Ministry,
Public Grievance Officer and other officers of the level of Deputy Secretary and above will be available on every Wednesday from 10.00 AM to 1.00 PM, to receive and hear grievances of the public, and
Visitors to our office will be treated with courtesy and heard patiently to facilitate solving their problems.
In Case of non-fulfillment of the commitments, the users should approach the following officer:
Shri D.D. Verma,
Joint Secretary (Admn)
Ministry of Environment & Forests,
4th Floor, Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex, Lodi Road,
New Delhi – 110003.
Telephone: 436 1613
Email: ddverma@nic.in
Expectation from the Client/Citizen
We expect every organization, public or private and all citizens
To interact with the Ministry and its attached institutions to improve their efficiencies,
To imbibe the spirit of conservation of natural resources and respect for the laws of nature,
To honour and abide by the Rules and Regulations framed by this Ministry towards protection of environment and flora and fauna,
To share information with other citizens in order to encourage sustainable development and improve our habitat,
To offer suggestions to streamline the functioning of the existing institutions, promote accountability and responsibility, and
To adopt the precepts of "Environmental Ethics".
Provision for Annual Review of the Charter
The Services provided by the Ministry as per the charter will be reviewed annually.
The timely redressal of public grievances are being monitored by the Public Grievance Officer
Grievances received in the Ministry and their follow-up are proposed to be reviewed annually by the Public Grievance Cell.
Steps are being undertaken to take remedial measures for quick disposal of complaints, specifically on those which are of repetitive nature.
1. Shri T.R. Baalu,
Hon’ble Minister for Environment & Forests,
Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodi Road,
New Delhi - 110 003.
Phone: 4361727 / 4368633
Email: mef@menf.delhi.nic.in
2. Shri P.V. Jayakrishnan,
Secretary (E&F)
Ministry of Environment & Forests,
Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodi Road,
New Delhi - 110 003.
Phone: 4360721 / 4361896
Email: secy@menf.delhi.nic.in
3. Shri K.C. Misra,
Special Secretary,
Ministry of Environment & Forests,
6th Floor, Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex,
Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110003.
Telephone: 4361308
Email: kcmisra35@hotmail.com