9
LEGISLATION
AND INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT
[Water (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Cess Act, Labeling of Environment Friendly
Products, Green Rating Project, USERS Project, Trade and
Environment and ISO 14000, Citizen’s Charter]
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess Act, 1977
Labeling of Environment Friendly Products
Green Rating Project
USERS Project
The Environmental Law Component under Environment Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance (EMCBTA) Project
Citizen's Charter
Details of Business Transacted by the Ministry
Ecology and Environment
Forestry and Wildlife
Details of Clients/Customers
Statement of Services Provided
Single Window Clearance
We have also set up an Information Facilitation Counter (IFC) with the following major objectives:
Details of Grievance Redress Mechanism
Expectation from the Client/Citizen
Provision for Annual Review of the Charter
We Request Central/State Governments/UT Administrations/ Organisations/NGOs/Professional Bodies and other Concerned Organizations To
The Ministry continued with
its activities aimed at creating a comprehensive legal and institutional
infrastructure for safeguarding the environment. These include framing of
rules, notification of standards, recognition of environmental laboratories,
delegation of powers, identification of agencies for management of hazardous
chemicals etc. The existing acts, notifications, 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 and 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. The Water Cess Act is again being amended 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
During the current Budget Session of the Parliament, the
Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Cess
(Amendment) Bill, 2003 was taken up for consideration. The Bill seeks to
augment the resources of Centre and State Pollution Control Boards and
encourage economy in the use of water. The Bill provides for a three-fold
increase in water cess rates, however, without
increasing the rates for domestic purpose. The Bill also seeks to exempt cess on hydel power. It also
seeks to levy water cess on all industrial units
which use water and cause pollution. It also provides for a minimum quantity
level to be notified for exempting categories of industries consuming less
water. The Water Cess Bill has been passed by both
the houses of Parliament.
Labeling 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 labeling for house-hold and other consumer products which meet certain
environmental criteria along with quality requirements of the Indian Standards
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 might in the
protection of the environment. Till date, Ministry has issued 18 notifications
on criterias for different products. 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 second phase
of the Green Rating of the Industry project which was awarded to the Centre for
Science and Environment (CSE),
Three sectors viz. Automobile, Caustic
chlorine and Corporate Environment were covered under the project.
Manufacturers of cars, two and three wheelers and mass transport vehicles are covered
under the automobile sector. The findings of the study in respect of automobile
sector are (i) engine technology in
In the Companies category, Daewoo
received the highest rating, followed by Hyundai and General Motors in the
second and third places respectively whereas in the car segment Matiz was adjudged the environmental friendly vehicle
followed by popular Maruti 800 (Euro II).
Mitsubishi Lancer was adjudged the most
fuel efficient diesel car. The Mercedes Benz E220 has been adjudged the best diesel
passenger car while the Toyota Qualis (Euro II) ranks
as the best multi utility vehicle. Hindustan Motors Ambassador and Mahindra and Mahindra’s Armada
were at the bottom of the pile. The top three eco friendly vehicles are also
small cars because they use lesser material during manufacturing and consume
lesser fuel.
In the two wheeler segment Hero Honda’s Spleandour and CD-100 came out at the top. They scored
above average in terms of vehicle and engine design and are one of the few four
stroke two wheelers fitted with any sort of pollution
control equipment.
Among mass transport vehicles, Ashok Leyland’s Viking CNG bus was the best performer,
while Telco was second. The worst in this segment also came from Ashok Leyland with its diesel fuelled Comet 1611 and Tusker
Torbo tractor.
Rapid urbanization and development has
led to the degradation of environment in urban areas. There is, therefore, a
need for creating a new ‘pressure mechanism’, which highlights the issue and
facilitates information sharing on the subject thereby enabling adoption of
better standards/practices.
The Urban Services Environmental Rating
System (USERS) Project funded by UNDP, executed by Ministry and implemented by Tata Energy Research Institute, addressed some of these
problems. The project aims to develop an analytical tool to measure the
performance with respect to basic services delivery in local bodies (Delhi Jal Board, Municipal Corporation of
In order to arrive at a holistic picture
considering all related aspects, Performance Measurement Indicators (PMIs) were developed for all the three basic services –
water supply, sewerage and solid waste management – under three different
categories: Management indicators, Technical indicators and Financial
indicators. Separate manuals on performance measurement and management
information system have also been developed for the four agencies in the pilot
cities covering all the three municipal services.
The project recommends different
approaches for promoting, developing and sustaining the concept of PMI systems
in local governments: legislative and regulatory mechanisms; market-based
financial instrument and/or; involving community based pressure groups. The
project recommends the implementation and validation of the proposed MIS system
and performance measurement framework on a pilot scale followed by its
replication in other cities.
Details about the project and its
executive summary are available at www.terin.org/users.
The Ministry also deals with the area of
trade and environment Workshops/seminars and symposia have been organized on
policy matters relating to trade and environment. The Ministry of Commerce and
Industry is the nodal Ministry for Trade and Environment.
Environmental Services is emerging as a
new sector. Import and/or export of various types of services needs to be
studied thoroughly and carefully before making any “requests” or “offers” to
offer WTO member countries. In view of this, Ministry of Environment and
Forests has initiated studies, titled, WTO and Liberalisation
of Environmental Goods & Services : An Assessment;
Negotiation on trade in Environmental Services and Preparation of a background
paper for Assistance in Negotiations on Trade in Environmental Services.
Outcome of these studies will be taken into consideration before a decision is
taken on the issue of Environment Services.
The details regarding environmental law
component under the EMCBTA Project are given in Chapter 11.
The Citizen’s Charter of the Ministry
has been prepared on the guidelines provided by the Department of
Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG) during the year. The Citizen’s
Charter is now available in the Ministry’s website http://envfor.nic.in. The Citizen’s Charter of the Ministry are as follows:
Our Vision
The Ministry of Environment and 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, meteorological 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 wastewater 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.
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
- 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
- All proposals which are
complete in all respects and which relate to diversion of forestland are
disposed of within the stipulated time limit of 90 days from the date of
receipt of proposal under Forest Conservation Act guidelines.
-
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 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
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 and
various 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:
Joint
Secretary (Admn.)
Ministry of
Environment & Forests,
4th Floor, Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex,
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.
- Send proposals for our schemes in the
prescribed proforma,
- Complete the prescribed formalities
before forwarding the proposals,
- Visit our website (http://envfor.nic.in) for further details, and
- Contact the Hon’ble
Minister for Environment & Forests, Hon’ble
Minister for State for Environment & Forests, the under-mentioned officers
and the Divisional Heads as given in the Annexure IX, if need arises:
Shri T.R. Baalu,
Hon’ble Minister for Environment
& Forests,
Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex,
Tel. :
24361727 / 24368633
Email: mef@menf.delhi.nic.in
Shri Dilip Singh Ju
Dev,
Hon’ble Minister of State for
Environment & Forests,
Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex,
Shri K.C. Misra,
Secretary (E&F)
Ministry of Environment
& Forests,
Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex,
Tel. :
24360721 / 24361896
Email: kcmisra35@hotmail.com
Shri V.K. Duggal,
Special Secretary,
Ministry of Environment
& Forests,
6th
Floor, Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex,
Tel. :
24361308
Email: ss-mef@nic.in
Shri M.K. Sharma
Director General of Forests
and Special Secretary,
Ministry of Environment
& Forests,
Paryavaran Bhawan,
CGO Complex,
Tel. : 24361509, 24363957