BJP, Congress Address Climate Change In Manifestos & Now Is The Time To Walk The Talk

India＊s two biggest political parties 每 Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) 每 have released their manifestos as polls are underway in different parts of the country. Interestingly, this is for the first time that a grave issue like climate change has found space on their respective manifestos.

On April 3, India＊s oldest political party, Congress, released its manifesto highlighting the NYAY scheme and also underlining an action agenda that will place India at the forefront of the battle against global warming and the protection of environment.

Congress

In its poll promise, the grand old party stated to constitute, by law, an independent, empowered and transparent Environment Protection Authority (EPA) to establish, monitor and enforce environmental standards and regulations. The EPA will replace all other bodies that currently exercise jurisdiction and powers.

Plastic waste imports 每 Despite a ban on plastic waste into India, the influx of PET bottles has quadrupled from 2017 to 2018 thanks to legal loophole says a Delhi-based environmentalist organisation, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Smriti Manch (PDUSM).

Indian firms import plastic waste from China, Italy, Japan and Malawi for recycling. Consequently, the imports of PET bottle scrap and flakes have increased from 12,000 tonnes in FY 16-17 to 48,000 tonnes in FY 17-18 growing at 290 per cent. India has already imported 25,000 MT in the first 3 months of FY 18-19.

Congress has said that the party, if elected to power, ※will impose a complete ban on the import of all types of waste§.

Air pollution 每 The party recognised air pollution as ※national public health emergency§.

BCCL

Land & Water pollution 每 Talking of curbing land and water pollution that pose a potential fatal threat on the citizens of this country, the party said that it will ※include measures for the conservation of ecosystems and the bio-diversity and wildlife contained therein, without affecting the legitimate rights of local communities.§

It has also promised to stop, fully and finally, the discharge of effluents into the rivers and clean all rivers of India.

Conserving Himalayan Range & Western Ghats 每 Congress promised to work closely with the State Governments concerned to preserve the rich bio-diversity of the Himalayan range and the Western Ghats. However, the livelihood opportunities of the people living in these mountains will be protected.

Forest cover 每 The party plans to increase the forest cover from the current level of 21 per cent to 25 per cent by the year 2025. It also ※promises to preserve wildlife habitats and manage and minimise human〞wildlife conflict and award compensation for the loss of human lives.§

BJP

The BJP Manifesto titled ＆Sankalp Patra＊ highlighted commitment to nationalism ＆nation first＊ and zero tolerance towards terrorism apart from stressing on Ram Mandir and free hand to military.

The manifesto also talked about climate change and laid out plans and strategies to conserve forest and environment and tackle climate change.

Air pollution 每 The BJP emphasised that the government, in the past five years, have evolved technologically better strategies and devices to map the level of pollution in cities and rivers and have taken effective steps to reduce the level of pollution in major cities, including the national capital. It states that the National Clean Air Plan will be converted into a Mission and we will focus on 102 most polluted cities in the country.

BCCL

It promises to reduce the level of pollution in each of the mission cities by at least 35 per cent in the next five years.

Protecting the Himalayas 每 The party said that if it comes to power again it will ensure the Himalayan States are provided special financial assistance in the form of a 'Green Bonus' to facilitate the protection and promotion of forests in those states.

According to a recent study by Greenpeace, 22 of the world＊s 30 worst cities for air pollution are in India, and New Delhi is ranked the world＊s most polluted capital.

Traffic-related pollution caused asthma among 3,50,000 children in India in 2015, second only to China, said a Lancet study.

India has been trying to achieve its target of keeping 33 per cent of its geographical area under forest cover for decades, but the 2017 State of Forest report shows that it is still struggling to get above 22 per cent.

India has seen rapid deforestation in recent years, primarily due to its focus on economic development. According to government data, 14,000sq km of forests were cleared to accommodate 23,716 industrial projects across India over the last 30 years.

India is facing a severe loss of habitat due to its emphasis on development.

With election promises, we have only made a modest beginning and there＊s a long way to go. Nonetheless, it＊s a good sign that Indian politicians have realised the importance of climate change and its impact on people.

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