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It is well known that the wetlands have rich biodiversity than any other habitat of the world. Based on the approval of National Wetlands Committe held on 16.03.2009, total 115 Wetlands have been identified to conserve Wetlands under National Wetland Conservation program judiciously. Where as almost every village consists of at least one small or big Wetlands, which gives shelter to amphibians as well as aquatic lives. These Wetlands are under threat due to echroachment or siltation. Hence, before going to loss their (village level Wetlands) identity, we should have a very micro level policy to conserve those Wetlands, which is not yet identified judiciously.

Your feed back may give an idea to restore such unkown Wetlands (Native of Creatures).

Dear all

Educational institutions at all levels across the country will celebrate November 11 as the 'National Education Day', commemorating the birthday of Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad, an eminent educationist and the first Union Minister of Education of independent India. As India's Education Minister, Azad oversaw the establishment of a national education system with free primary education and modern institutions of higher education.

now a days he have added our Environment subject from Primary school to PG level. so why can't we say Nov 11th is National Education & Environment(NEE) day.

if it is celebrated like NEE day it is good & Envi concern now ! what you say

Globally, in the name of progress and development, indigenous people who inhabit world's richest regions in natural resources, face the gloomy prospect of dispossession and displacement due to mining, oil and gas development, large dams, plantations, industrial farming, industries, thermal plants….

Out of planet's 200 eco-regions or biodiversity hotspots, 80% are inhabited by indigenous people. There is a strong and definite correlation between regions of high biodiversity and regions inhabited by indigenous people. Indigenous people's attitude towards nature and their vast amount of ecological knowledge resulting from a long history of managing the environment has played a crucial role in the conservation of biological diversity on earth.

In India too, the tribal belt that stretches from Gujarat in the west, up to West Bengal in the east, and encompassing the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand overlaps with the map of natural resource-rich India. For example, the state of Jharkand meaning “forest tract” and populated by 30 % Adivasis is the leadingproducer of mineral wealth in the country: iron ore, coal, copper ore, mica, bauxite, graphite, limestone, and uranium. Jharkand accounts for 40% of the mineral resources of India. The total value of mineral production is amounted to over Rs. 3000crores.

And what it costs in human suffering to rape Mother Earth and extract those Rs. 3000 crores has been best documented in the following films that expose most truthfully the injustice that has been done to indigenous people in the name of development.

Read more... and see Buddha weeps in Jadugoda

as we now, we indians are font of celebration of diwali, we wll go for bursting crakers & lot of things to express our joy. but being the Envi. concerned people we also not go for that and make aware of the adverse things to our neibours. can we pledge?is it possible?

I hope posiible , if we come forward ,we are indians we will become role model to the world.

The Energy Glut: The planet is getting hotter and its population is getting fatter and fossil
fuel energy use is the principal cause of both. This is the claim
that Phil Edwards and I make in our new book ‘The Energy Glut’
that will be launched in London next week (6pm Wednesday 3rd
November,LSHTM, Keppel Street, London). We will call on
climate change negotiators at next month’s climate talks in
Cancun Mexico to look around them and see what fossil fuel energy
use is doing to Mexicans’ waistlines and to their health.

Car use
has decimated physical activity in Mexico.
Road death is the second leading cause of healthy life years
lost; the capital is one of the most polluted cities in the world
where a fifth of commuters spend over two hours each day in
gridlock, and then with physical activity at an all time low, the
food and beverage industry have pounced on Mexicans like a pack
of dogs – perhaps not surprising in a country that elected a Coca
Cola boss to lead them as President.

The new book
adds evidence to the claim that
reducing fossil fuel energy use is good for the planet and good
for health. The decarbonisation of
towns and cities could end the global obesity epidemic and
greatly improve health and well-being – people could enjoy moving
rather than being moved and oil wars could become a thing of the
past.

All proceeds from the book go to an organization of victims of road traffic crashes.

Please consider reading it!

Ian Roberts

Professor of Public Health

University of London

Links:
http://www.zedbooks.co.uk/book.asp?bookdetail=4361

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Energy-Glut-Politics-Fatness-Overheating/dp/1848135181

A government of India’s initiative-QCI’s NABET scheme of accreditation of EIA consultancy organization for improvement of quality in EIA studies to protect & conserve the environment is appreciable step taken by Govt. of India through the Ministry of Environment & Forest. People who are interested in environmental profession for quality and ethically working for conserving & protecting environment by their business welcome and accept the scheme of NABET accreditation, but at the same time people engaged in revenue business through the environmental consultancy are now at to act to force against the action. There are many aspects of such imbalance in the implementation of the scheme. In August & December 2009 as well March, June & September 2010 vide various circular (not Notification under EPA 1986) Ministry of Environment & Forest has declared the scheme as mandatory requirement for EIA consultancy. As the process of accreditation is a time taking process, they allowed only selected consultants to present and practice the EIA consultancy work. For this point a action of a group of people to challenge the scheme can be started considering lot of weaker points of the scheme and circulars issued in support of the scheme. As of now, some people are stepping ahead with the flag of leadership and under the leadership of the people many other consultants are joining the skirmish of survival of their EIA business.

I being a person having interest in achieving the leadership position in scientific research by being a professional scientist through the consultancy work for innovative & profitable scientific research & solution for Environmental Management as well as Cleaner Production, have initiated the career with job in as renowned Educational institute then stepped forward with job in some private environmental organization practicing in field as environmental consultant & auditors. From beginning of the career I noticed a severe ignorance of environmental ethic in business by the owner or head or authority in charge of the firms. From the point of my first step in career I realized and faced a powerful suppression of my view and operation. Ignoring all the negative approach I keep stepping forward with a new mission of studying the business aspects of environmental consultant and finally I have been able to create a position in market with the view of quality work for environmental protection and profitable business. During the phase of establishment I have came across many private & government consultancy firms and noticed that hardly two – three firms are ethically working in business and other are just doing a REVENUE BUSINESS by environmental practices with minimum 70-80% profit which is officially accounted as 20-30%. The gap in the practiced & accounted profit is the expenses likely to be done for the environmental services which are not done actually and the reports are prepared based on the previous experiences or references. This is the key element of oppose of majority of environmental consultant for any government action taken for betterment-improvement-protection-conservation of environment. On the same platform of environmental practices, industries are demanding the quality work but a firm with their significant presence of few years in market, turnover of few crores and owning extraordinarily designed offices with attractive interiors and resources are not allowing the quality to come up or suppressing the firms delivering quality.

This is not a story for illustration of the nature or business of the environmental consultants but it is the discussion of NABET scheme and allied Legal issues - Implications. As mentioned in inception, the MoEF has issued a circular for proponents/Industries as well as EIA Consultant informing the mandatory requirement of NABET accreditation. As the circular showed compulsory accreditation, it has attracted many legal issues and such issues shall be treated seriously and immediately by MoEF to keep the scheme in place for longer time with continuous improvement in the scheme to bring up the quality of EIA studies, environment of our nation as well as industrial development in India. At this point, it is to be noted that the NABET scheme implementation need to be erected with some important changes to make it fit in legal terms. At present it seems to be a step of MoEF for benefit of particular parties. It is also being clear from various acts & rules that the scheme can not be implemented with compulsory requirement like similar schemes of quality & standards- ISOs. As the NABET is very similar to ISO it is voluntary by nature and it is just a action accepted by particular parties and government can not force any parties for acquiring the certification. As per EPA the only legally supported scheme is accreditation of Environmental Laboratory under Section-12, Subsection-1, clause -(a) & (b) and Section-13, of EPA-1986. MoEF has not cleared this issues in the circulars and other guideline for NABET. The question arises here for consultants and MoEF. Instead of NABET the some scheme with similar provisions shall be anounced under Subsection-1, Clause (a) & (b) and subsection-2 of Section-12 together with Section-13 & 14 of EPA-1986. Such action will have greater value & complete legal form of scheme. However, the issue of NABET is of importance to discuss under the article, i am not inscribing on the provisions of EPA for recognition of Environmental Firm for EIA & other environmental activities. The major issues of discussion under this peice of discussion note are the questions arising at present for NABET as following:

• Is the QCI’s scheme for accreditation of EIA consultancy Organizations a right & legal action?
• Can MoEF force or demand for compulsory certification of the NABET under the scheme for EIA consultancy organization?
• How MoEF make this action or requirement – NABET certification for EIA consultancy a mandatory requirement?
• Can the consultants go for legal actions against the scheme?
• Can MoEF justify the scheme as mandatory requirement under legal provisions?

We as a team of techno-scientific and legal professional have initiated a deep and thorough study for the legal options from view of consultant & MoEF, further action required or possible to make the scheme a mandatory requirement and future, effectiveness & outcome of the scheme and finally effectiveness for upbringing of QUALITY OF EIA which the main aim of scheme. We studied many legal aspects for the scheme referring The Constitution of India, The Environment Protection Act, The Consumer Protection Act, The Code of Criminal Procedure, Indian Penal Code, The Companies act, The Limitation Act. As it is listed we studied many legal aspects which lead us in depth with non-environmental legal provision enacted in India. The legal actions against the scheme also attracts the applicability of Constitution of India, CPC, IPC,CP, LA beside of EPA & related rules & notification. At the stage of present, the scheme is a voluntary by legal nature and no one can force one to accept the scheme and no one can reject the work of a person who has not acquired or accepted the scheme. If any of the two possibilities come in to a real practice at any stage of one’s business, one can frame suite against the scheme and / or the party or parties who has compel or forced to accept the scheme or who has rejected to accept a work done by one not having the accreditation under the scheme. The present probability of the legal movement of the consultants is to file a suit against MoEF and its officials and EAC. This in proceeding may lead to cancelation of the scheme, removal of the personnel of MoEF & EAC (if demanded by the consultant in their suit) and grant of freedom to work as EIA consultant without NABET certification. However, some actions, if taken timely before such suit, can make the side of MOEF positive. Such action involves sequential steps of incorporation of provisions in EPA & related notification, circular & guidelines as possibly below:

a. Provision to have an association or in-house environmental laboratory accredited under EPA 1986 for EIA consultancy work instead of NABL (BEST ACTION)

OR

Provision of QCI Requirement through NOTIFICATION under EPA,1986 (Best Option Which is difficult considering the other laws & Legal provision prevailing in Indian Legal Framework)

b. Provision for approved TOR with requirement of necessary standards, certification and accreditation for EIA Monitoring work not EIA consultant. (BEST AND MOST EFFECTIVE ACTION)

c. Provision of Environmental Laboratories is made in EPA, 1986 which shall be used for implementation of the scheme by notification, circular under EPA 1986. (Good Option but may have other quality issues)

d. Provision of NABET in guidelines issued as a mandatory requirement for Environmental Laboratory under EPA, 1986. (Good Option but may have other quality issues)

e. Provision of sector wise scope of EIA studies and allied activities in the scope of environmental laboratory under EPA 1986. (Good Option but may have other quality issues)

f. Provision of mandatory requirement of accreditation of environmental laboratory under EPA, 1986 for environmental monitoring for EIA study as well as provision of team of sector experts (industry specific) for same in the criteria for requirement of accreditation of environmental laboratory under EPA 1986. (Good Option but may have other quality issues)

At present, there numbers of issues if the scheme is legally challenged by consultants and if such action is taken in near future, the MoEF will have to withdrawn the scheme and the action taken towards the environmental protection & conservation will be failed. The consultants can file suit under the various provision of Constitution of India, EPA, Consumer Protection act, CPC, IPC etc. and put the MoEF and / or its official signed the circulars or ordered the requirement of scheme as well as the member of EAC who has favored the scheme and participated in ordering the requirement vide the said circulars of mandatory requirement of the scheme. A group of consultant has already come forward and has initiated such actions. The group is engaged in organizing a chain of meeting to lead other consultants and with the days in action the group is being supported and joined by many of the EIA consultants in the Indian Market. This in turn will result in early actions for legal suit against the scheme, MoEF, officials of MoEF, EAC and members of EAC as the strength and swiftness of the group is significantly increasing. Hence, it is now essential to act by MoEF with probable action for making the scheme legally fit with additional requirement. There shall be a details discussion for making the scheme in the legal framework without altering lot of clauses. Further, it is concluded by us after the study that the suggested action all together would not lead to any serious legal issue as it satisfy the basic provisions of Constitution of India, EPA, Consumer Protection act, CPC, IPC and allied laws, acts &b rules. There will a negligible scope of legal issues if the above suggested action is enacted by MoEF at earliest.

The another side of the scheme which is the basic Objective of the scheme is QUALITY of EIA study. As far as the scheme and the system of appraisal is concern, it is not going to bring any innovative action for quality. Like ISOs it will be just paper works and the authority need to make lot of arrangements for actual outcome as improved QUALITY by the scheme. On some blog people have written that the individual accreditation shall be implemented. Such requirement is also discussed and suggested in the seminar / workshop arrange by MoEF & QCI for awareness and training for NABET accreditation for EIA Consultancy organisation. But till date authority has not initiated such scheme. Moreover, the other schemes/circulars anounced/issued by MoEF/CPCB for EIA & EC for siting industries in some area is also of importance for reconsideration. In many case of some regions MoEF has anounced no more developement which will lead to some scattered developement as industries focuses on the other aspects of Business economics. Beside, the technic or system of assessing the EIA is, to a much extent except few projects, almost faulty as the EIA reports & information therein are being assessed without some basic quality criteria as well as fundamental principles of science & engineering. About 80% of the report fails to meet or prove the basic quality criteria, scientific & technical pronciple. Even the baseline primary data are mostly fabricated (almost in 90% cases). Thus there are lot of other things which shall be focused by authority to bring up the quality. Without such effort for assessment of EIA report NABET scheme will be a BIG FAILURE as it has been realised since its first declaration.

With hope of further discussion as well as timely and efficient action from MoEF for making the scheme fit we would like to request the Honr. Environment Minister of India, Officials of MoEF and EAC to empower the society with efficient and effective actions towards the environmental protection & conservation so that we can bring up a new dimension of healthy environmental condition to gift our offspring for a happy, joyful and healthy lives. We also hope an early action for improvement of EIA report & Data assessment system NABET as even under NABET the concern personnel of QCI are not focusing on the scientific & Technical aspects of EIA report & data. We all need to hope for the best actions and initiatives by MoEF in the Field of EIA & Environmental Protection, Conservation & Reclamation of conditions in some polluted area.

Dear all,'

now a days solid waste is the prime concern of every town.it was observed that most of the waste are mixed and thruoghing in to the streets /dump sites. we should give knowledge for segregation of waste at the base point itself.like from home (individual),firm .it is good & save our wealth for segregation.

many local bodies are showing interest in removing wastes on daily basis and more important thing is not knowledging people for segregation of wastes this leads for un wanted health problems and water flow obstructions every where

Dear Friends,

Some pesticides banned in many foreign countries and thses highly toxic chemicals are being indiscriminately used in our country especially in Kerala region for the production of bimass.

Mancozeb, Carbendazim, Diuron, Endosulfan and Paraquat are being used for Mango, bitter gourd crops, Banana farms and Pineapple plantations, amaranthus and okra fields. Thses chemicals is hazardous & known Carcinogens because it contains traces of arsenic and phosphorus. It causes digestive troubles, diarrohoea, jaundice, liver failure, cancer, heart disease, stroke and arthritis. They are causing groundwater as well as surface water pollutions. Chlorpyriphos is harmful to avian and aquatic life. Methyl parathion is carcinogenic and highly harmful to fish and bees.

According to Prof. Indira Devi, 56 per cent of mango farmers and 86 per cent of banana growers use chemical plant protection methods.

Market surveys done in Kerala by the All-India Coordinated Research Project on Pesticide Residue revealed high levels of pesticide residue in okra and amaranthus. People consuming these pesticides accounts for 60 per cent of the 1,000 suicides a year in the State, this is another face of vide usage of toxic chemicals.

Swami Ramdev emphasizing and implementing the usages of organic farming in biomass production through their public meetings, lectures held at various places and their approaches will certainly give a new vision.

The Centre for Environment and Development (CED) and Human Development Foundation (HDF) jointly organising the First Odisha Environment Congress (OEC 2010) from22nd to 24th of December 2010 at Bhubaneswar. The focal theme of theCongress is “Water Resources of Odisha: Reflections for 21stCentury“.
The Congress will include a Keynote presentation andinvited presentations by experts on sub themes, as well as paper and posterpresentations by senior and junior researchers. Since one of the majorobjectives of the OEC is to promote young researchers (age 35 and below), weintent to institute Young Scientists Awards, one each for theBest Paper and Best Poster Presentation. Other attractions in the Congress willbe an open forum with participation of general public,policy-decision makers and researchers.

For details visit http://www.cedindia.org/2010/08/oec-2010/