Green initiatives in India are moving at a slow pace.
Regulatory policies and changing political environments are the major
roadblocks in the country’s pursuit towards environmental sustainability
initiatives. However, states like like Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K)
are exceptions as they keep ahead of other states with strong laws to protect
environment and make industries adhere to green policies.
In a recent such initiative, the J&K government has
issued notices to 38 industrial units in Kathua district of the state for
flouting environmental norms. The notice, issued by Minister for Forest
and Environment Mian Altaf, has also directed officials to carry out regular
checking and initiate action against those violating the green laws, according
to a PTI report.
The board has seized as many as 223 quintals of
polythene. In this regard, notices have been disseminated among 38 unit holders
violating the norms of PCB on environment and pollution. The officials
also took serious note on dumping timber at the Kathua timber depot.
As part of raising Kathua forest land, 50,000 plants of
different species were raised at Hari-Chak forest nursery, in addition to the
25,000 teak wood plants raised in Sagwan nursery of Samba district on
experimental basis. Further, as many as 344 hectares of forest land was treated
by the soil conservation department and an area of 243 hectares was brought
under plantation as part of the efforts to increase state’s green cover.
In another stringent action against companies flouting
green norms in India, the National Green Tribual in Gujarat recently has stayed
construction of a 300 MW power plant in Mumdra, Gujarat, till the project gets
forest clearance from the environment ministry, according to Hindustan Times report.
Environment clearance for the project was challenged by
local fishermen and villagers protesting against the adverse impact of the
project on the local ecology.
