Every new government comes with baggage and opportunities. The problem is that since the government is new, it wants to undo what has been done in the past, make new schemes and start again on the learning curve. The opportunity is that there is a new drive to do more, to deliver and to push for change.
Keeping these two facts in mind, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the organisation I work with, presented an agenda for the environment and development to the new government.
First, what we do not want the new government to do. One, in the name of development, it must not brush aside the idea that concerns regarding the environment, forest and wildlife are critical. This does not mean that we believe the current system of environment and forest clearance is working. We want a drastic reform of the system so that it works for environmental protection.
This also means that the new government must be firm with the highest court of the land. It must not be bullied into creating a new environmental regulator, which only adds to the institutional mess. Instead, it should focus on the institutional design, strengthen the process of scrutiny of projects and build capacity for oversight and monitoring. We suggest that the government should consolidate all green clearances in such a manner that decisions can be taken after factoring in the overall impact of projects. This will streamline the process, thereby making it easier for project proponents. At the same time, it will bring environmental integrity and safeguard people's concerns. Next, it must strengthen the capacity and working of institutions for monitoring - particularly the pollution control boards. However, all this makes no sense unless we have a new and greatly improved regime for enforcement and stiff penalties for environmental non-compliance.
Having said that, we also want the minister of environment, forests and climate change (now renamed) to go beyond the focus on project clearance - "to clear or not" is a meaningless agenda, because we know that 99 per cent of projects are granted clearance. There is delay but no rejection. So, let's focus on the real agendas of the environment: clean up our air, which is full of toxins; revive rivers of sewage and chemicals; regenerate forests that can provide livelihoods to millions; and incentivise growth that is low-carbon and inclusive. This agenda for environmental management is tough, but it is the real thing.
The "clean up" and "regenerate" agenda requires change in direction. We cannot first pollute and then clean up. Instead, we should aggressively push strategies that allow us to grow, but without the high cost of pollution control. CSE has suggested that the government should invest in a "million bus programme" so that we can change the way we manage mobility in our cities; and a "billion solar rooftop and minigrid programme", which reworks the renewable agenda so that it is based on decentralised generation and aims to meet the needs of the energy-poor.
The programme for the Ganga and river cleaning will only work if we learn to develop our pollution control strategies differently. Rivers need water for dilution; sewage needs to be treated in open drains and treated sewage needs to be recycled and reused so that it is not mixed with untreated waste. It is equally important to look for affordable solutions to treat the mountains of garbage in our cities.
But this is not all. In the past few years, forest regeneration has lost momentum and direction. The new minister must work towards providing new direction for forest protection that builds green wealth in the hands of people, and measures and accounts for forest wealth in order to provide protection to natural habitats. Most critically, we need an effective agenda for coexistence, so that the benefits of conserving wildlife are shared with the locals and conservation is durable and effective.
Second, we do not want the new government to discard old schemes for inclusive growth. All the schemes for rural employment, water and sanitation, housing, nutrition and education are crucial.
But again, we want a change. We want delivery so that people have access to clean water, sanitation, employment, food and education. We have lost too much time making schemes on paper and then fiddling to make them even better, without focusing on delivery.
Delivery requires good old-fashioned governance systems, which require constant monitoring and attention to detail. The delivery of schemes does require states to get more autonomy and control over funds and programme design. In the current system, the Centre makes the plan and provides the money, but it is the state that has to operationalise the system of implementation. There is a huge disconnect. It is the state chief minister who should be accountable for delivery.
The new prime minister has famously - and rightly - said that toilets are more important than temples. This is the real agenda.
sunita@cseindia.org
Twitter: @sunitanar
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