Observing that there were many "impediments" in making India clean even after 68 years of independence, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar today said his ministry was taking major steps, including amending laws and bringing in new technologies, to achieve the target.
In his message on the occasion of India's 69th Independence Day, the Union Minister said his ministry's mission is "Clean India, Green India".
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's speech where he talked about people's participation, Javadekar said that 'Jan Bhagidari' is the basic foundation of this government.
In his feature written on a blog started on the PIB website, Javadekar noted that there can be no better combination than that of 'students and trees' and 'youth and nature' which is why his ministry had recently launched a nursery school yojna to bring youth closer to nature and ensure their active participation.
"Even after 68 years of independence, more than 80 per cent of the sewage does not get treated and one-third of the industrial pollution goes into water bodies. There are many impediments in making India clean.
"This year, we have done three things - more sewage treatment plants and new technology, new rules of waste management - solid waste, e-waste, plastic waste, hazardous waste, bio-medical waste and construction waste. All rules have been changed and new technology has been brought in and the base has been widened. These are the real efforts to make India clean," Javadekar said in his message.
Terming Independence Day to be a very important occasion, he said, "Today, we have achieved some part of the dream, but much of it is yet to be redeemed."
"Our mission is Clean India, Green India."
He said that some of the other efforts made to make India clean include many river cleaning schemes, more plantation and more afforestation.
He said funds to the tune of USD 9 billion by 14th Finance Commission and USD 6 billion through Compensatory Afforestation Fund Bill will soon be made available.
"We will put USD 15 billion in the next four years for real afforestation of the country, which will definitely increase our green stock, that is the carbon sink we are creating. I think this is an occasion for re-dedication," he added.
