MUMBAI, Mar 12: Environmental clearance has been given to 900 projects worth Rs 6 lakh crore in the last 20 months, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said today, seeking to counter criticism that several projects have been bogged down due to lack of green nod.
Asserting that environmental clearance should not be a “roadblock” for development, Javadekar said that every effort should be made to safeguard the environment and also ensure that development projects do not suffer any delay.
“In the last 20 months, my ministry has given environmental clearance to 900 projects entailing an investment of about Rs 6 lakh crore,” he said at the National Convention on Sustainable Development Goals here.
Opposition parties and environmentalists have been accusing the Narendra Modi government of not proceeding on several projects for want of environmental clearances.
Dismissing such criticism, the government has claimed that the earlier UPA regime was responsible for stalling projects which were now getting green nod at a fast pace.
Squarely blaming the developed countries for carbon emissions and its fallout on climate change, he said,”Climate change is a reality with one degree rise in temperature caused by 150 years of uncontrolled carbon emission by the developed world.”.
He said though India is responsible for just three per cent of carbon emissions, it is an active partner in finding solution to the problem of climate change and committed to the UN goals on sustainable development.
He also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s emphasis on climate change that “though India is not part of the problem, it wants to be part of the solution.”
While 30 per cent of cumulative contribution was that of the US, Europe, Canada and other developed countries accounted for 50 per cent and China 10 per cent.
“The developed world went ahead with business as usual scenario without bothering about environmental impact. Now it has happened, and we are suffering,” he said.
India being well-aware of its responsibilities was committed to UN Goals on sustainable development, he said, adding, “Our commitment is reflected in every programme being pursued by the government.”
He listed out Government’s ambitious 175 Giga Watt renewable energy programme, covering solar, wind, hydro-power and nuclear energy as a major step in promoting environment friendly development.
India had taken pro-active measures to discourage use of fossil fuels in a bid to reduce carbon foot print, he said.
“The Union Budget 2016-17 has levied a green cess of USD 6 (Rs 400) per tonne of coal. This is perhaps the highest levy in the world, as even the United States taxes coal at around USD 1.
“If the developed world followed India’s example and levied higher taxes on coal, billions of dollars would accrue to pursue clean energy programmes,” Javadekar said.
He also listed out plans to control vehicular pollution by moving to Bharat VI emission norms, policies on waste management and massive tree plantation drive through the Compensatory Afforestaton Fund Bill 2015 as other measures aimed at sustainable development. (PTI)
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