India
at 123rd position in ’10 EPI ranking
AAT News Service
India
is ranked at 123rd position in the 2010 Environmental Performance
Index (EPI) brought out by a team from Yale and Columbia
Universities. The study was released on January 28, 2010.
A total of 163 countries have been ranked as per EPI.
It has been said that serious data gaps have limited the
ability to measure performance on a number of important
issues. Notwithstanding the above fact, the relatively lower
rank of India appears to be due to its huge population,
which exerts immense pressure on the environment. Moreover,
the analysis of the policy drivers underlying the 2010 ranking
suggests that income is a major determinant of environmental
success.
It is not correct to say that the newly industrialised nations
are in much higher position as per the EPI. Though some
countries like Brazil and Russia are ranked 62 and 69, countries
like South Africa, China and Indonesia are ranked 115, 121
and 134, respectively.
The factors responsible for pollution in India are the increase
in vehicular traffic, high rate of industrial and infrastructural
growth, increasing urbanisation besides the pressure of
population. The Central government has taken various
steps to control pollution. This including notification
of general and source specific emission and effluent
standards, implementation of Auto Fuel Policy including
usage of cleaner fuel, introduction of Environmental Impact
Assessment Process for industrial and infrastructure projects,
implementation of Charter on Corporate Responsibility for
Environmental Protection in respect of 17 categories of
industries, regular monitoring for compliance of environmental
standards and preparation and implementation of city specific
action plans for improvement of air quality.
Meanwhile, noise pollution levels in most cities in the
country have crossed the permissible levels. Sporadic noise
monitoring in urban areas, mainly during festivals such
as Deepawali by the Central Pollution Control Board and
the State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs)/ Pollution Control
Committees (PCCs) reveals this fact. A few SPCBs and PCCs
have initiated regular noise monitoring since 2008-09. As
per available data, the laid down noise norms for respective
zones (industrial, commercial, residential or silence) are
exceeded at many locations. However, a definite trend cannot
be ascertained since data is available only for a limited
period.
The SC, in one of its judgment directed to put complete
ban on bursting of sound emitting fire crackers during night
time (between 10 pm and 6 am). Besides this, ban on use
of sound emitting instrument or any sound amplifier at night
time except in public emergency and use of horn at night
time except in exceptional circumstance have been ordered.
The SC also suggested to organise public awareness campaigns
during festival seasons.
State government have been advised to make provision for
seizure and confiscation of loud speakers, amplifier and
other equipments, which are found to create noise level
beyond permissible limits. The Central government has undertaken
the task to create a national ambient noise monitoring network
for urban areas and reporting the data therein, in accordance
with the National Environment Policy-2006.
The various steps undertaken by the government to control
noise pollution include the following: implementation of
the provisions of The Factory Act, 1948, the Air (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and the Noise Pollution
(Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000;
implementation of noise standards at the manufacturing stage
for generator sets, motor vehicles, select domestic appliances
and firecrackers.
