World Environment Day
5th June 1999
Let us take a pledge today to safeguard Mother Earth
"Our Earth, Our Future - Just Save it!"
I. Policy Initiatives
- Strategy to achieve 33% Forest Cover in the Country
- Coastal Zone Management Authorities to protect India's vast coastline
- A strategy for revitalising Environment Education in schools
- A draft Biological Diversity Act for conservation, sustainable utilisation and equitab sharing of benefits of biological resources
- Identification of parameters for declaring Eco-sensitive zones
- A National Zoo Policy for the Country
II. Other Initiatives
- 100% Centrally Funded Schemes for reducing Pollution Loads in 22 major rivers
- Programme for planting 50 trees in each Village of the country launched
- Action Plans for pollution control for NCR of Delhi and Mumbai Metropoliton area
- Authority for Taj Mahal Conservation under the Environment Protection Act
- Rs. 40 crores released for gainful employment to people living in and around National Parks
- Amrita Devi Bishnoi National Award Instituted for Village communities to promote protection of wildlife
- Environment Surveillance Squad established for checking industrial pollution
- One new Tiger Reserve created each in Karnataka and Maharashtra
- National Policy and Macrolevel Action Strategy on Biodiversity
- All India Coordinated Project on Taxonomy
III. Transparency and People's Participation
- Status of all clearances displayed on the Ministry's website www.nic.in/envfor
- State of Environment Report for the Country prepared
- Established 40 Waste Minimisation Circles for adoption of clean environmentally advantageous technologies in small industries.
- 25 premier institutes networked to provide information under ENVIS network
- Joint Forest Management (JFM) made an integral part of plantation projects
- Website for Sustainable Development Netwoking Programme (SDNP) Project launched : http://sdnp.delhi.nic.in
IV. Preventive Measures.
- Export of 29 endangered medicinal plants banned
- Export of Deer Antlers banned
- Conservation of Pachmarhi ecologically sensitive area- Draft notification issued
- Ban on use of recycled plastic bags for ready-to-eat food - Draft notification issued
- Hospital wastes segregation, treatment and disposal regulated under Biomedical Wastes Rules, 1998
- Ban of 2-T oil in the National Capital Territory of Delhi notified for two stroke engine oil. Lead eliminated from petrol in the National Capital Temtoiy of Delhi
Major Thrust areas for future
- Action Plan to achieve 33% Forest Cover
- National Environment Action Plan for Control of Pollution
- Mainstreaming Environmental concerns in economic decision making
- Notification on Municipal Solid Wastes Management
- Conservation of Biodiversity of Western Ghats and North-East
- Amendments to Indian Folest Act and Wildlife Protection for more effective conservation
- Setting up of National Environment Fund
Government of India
Ministry of Environment and Forests