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| Edited By: Ankita Chakrabarty,Rashi Aditi Ghosh |Source: Zee Research Group |Updated: Nov 19, 2011, 11:01 PM IST
India’s recent reforestation efforts have been endorsed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in its latest global Human Development Report (HDR). The body, however, has cited several shortcomings that may affect initiatives, including the deteriorating air pollution levels in the country. Still, the endorsement has brought back to focus the need for a comprehensive environment policy with the National Advisory Council (NAC) calling for a drastic policy action.
According to the 2011 HDR report released earlier this month, India has made significant progress on human development. Our HDI (Human Development Index) value had increased by 59 per cent (from 0.344 to 0.547) between 1980 and 2011. Its trajectory of human development gains, however, may be threatened by environmental risks and inequality, says the report.
India is among seven developing countries (Bhutan, China, Costa Rica, Chile, El Salvador, and Vietnam) which have recently transitioned from deforesting to reforesting with support from domestic and international programmes.
This endorsement, however, has not found much favour with the National Advisory Council chaired by Sonia Gandhi. NC Saxena, member, National Advisory Council (NAC) said, “One cannot completely agree with the fact that India is doing well on all environment parameters just because the reforestation rate has increased. For better results, we need to involve women in the forest management, too.”
“India has performed poorly as far as air quality is concerned. Also, the ground water resource is going down and the quality of the ground water is contaminated,” argued Saxena.
VK Jain, professor at school of environmental sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) said, “Despite of the economic growth, people do not have access to safe drinking water and sanitation in India. The affected water quality has an impact on the longevity, lifestyle and workability of a nation.”
According to the HDR report, India has 22.9 per cent of total land under forest areas. India fares better in this aspect in comparison to China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. NAC’s Saxena commented, “It is true that the tree cover is improving but it cannot be equated with forest cover. The range of mixed forests is going down.”
Ankita Chakrabarty & Rashi Aditi Ghosh Zee Research Group. Delhi
