India’s Environmental Policies, Programmes and Stewardship

Public Versus Personal Welfare: An Aspect of Environmental Policymaking in Developing Countries

“…Recently, in the context of India, Dwivedi (1997) has noted that environmental policymaking can be improved by, inter alia, increasing the public awareness of environmental problems and by taking steps to mitigate the venality of officials responsible for environmental management. In addition to having other benefits, these sorts of actions are also likely to diminish uncertainty about an EA's type.…”

“…As Dwivedi and Khator (1995), Jan (1995), and Stoett (1995) have pointed out, in recent times, many developing countries have adopted a number of measures to protect their environmental resources. However, because stringent environmental measures often inflict "pain" on certain sectors of a developing country's (hereafter DC's) economy, there is some concern among researchers and observers about the ability of DC governments to carry through with meaningful environmental policies.…”

The Ganges and the GAP: An Assessment of Efforts to Clean a Sacred River

“…Mehta filed a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court of India holding the government and industries responsible for the alarming rise in pollution in the Ganges. The Ganga Pollution Cases ultimately resulted in pollution fines and the closure of several industries that were found guilty of not complying with environmental legislation [41]. That same year, the Central Ganga Authority (CGA) was created within the Department of Environment.…”

“…The CGA developed the GAP, a massive program designed to control pollution in the Ganges and its tributaries. The objective was to establish a series of sewage treatment plants near the main urban centers, renovate all existing sewage pumping and treatment stations, provide wastewater sub-pumping stations at the mouths of open drains not yet linked to existing sewer systems, expand existing sewer networks by connecting unserviced areas, and construct electric crematoriums to address the issue of improperly cremated human remains along the ghats [41].…”

Public involvement in environmental impact assessment: a case study of hydro development in Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh, India

“…The literature reveals that the EIA Notification contains many of the key elements found in most processes throughout the world, including screening, scoping, comprehensive study, progress reports, review, decision and follow-up (Valappil et al, 1994;Banham and Brew, 1996;Dwivedi, 1997). However, from the lack of reference to project need, purposes and alternatives, a reasonable inference is that the process reflects a narrowly focused, technical approach, rather than the more broad, open and anticipatory approach called for in some quarters and found in some countries (Gibson, 1993;Wood, 1995).…”