Part 1 - English version (PDF) - Convention on Biological Diversity

India’s Fourth National Report to the <strong>Convention</strong> on Biological Diversity
Considering the importance of disaster management as a national priority, a National Disaster
Management Authority (NDMA) has been set up under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, to spearhead
and implement a holistic and integrated approach to disaster management in India.
Policies and programmes are in place for management of chemical emergencies, hazardous waste
management and solid waste management to promote safe handling. For example, handling of 70 cancer
causing azo dyes and the processes incidental thereto in the course of which these substances are found
or carried on throughout the country, have been prohibited vide notification dated March 26, 1997.
Besides, India is a <strong>Part</strong>y to Rotterdam <strong>Convention</strong> on the Prior Informed Consent Procedure for
Hazardous Chemicals, Stockholm <strong>Convention</strong> on Persistent Organic Pollutants, and the Basel <strong>Convention</strong>
on Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste and Their Disposal.
Challenges and constraints
There is a need to strengthen EIA initiatives to monitor response of agro-biodiversity to land use
changes.
Further augmenting the mechanisms to consider ‘conservation offsets’ in EIAs.
To delineate eco-sensitive zones around PAs.
To integrate the livelihood aspirations of local communities in and around PAs and forests.
Develop strong research base on impact assessment and conduct rigorous impact assessment of
development projects, with a focus on biodiversity and habitats.
Integrate biodiversity concerns across development sectors (such as industry, infrastructure, power,
mining, etc.) and promote use of clean technologies.
Develop and integrate pre-project plans for reallocation and rehabilitation of local people likely
to be displaced by development projects keeping in view their socio – cultural and livelihood
needs.
2.3.6 Impact of pollution (Article 14)
Biodiversity in India is facing threat from various sources of pollution especially at a time when new
industrial processes are generating a variety of toxic wastes and also increased mushrooming of urban
sprawls. Generation of wastes from anthropogenic activities involving production and consumption adds
to the pressures on ecosystems.
The impact of air and water pollution is maximum on vulnerable sections of society particularly the
poor, women and children, who contribute the least to its generation. Accordingly, the costs and benefits
of abatement may have important implications for intra-generational and inter-generation equity.
Similarly, the immediate and deeper causes of soil pollution as well as management of industrial and
municipal wastes are serious challenges in terms of magnitude and required resources.
The present legislative framework is broadly contained in the EPA, 1986; the Water (Prevention and
Control of Pollution) Act, 1974; the Water Cess Act, 1977; and the Air (Prevention and Control of
Pollution) Act, 1981.
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