PERMANENT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY :
ENVIRONMENT
NEWS : Supreme
Court to examine need for a permanent environmental regulator
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS ?
Supreme Court's Proposal for a
Permanent Environmental Regulator
- Regulatory Model Suggestion:
Justice K.V. Viswanathan suggested establishing a permanent environmental
regulator, similar to TRAI (telecom) and CERC (electricity), for climate
and environment regulation.
- Current
Regulatory Fragmentation: India’s
environmental framework is currently fragmented, with multiple authorities
like CPCB ( Central pollution control board ), SPCBs (State pollution
control board ), NGT, and various ministries operating in silos.
- Need
for Consolidation: Amicus curiae K. Parameshwar
highlighted the potential benefits of consolidating these regulators into
a single entity for comprehensive monitoring and improved coherence in
environmental governance.
CAMPA Fund Utilization and Challenges
- Compensatory Afforestation:
Under the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, compensatory afforestation is
required when forest land is diverted for non-forest purposes, with funds
imposed for afforestation efforts.
- Supreme
Court’s Role: In 2002, the SC mandated the
creation of a Compensatory Afforestation Fund (CAF), with CAMPA
established in 2004 to manage these funds. State CAMPAs were also set up
in 2009 to manage afforestation at the state level.
- Utilization
Issues: Despite statutory backing from the
Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act, 2016, the utilization of CAMPA funds
has been less than 50% in many states between 2018-2024, with funds often
remaining unutilized.
Mining Activities Near Conservation
Reserves
- SC Concern:
The Supreme Court urged the Centre to consider prohibiting mining
activities near conservation and community reserves, emphasizing the need
to protect wildlife corridors between national parks and sanctuaries.
Source : https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_delhi/issues/96189/OPS/G7VD7PLLM.1+GIOD7S6HN.1.html