2024-04-18 07:27:41
New Delhi: Voting for Lok Sabha elections is starting from 19th April. Earlier, more than 70 organizations working on environment across the country have appealed to the voters. He said vote for the future, clean air and water. While appealing, these organizations have said that the country is currently facing global warming, climate change, water crisis, shortage and excess of rain, melting of glaciers and pollution. Recent reports show that the situation in the country is getting worse in terms of environment and changing climate. The air is continuously deteriorating, greenhouse emissions are increasing, ground water is depleting, rivers are becoming polluted and drying up, mountains of garbage are increasing. These organizations include People for Aravalli, Youth for Himalaya, Climate Front, Van Gujjar Tribal Youth Organization of Uttarakhand, Ajni Van Bachao of Maharashtra, Bargi Bandh Displaced and Affected Association of Madhya Pradesh, Jan Vikas Shakti Sangathan of Bihar, Robin Hood Army of Uttar Pradesh. , Jharkhand Kisan Parishad, Save Ladakh, Endangered Himalayas of Himachal Pradesh, All India Water Portal and more than 70 organizations are involved.
Laws weakened despite public protest
They say that in the past few years, many important laws protecting the environment and nature in India have been weakened by changes despite public opposition. In addition to the forests, rivers, mountains and deserts of the Himalayas and Aravalis, the Hasdeo Forest and others in central and eastern India, the Nicobar Islands and the rainforests in the Western Ghats are being exploited. This is being exploited for dam projects, coal mining, stone and sand mining and real estate. 70 percent of groundwater sources have dried up. Their recharging capacity has reduced by 10 percent. Cities like Chennai, Bengaluru are struggling with water shortage. IQ Air report has declared the country as the third most polluted city. Of the 50 polluted cities in the world, 42 are in India.
demands from political parties
Changing environment and forest acts like Forest Conservation Amendment etc. Full implementation of Environment Protection Act, Biodiversity Act, Forest Rights Act, all laws protecting the rights of indigenous communities. Notifying all wetlands under Wetland Rules 2010.
- To revive all the dried up rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and other water bodies.
- Stop all projects involving linking of rivers and building dams, blasting, tunneling and cutting of mountains in the Himalayas, Aravali and Western Ghats and conduct their impact assessment study.
- To implement the policy of alternative building materials with immediate effect to stop mining in the mountains.
- Strict implementation of solid waste management rules. Reusing sewage and dirty water by cleaning it from STP and ETP.
Voters should keep these things in mind:
- There should be commitment and dialogue to protect the natural and democratic heritage.
- There is a need to change the definition of development in India. Development should not happen at the expense of natural resources. Due to this, water insecurity and threat to the future of wildlife is increasing after the destruction of natural systems.
- To ensure security of community livelihoods in the Himalayas, Aravali, Western and Eastern Ghats, coastal areas, wetlands, river valleys, Central Indian and North Eastern forest areas and to prevent corporate exploitation of these natural areas.
- Centrally involving communities and civil society in all local and national development decision-making. The land use of forest land and agricultural land should not be changed without the consent of the Gram Sabha.