New Delhi: Over 70 environmental and civil society collectives convened on Wednesday, urging citizens to scrutinize India’s environmental and ecological trajectory of recent years prior to casting their votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The roster of organizations encompasses the National Alliance of People’s Movements, People for Aravallis, Youth for Himalaya, Climate Front India, Fridays for Future, Alliance for Rivers in India, Indian Social Action Forum, United Conservation Movement (Karnataka), Aarey Conservation Group, Yugma Collective, and Save Pune Hills from Maharashtra; Endangered Himalaya (Himachal Pradesh), Van Gujjar Tribal Yuva Sangathan (Uttarakhand), Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, Jharkhand Kisan Parishad, Jan Vikas Shakti Sangathan (Bihar), and UP Land Right Forum.
“As the nation approaches the polls this year, it is imperative to deliberate on the future of our democracy, especially considering the younger generations and their entitlement to unpolluted air and secure water in the forthcoming years amidst the country’s intensified climate change effects, such as erratic rainfall, glacier retreat, and escalating pollution,” the statement declared in unison.
They encouraged citizens to gauge India’s ecological track record over the past few years, along with other crucial elements such as “shifts in quality of life, freedom of expression, the nation’s democratic framework, job generation, and citizens’ entitlements,” before casting their ballot.
According to the latest scientific assessments and ecological metrics, India secured the lowest ranking among 180 nations in the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) of 2022, with subpar scores across numerous pivotal concerns.
“While some nations like Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Finland exhibit sustained and ongoing investments in safeguarding environmental health, conserving biodiversity and habitats, preserving natural resources, and decoupling greenhouse gas emissions from economic growth, showcasing exemplary leadership and policies,”
“India languishes at the bottom with deteriorating air quality, accelerating greenhouse gas emissions, groundwater depletion, desiccated and contaminated rivers and water bodies, and waste proliferation,” the statement highlighted.
Civil society organizations noted that several pivotal laws safeguarding India’s environment and natural ecosystems, such as the Forest Conservation Act and the Environment Impact Assessment Notification, have been “diluted” in recent years as the country contends with intensifying climate change repercussions.
India’s unspoiled forests, rivers, mountains, and deserts are being ravaged for coal, critical minerals, large-scale infrastructure projects, and dams, they stated.
India faces a severe water crisis with 70% of the country’s groundwater aquifers depleted, while the recharge rate remains under 10%.
India was identified as the third most polluted nation in 2023 according to a report released by Swiss air quality monitoring entity, IQ Air, dropping from eighth place in 2022. Among the 50 most polluted cities globally, 42 are now located in India.
They urged political figures to incorporate community and civil society in the decision-making process regarding all local and national development projects and ensure no diversion of forest and agricultural land occurs without the gram sabha’s approval.
“All changes in environmental and forest regulations such as the Forest Conservation Amendment, Environment Impact Assessment, and other legislations since 2014 must be undone. Complete and effective implementation of the Environment Protection Act, Biodiversity Act, Forest Rights Act, PESA Act, and related laws that uphold the rights of nature and indigenous communities,” they emphasized.
Environmental collectives also called for a prohibition on all projects related to river interlinking and dam construction, blasting, tunneling, and mountain removal, and demanded comprehensive impact assessments and public referendums on the same.
They concluded by asserting that all wetlands must be designated under the Wetland Rules 2010, and all rivers, johads (or pokhars), lakes, ponds, and other water bodies that have dried up across India must be restored. Water recharge through traditional methods should be prioritized urgently.