INDIA'S BEST COLLEGES, INSTITUTES and UNIVERSITIES
India's connection with greenery and environment is nothing new. The green colour in our national flag indicates India's relation with land, love for greenery and care for the environment. But our forests and the issue of deforestation are some of the critical issues that India grapples with. Perhaps that's why the forest cover in India had dramatically declined over the years. Before Independence, the forest cover was around 40 per cent of the total land area, which declined to just 22 per cent in 1951, and to just 19 per cent in 1997. Out the total forest area, only 2.54 per cent can be considered as high density forest and even the moderately dense forest cover is merely 9.71 per cent. However, government claims that it has taken a note about the problem of deforestation and forest cover slightly increased to 21.02 per cent in 2007. The Centre passed Forest Rights Act in 2006. The 10th Five Year Plan, however, envisaged to increase forest cover to 33 per cent by the end of 2012. But things have further changed when the Centre recently asked the state government of Orissa to stop acquiring forest lands for the $10.9 billion steel plant project of the South Korean giant Posco. N.C. Saxena, who heads the four-member panel probing into the alleged violation of the Act in the site of the proposed project, confirmed that the project violates the Forest Rights Act.
But all is not well. There have been widespread violations of the laws. Private companies as well as government undertakings are acquiring lands in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa violating the forest rights. Apart from ambiguities on innumerable issues with regard to slum-dwellers' right to reside and other community rights, including minor forest produce, the state governments don't have concrete industrial policy for inclusive growth. In addition, though the Forest Rights Act is in place, it is facing extensive manpower and financial shortage. Another important aspect of the debate is that natural resources enriched states like Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are witnessing huge investment inflows, but their proportionate contribution in eradicating poverty is not satisfactory. Further, there is no adequate alternative rehabilitation policy for thousands of tribal people who are vulnerable to such risks.
Above all, industrialisation is as imperative as aforestation. While industrialisation has to be there to boost productivity, aforestation replace extensive import of wood items. However, restoring environmental sustainability is important as Indian agriculture is extremely vulnerable to irregular monsoon. The per capita forest land has declined dramatically from 1.2 hectare during 1950s to just 0.066 hectares in 1997-98. Significantly, with over 16 per cent world population and 15 per cent of world's livestock, India has only 2.4 per cent land area and a mere 1.7 per cent of world's forest stock. To tackle this, India needs strong political will, administrative back up, budgetary and infrastructure support for implementation. It's high time to ponder over the issue and find solutions becomes more urgent every day.
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board
India's connection with greenery and environment is nothing new. The green colour in our national flag indicates India's relation with land, love for greenery and care for the environment. But our forests and the issue of deforestation are some of the critical issues that India grapples with. Perhaps that's why the forest cover in India had dramatically declined over the years. Before Independence, the forest cover was around 40 per cent of the total land area, which declined to just 22 per cent in 1951, and to just 19 per cent in 1997. Out the total forest area, only 2.54 per cent can be considered as high density forest and even the moderately dense forest cover is merely 9.71 per cent. However, government claims that it has taken a note about the problem of deforestation and forest cover slightly increased to 21.02 per cent in 2007. The Centre passed Forest Rights Act in 2006. The 10th Five Year Plan, however, envisaged to increase forest cover to 33 per cent by the end of 2012. But things have further changed when the Centre recently asked the state government of Orissa to stop acquiring forest lands for the $10.9 billion steel plant project of the South Korean giant Posco. N.C. Saxena, who heads the four-member panel probing into the alleged violation of the Act in the site of the proposed project, confirmed that the project violates the Forest Rights Act.
But all is not well. There have been widespread violations of the laws. Private companies as well as government undertakings are acquiring lands in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa violating the forest rights. Apart from ambiguities on innumerable issues with regard to slum-dwellers' right to reside and other community rights, including minor forest produce, the state governments don't have concrete industrial policy for inclusive growth. In addition, though the Forest Rights Act is in place, it is facing extensive manpower and financial shortage. Another important aspect of the debate is that natural resources enriched states like Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh are witnessing huge investment inflows, but their proportionate contribution in eradicating poverty is not satisfactory. Further, there is no adequate alternative rehabilitation policy for thousands of tribal people who are vulnerable to such risks.
Above all, industrialisation is as imperative as aforestation. While industrialisation has to be there to boost productivity, aforestation replace extensive import of wood items. However, restoring environmental sustainability is important as Indian agriculture is extremely vulnerable to irregular monsoon. The per capita forest land has declined dramatically from 1.2 hectare during 1950s to just 0.066 hectares in 1997-98. Significantly, with over 16 per cent world population and 15 per cent of world's livestock, India has only 2.4 per cent land area and a mere 1.7 per cent of world's forest stock. To tackle this, India needs strong political will, administrative back up, budgetary and infrastructure support for implementation. It's high time to ponder over the issue and find solutions becomes more urgent every day.
For More IIPM Info, Visit below mentioned IIPM articles.
IIPM BBA MBA Institute: Student Notice Board
IIPM Prof Rajita Chaudhuri's Snaps
When foreign shores beckon
An array of unconventional career options
A language that divides
Ragging rights and wrongs
Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU): Students' Unions can not be banned
The hunt for hostel and paying guest (PG) accommodation for students
Best Colleges for Vocational Courses in India
Role of Media in the moulding of youth
When foreign shores beckon
An array of unconventional career options
A language that divides
Ragging rights and wrongs
Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU): Students' Unions can not be banned
The hunt for hostel and paying guest (PG) accommodation for students
Best Colleges for Vocational Courses in India
Role of Media in the moulding of youth
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