Plan panel notes shortcomings in environment programmes

Planning Commission has pointed out shortcomings in the implementation of environment programmes, including pollution control, river water conservation, biodiversity conservation and forest management.

Though, only about one per cent of the total plan outlay of the state and central governments was allocated to the environment and forestry sector, even this was not being fully utilized, a mid-term appraisal report noted.

“With developmental policies impinging heavily upon the environment, requiring intersectoral policy integration and coordination, there was no institutionalised policy-integrating and coordinating mechanism at present,” the report said.

This resulted in a compartmental approach to environmental protection being continued with extremely indifferent results.

Since GNP and national income do not reflect environmental degradation or consumption of natural resources, as also social costs due to these, the commission suggested that a natural resources budget and a state of the environment report be placed before parliament along with the economic budget. Bureau Report