Politics of Environment — Ii

It looks as if environment is an idea whose time has come. Newspapers give prominent display to environmental horror stories. Editorials demand better management of natural resources. Government statements on the need to preserve the environment are commonplace. Government programmes, too, are quite numerous and increasing in number day by day. There are massive schemes for afforestation, for instance. In the last four years, some 1,000 crore seedlings are said to have been distributed or planted. There are new laws for control of air and water pollution and for the conservation of forests. India has been praised all over the world for what it has done to preserve tigers. Nearly three per cent of India’s giant land mass is now protected national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, and there are demands to strengthen their protection and increase their area. Plan documents and party manifestoes take care to mention the importance of environment.