Environmental Performance Index
A report on Environmental Performance Index(EPI), 2010 has been produced by a team of experts from the Yale centre for Environmental Law and Policy, Yale University, in Columbia. The EPI ranks 163 countries on 25 performance indicators tracked across 10 policy categories covering both environmental public health and ecosystem vitality. These indicators provide a gauge at a national government scale indicating how close countries are with regard to established environmental policy goals. India’s EPI rank is 123 with EPI score of 48.3. Notwithstanding the above fact, the relatively lower rank of India appears to be due to its huge population which exerts immense pressure on the environment. Moreover, the analysis of the policy drivers underlying the 2010 ranking suggests that income is a major determinant of environmental success.
The factors responsible for pollution in India have already been recognized. The Government have formulated sector-specific action plans to combat with the pollution problems. The important steps taken, inter alia, include;
(i) Formulation of regulation /statutes to address sectors-specific problems.
(ii) Setting up of regulatory/ statutory bodies for enforcement of environmental laws
(iii) Setting up of monitoring network for assessment of water and ambient air quality as well as for noise.
(iv) Action plans implemented to treat municipal waste (sewage and solid) under the various centrally sponsored schemes
(v) Creating infrastructure for industrial pollution control incorporating cleaner production processes, setting up of common waste management facilities .
Execution of source apportionment studies in cities (carried out in 6 cities) and action plans for restoration of air quality in cities and towns.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (independent charge) Shrimati Jayanthi Natarajan in a written reply to a question by . Shri S. Semmalai in Lok Sabha today.
KP