Lok Sabha Question No. 111 (STARRED), answered on 2019-06-28
Subject: New Environment Policy
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Rebati Tripura

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *111

TO BE ANSWERED ON 28.06.2019

## New Environment Policy

## *111. SHRI REBATI TRIPURA:

Will  the  Minister  of  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE  be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether the Government has any proposal to draft new environment policy in the near future;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) the details of aforesaid draft along with its timeline; and
- (d) the details of the policy relating to Delhi/NCR?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI PRAKASH JAVADEKAR)

- (a) to (d): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

***

Statement referred to in reply  to parts (a) to  (d)  of  the Lok  Sabha  Starred Question  No.  111  regarding  'New  Environment  Policy'  by  Shri  Rebati Tripura due for reply on 28.06.2019.

(a) to (c): The  omnibus  National  Environment  Policy  was  released  by  the  Government  in 2006 as a response to the national commitment to a clean environment, mandated in Articles 48A and 51A(g), strengthened by judicial interpretation of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The National Environment Policy intended to be a guide to action: in regulatory reform, programmes and  projects  for  environmental  conservation;  and  review  and  enactment  of  legislation,  by agencies of the Central, State and Local Governments.

The principal objectives of the policy were to protect and conserve critical ecological systems and resources; ensure equitable access to and judicious use of environmental resources; integrate environmental concerns  into  policies,  plans,  programmes  and  projects;  apply  the  principles  of good governance, etc.

The Ministry has issued sectoral policy statements on areas of Environment Impact Assessment, Hazardous Substance Management, Climate Change, Biodiversity, Coastal Regulatory Zone etc. in  response  to  emerging  challenges,  from  time  to  time.  The  Government  has  framed  Rules, Regulations  and  issued  Directions  while  addressing  the  sustainable  development  concerns  to create harmony between economic, social and environmental needs of the country.

India has also played a pivotal role in significant and major international initiatives concerned with environment and is a signatory to key multilateral agreements and has emerged as a global leader  in  spearheading  the  interests  of  the  developing  nations,  at  all  fora,  making  a  positive contribution to international efforts. Based on the dynamics of the environment sector and global and domestic regulatory and jurisprudence issues, the policies made by the Government for the environment  sector  are  judiciously  formulated,  periodically  reviewed,  suitably  revised  and updated, from time to time following a process  of wide consultations and taking into account global best practices and duly notified, as and when the need arises.

(d) The provisions of the National Environment Policy are applicable to the entire country, including Delhi/ NCR.