Elements of Citizenship to Preserve their State
Phil Ritz, an environmental scientist, USEPA was the only person who liked a tweet @BJP4India @INCIndia @AamAadmiParty “#plasticpollution #MSW #Ewaste #AirPollution #WaterPollution How many political parties have created a dedicated Environment Cell?” Coincidently, after three days, a statement from Harrison Ford, the world acclaimed actor — became widespread. “Around the world,” he said, “elements of leadership including in my own country to preserve their state and the status quo, deny or denigrate science. They are on the wrong side of history.” The question is in pursuance to the last editorial “Let the Lok Sabha Election, 2019 be Green”. When we highlight so many issues pertaining to the environment through various social media, do we hardly impress our political parties to recognize the ground buzz? A government may work relentlessly to ensure implementation of progressive works. Anything that comes on its way as a hurdle is eliminated to the best possible extent. It could be managed through populist participation or through amendments to constitutional and legal provisions. Political parties, on the other hand, work closely with society. So, it is essential that political parties should be accustomed to our social issues. It is possible when they have eminent experts in respective fields.
Members of Parliament raise questions in their respective Houses. Activists, educationists, and researchers respond promptly with a diligent analysis of policies. Judges in the Courts and Tribunals ensure justice in accordance with applicable statutory provisions. The common mass needs to do its own bit. Not only just abiding by the rules. But also being an active participant in all the decision making process for the nation. The air pollution problem is rampant in many parts. In urban areas, vehicular pollution has a significant share of air pollution due to multiple reasons. One could be the Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification system. As per Central Motor Rules, 1989, every motor vehicle (including those conforming to Euro-I/ Euro-II/ Euro-III as well as vehicles plying on CNG/LPG) is required to carry a valid PUC Certificate after the expiry of a period of one year from the date of its first registration. Mostly, the PUC certificates issued do not fail. The buyers also do not bother. But there could be a prevalent source of air pollution. There is a provision that the PUC Certificate of a vehicle shall be canceled and one may be directed under rule 116 of CMV Rules to produce a fresh PUC Certificate within seven days. The failure to comply with this direction would result in prosecution under section 190(2) of the Motor Vehicles Act. However, it occurs rarely.
In October 2018 the Hon’ble Supreme Court ordered the seizure of 15-year old petrol and 10-year old diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR. As per the Supreme Court Order, all such vehicles need to be impounded in Delhi-NCR. In this circumstance, the owner of the impounded vehicle goes to the court as per jurisdiction, where some paper works and affidavit allows him to get the vehicle back. According to experts and traffic authorities, the Order from Hon’ble Supreme Court could be better realized if it is supported with a legal provision of producing documentary evidence of vehicle disposal out of the controlled area, and the best possible one is NOC from the Registering Authority concerned.
Thirdly, traffic planning; such as removal of unnecessarily obstructing speed breakers, road cuts and so on. Sometimes, the community goes blind to protect a tree, without understanding its repercussions on road safety and air pollution than the tree’s ability to act as a carbon sink. Instead of balking, workable solutions could yield higher growth. For example, the practice of tree cuts is replaced with transplantation and compensatory plantations. A plan envisaged for 50 years instead of 5 years could better conserve the environment. Public participation in an assertive manner in the planning stage could be vital. This can happen if the public shows its presence and connects with all the political parties.
In this context Harrison Ford’s statement could be read as “Around my nation, elements of citizenship to preserve their state and the status quo, deny or denigrate science. They are on the wrong side of history.”
Originally published at enviroannotations.blogspot.com.
