Indian scientists letter against government slashing of environmental protections *****************************************************************
KID'S IDEAS Presents
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ভারতীয় বিজ্ঞানী সরকার পরিবেশ সুরক্ষা কমানোর বিরুদ্ধে চিঠি দিয়েছে *********************************************************************
भारतीय वैज्ञानिकों ने पर्यावरण संरक्षण को लेकर सरकार को कोसा *****************************************************************
ہندوستانی سائنسدانوں نے حکومت کو ماحولیاتی تحفظوں میں کمی کے خلاف خط لکھا

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Over 500 Indian scientists, researchers, and academics from more than 130 institutions wrote an open letter urging India's environment ministry to withdraw a new set of regulations to overhaul the current norms guiding the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). The letter says the new EIA norms, officially called Draft EIA Notification 2020, encourages projects with no prior clearance to commence operations and eventually get regularised by paying a fine and exempts a few industries from conducting public hearings, among other issues. EIA reports are an obligatory clearance step for infrastructure projects in many countries, including India, where it is regulated by the Environmental (Protection) Act of 1986. India's existing EIA norms were last updated in 2006 and, in March this year, the ministry released a new set of changes for public feedback with a deadline in August. The ministry reported receiving 1.7 million emails and letters with suggestions, comments, and objections to the Draft. Some of the complaints relate to the fact that the Draft was published in only English and Hindi, while India has 21 other official languages. The State Deputy Secretary of DMK IT Wing, a regional political party in Tamil Nadu, tweeted: Internet users have also criticized the bill online. On Twitter, Sweta Mahajan said The Kerala chapter of the global climate strike movement Fridays For Future tweeted: Twitter user Kavi Ganesan Veeraswamy, from political outfit DMK, said: Eight-year-old climate & environmental activist Licypriya Kangujam tweeted: Indian magazine Down to Earth reported: “India has not only pledged ambitious goals in the environment and climate change on several international forums but has also taken a lead role in renewable energy in the form of the International Solar Alliance. Diluted domestic regulations seem inconsistent with these ambitions and the overall aspiration to be a global leader in the fight against pressing contemporary challenges.” And Anurag Srinivas wrote in LiveMint: “India may be climbing the global rankings on the ease of doing business, but its environmental protection record remains dismal. In 2020, India ranked 168 out of 180 countries, according to Yale University’s Environmental Performance Index. [..] As India strives for further economic growth, it has to ensure this does not com