7.Environment & Forests Sector Planning Commission

Vision Statement managing environment, forests, wildlife and

challenges due to climate change for faster and equitable growth, where ecological security for sustainability and inclusiveness is restored, equity in access to all environmental goods and ecosystem services is assured,

through institutionalization of people’s participation and a future in which the nation takes pride in the quality of its environment, forests, richness of its biodiversity and efforts by the state and its people to protect, expand and enrich it for intra and inter generational equity and welfare of the local and global community.

Monitorable Targets

ENVIRONMENT Assess and remediate

12 identified contaminated sites (hazardous chemicals and wastes) with potential for ground water contamination by 2017.

Clean 80 per cent of critically polluted stretches in rivers by 2017 and 100 per cent by 2020.

States to meet NAAQS in urban areas by 2017.

To reduce emission intensity of our GDP in line with the target of 20 to 25 percent reduction over 2005 levels by 2020.

FORESTS AND LIVELIHOOD

Greening 5 million under Green India Mission including 1.5 million of degraded lands, forestation and ecorestoration of 0.9 million of ecologically sensitive areas.

Technology-based monitoring of forest cover, biodiversity and growing stock including change-monitoring on periodical basis through dedicated satellite by 2017 and establishment of open web-based National Forestry and Environmental Information system for research and public accessibility by 2015.

Engagement of Village Green Guards/Community Foresters for every Joint Forest Management (JFM) village by 2016.

Establish forestry seed bank in forest circles and Model Nursery in every district with information on public portal by 2014. Monitorable Targets

Twenty per cent of veterinary professionals in the country will be trained in treating wildlife.

Integrated Ecotourism District Plans covering 10 per cent of all potential Protected Areas (PAs) by 2017

Restore 0.1 million of wetlands/inland lakes/water bodies by 2017.

Mapping and preparation of biodiversity management plans for deserts (both cold and dry), coastal areas, important coral zones, wetlands, mangroves and so on to be completed by 2017.

New Initiatives

Enhancement of Sewage Treatment Capacity. National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-

System (NPCA). National Forestry Information System Invasive

Species Management Coastal and Marine Conservation Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Bio-

diversity Green India Mission

8.Science ,Technology and 9.Innovation

Globalization has led to rapid industrialization and competition in the market. Technological and organizational innovation will help to enhance productivity and efficiency.

• Technological innovations leads to faster results and organizational innovation would help in efficient utilization of resources, facilitated by providing incentives and tax subsidies.

Objectives Enrichment of Knowledge base  University, industry, and Scientific Establishment

Collaboration Promoting Collaborations Supportive Financial System Platform for Best Practices and Innovations Improving the Flow of Technology   Use of GIS for Development 

10.Governance

Good governance is increasingly viewed as an essential element of any well-functioning society. It ensures effective use of resources and deliverance of services to citizens and also provides social legitimacy to the system and to achieve it in three different ways.

The first relates to systemic improvements, which increase the effectiveness of government plan expenditure on new programmes.

The second relates to improvements in customer satisfaction on the delivery of services by government agencies.

The third relates to the perception of corruption and to tackle it.

11.Promoting Regional Equality Challenges

Inter-State Inequalities in per capita income have been rising

Intra-State and Rural-Urban inequalities also an issue of concern

While growth rates have been increasing, this is not reflected in improvements in income

Gap in Human Development Index (State level) has however decreased

Convergence of GDP Growth Rates during successive Plans

Interventions to tackle Regional Disparities

Investments in less developed States through Centrally Sponsored Schemes using more favourable norms for distribution of assistance

Area Programmes

Hill Area Development Programme/Western Ghats Development Programme

Border Area Development Programme

Projected Outcomes

Better Infrastructure in the less developed areas including hill and border areas.

Improvement in delivery system through active participation of Panchayati Raj Institutions in planning, execution and monitoring.

Area Specific Targeting and untied funds to bridge critical gaps leading to narrowing of development divide between developed and less developed regions.

Address disparities within the District.

Panchayati Raj

Goal - to attain decentralised and participatory local self government through Panchayati Raj Institutions

Objectives – empowerment, enablement and increased accountability of PRIs

Challenges: - Actual transfer of functions. - Building capacity to make PRIs effective local governing bodies. - Amendment of relevant Laws/Acts.

Projected Outcomes

Progressive devolution of functions, functionaries and funds to PRIs

Increased participation of women/other disadvantaged groups in decision making through Gram Sabhas and Panchayat

CONCLUSION

The economy will enter the 12th plan period in an environment of great promise but also one that presents major challenges. India has done well on the growth front, but not so well on inclusion.

Much of what needs to be done to accelerate GDP growth to 9% so will be done by the private sector, but the central and state governments have a crucial role to play in providing a policy environment that is seen as investor friendly and is supportive of inclusive growth. Finally, the efficiency in implementation of projects on the ground needs to be greatly improved.

Most of what needs to be done in this context rests with state governments but the central government must find ways of improving project design, resources to fund well designed interventions that work, devolving resources to lower levels and helping in building capacity. Evidence-based evaluation is critical for redesign.