Our Policy on Environment
Ecological Security for Sustainable Development
THE BJP believes in the traditional Indian position that Nature is sacred. The Atharva Veda sets out the principle that Nature is the mother of humans and that humans owe a responsibility to maintain the ecological balance. The BJP will ensure institutional measures to bring about ecological security so that all developmental programmes are in conformity with the principles of sustainable development.
It is essential to ensure production with lower inputs of energy, water, chemicals and at tower costs. This will call for significant scientific research, new technologies and implementation strategies. To deal with these critical problems, the BJP Government will:
1. Introduce a National Environment Policy incorporating a healthy balance between development needs and preservation of natural resources. The interests of States and consultation with them will be fully ensured. To implement the policy, the Ministry of Environment and Forests will be recast as the Ministry for Ecological Security;
2. Formulate a programme for developing sustainable cities with special emphasis on urban planning, safe drinking water, waste management and lowering the use of natural resources like water through recycling and reduced usage intensity.
3. Implement better management and harnessing of river waters as well as sources of ground water;
4. Control land, air and water pollution by industry and urban centres. Municipal sewage treatment plants will be made obligatory;
5. Revive the faith of the people that Nature is sacred and make environment studies part of school, college and university curricula.
Also, make environment issues an integral part of the visual media so that our children develop a caring and protective attitude towards the ecological system that sustains our lives;
6. Protect the traditional and other rights of Vanvasis and Girijans over forest resources and produce;
7. Involve local Self-governments at all levels (panchayats, nagar palikas and zila parishads) both in villages and cities, in implementing the National Policy;
8. Provide easy access to information on conservation and sustainable use of natural resources;
9. Ban the import of hazardous chemical wastes for recycling by any industry or for dumping;
10. Minimize the use of non-biodegradable material for packaging by the consumer non-durable products industry;
11. Restrain the conversion of forests or grazing areas for other purposes;
12. Adopt afforestation policies to be fulfilled within a given time frame and prevent the degradation of fore by natural or manmade causes. The cornerstone of the BJP's forest policy will be a part of the total framework of land management, adoption of a dynamic programme of productive forestry and moving to private investment in forestry from total State management of forests. A programme will also be drawn up for conversion of degraded forests, wasteland and marginal land into quality forests;
13. Deny exploitation of offshore resources, especially marine life, by big trawlers;
14. Promote research and development in environment-related issues and eco-technology for application in agriculture, industry and the services sector;
15. Provide incentives to manufacturers of eco-friendly products;
16. Not sanction tourism-related projects that disturb the environment and cause degradation;
17. A major effort will be mounted to clean up our river systems and other water bodies;
18. Develop machinery for prevention, integration and management of national disasters;
19. Encourage energy conserving techniques in all areas of production.
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