Environment and 2022 Budget: Amrit Kaal or Vish Kaal? https://vikalpsangam.org/article/environment-and-2022-budget-amrit-kaal-or-vish-kaal/
overall, environment continues to be a ‘sideshow’. it is given a few token sops, while in fact financial allocations continue to fuel an economy that is fundamentally unsustainable..
A search of the Finance Minister’s Budget speech for the following words is revealing in itself: nature, wildlife, environment, ecology, ecosystem, pollution, conservation. Total occurrence of these words: ZERO (except in uses such as ‘business environment’ and ‘growth ecosystem’).
What is the absolute minimum the budget should contain?
1. At least 4% of the budget should be allocated to environment sector,
2. At least 1% of the budget to support rural and urban communities to take steps for climate mitigation and adaptation,
3. Shift much of the investment in infrastructure away from mega-projects to localised, decentralised infrastructure
4. Provide substantial allocation to public transport, prioritising bus systems rather than metros, and dedicated cycle and pedestrian systems in all cities and towns.
5.Provide allocations for nationwide consultations and implementation measures to transition agriculture, including allied sectors, to organic, natural, and bioculturally diverse methods.
6. Orient schemes and programmes on livelihoods towards green jobs,
7. Set up a process to consider establishing a Constitutionally mandated Environment Commissioner, for monitoring compliance of environmental laws, policies and norms by government and other agencies.