**Executive Summary:**
This document outlines the Indian government's efforts to address environmental regulations, climate change mitigation, and transboundary environmental concerns, particularly in West Bengal. It details the implementation of environmental laws, support for climate adaptation in vulnerable regions like the Sundarbans, and measures to manage hazardous waste. It also highlights the roles and responsibilities of various governmental bodies in these initiatives.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Implementation of Environmental Regulations and Forest Rights Act:**
* Environmental regulations are implemented through state and UT Environment Departments, Pollution Control Boards/Committees, Coastal Zone Management Authorities, and Ministry Regional Offices.
* Coastal Regulation Zones (CRZ) and Island Coastal Regulation Zones (ICRZ) are defined to protect coastal ecosystems, with clearance processes incorporating safeguards for sustainable livelihoods.
* Critically Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCAs) like the Sundarbans are protected under the Environment Protection Act, 1986, with community involvement.
* The Forest Rights Act (FRA) is implemented by state governments, including West Bengal, with support from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs through initiatives like the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DAJGUA).
* **Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Efforts:**
* The National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) has sanctioned 30 projects across 27 states and UTs, including West Bengal (total approved cost of Rs 847.48 crore).
* Under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), Rs. 1313.21 crore has been provided to West Bengal for air quality improvement in six cities.
* The National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems (NPCA) has released Rs. 16.91 crore (from 2003-04 to 2019-20) for the conservation of the Sundarbans wetland.
* Rs. 88.514 lakhs was released for Sundarbans to West Bengal under the National Coastal Mission during the financial year 2022-23.
* **Addressing Transboundary Environmental Concerns:**
* The Hazardous and Other Wastes Management and Transboundary Movement Rules, 2016, regulate the safe management of hazardous wastes.
* India adheres to the Basel and Rotterdam Conventions, mandating Prior Informed Consent (PIC) for hazardous waste movement and regulating international trade in hazardous chemicals and pesticides.
* Transboundary climate change concerns are addressed through the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and its nine sector-specific missions.
* West Bengal has adopted a State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) 2021-30, aiming for a carbon-neutral state.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **State Environment Departments, Pollution Control Boards/Committees, Coastal Zone Management Authorities, and Ministry Regional Offices:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing environmental regulations and ensuring compliance within their respective jurisdictions.
* *Action Required:* Enforce environmental laws, conduct appraisals for CRZ/ICRZ clearances, and incorporate safeguards for sustainable livelihoods.
* **Coastal Communities:**
* *Impact:* Affected by regulations concerning coastal zone management and conservation efforts. Their livelihoods are to be considered in project clearances.
* *Action Required:* Actively participate in the management of CVCAs and adhere to regulations aimed at sustainable resource use.
* **Tribal Populations (West Bengal and other states):**
* *Impact:* Subject to the provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), which impacts their rights and access to forest resources.
* *Action Required:* Engage with state governments and FRA cells to ensure the proper implementation of FRA provisions and benefit from related schemes.
* **Government of West Bengal:**
* *Impact:* Receives financial support for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects, particularly in vulnerable regions like the Sundarbans.
* *Action Required:* Implement city action plans for air quality improvement, manage and conserve wetlands, and execute the State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC).
* **Nodal Ministries/Departments (under NAPCC):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for implementing sector-specific missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change.
* *Action Required:* Develop and execute strategies to combat the adverse impacts of climate change within their respective sectors.
Key Entities Referenced
West Bengal: A state in eastern India, the focus of the policy document concerning environmental regulations, climate change mitigation, and tribal rights.
Forest Rights Act: Officially known as the Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006. Legislation concerning the rights of forest-dwelling communities.
Sundarbans: A mangrove area in the delta formed by the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna Rivers in the Bay of Bengal, located in West Bengal, India.
National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change: A fund established to support climate change adaptation projects across states and union territories in India.
National Clean Air Programme: A program aimed at improving air quality in cities across India.
Environment Protection Act, 1986: An Act of the Parliament of India. With the objective of providing for the protection and improvement of the environment
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for the welfare and development of the tribal population.
National Action Plan on Climate Change: A comprehensive action plan outlining measures to address climate change across various sectors in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED Q. NO. 3563
TO BE ANSWERED ON 11.08.2025
Climate Change Mitigation Efforts
3563. SMT. RACHNA BANERJEE:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to
state:
(a) the measure adopted by the Government to ensure the proper implementation of
environmental regulations and the Forest Rights Act in West Bengal, while also
considering the need for sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities and tribal
populations;
(b) the support provided by the Government for climate change mitigation and adaptation
efforts in West Bengal, especially for vulnerable regions like the Sundarbans; and
(c) the steps taken/proposed to be taken to address transboundary environmental concerns?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) Environmental regulations across the country, including the State of West Bengal are
implemented through Environment Departments of States/ UTs, State Pollution Control
Boards/Pollution Control Committees, Coastal Zone Management Authorities and Regional
Offices of the Ministry. Defined areas in Coastal stretches are declared as Coastal Regulation
Zone (CRZ)/Island Coastal Regulation Zone (ICRZ) to conserve and protect coastal and marine
ecosystems. CRZ/ICRZ clearance is granted after due appraisal and incorporation of
safeguards, including measures for sustainable livelihoods of coastal communities. Critically
Vulnerable Coastal Areas (CVCAs), such as the Sundarbans in West Bengal, are protected
under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and managed with active involvement of coastal
communities for sustaining livelihoods. As per information received from Ministry of Tribal
Affairs the provisions of “Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition
of Forest Rights) Act, 2006” and Rules made thereunder, the State Governments are responsible
for implementation of various provisions of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), which is being
implemented in 20 States (including West Bengal) and 1 UT. Ministry of Tribal Affairs under
scheme of Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan (DA- JGUA), has inter alia included
several initiatives and setting up dedicated FRA cells at the State and district/subdivision levels
and through convergence with several schemes of Department of Agriculture, AnimalHusbandry and Fisheries where the respective scheme guidelines have been modified to limit
the beneficiary contribution wherever needed to only 10 %.
(b) National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) has sanctioned 30 projects across
27 States and UTs, including West Bengal, with a total approved cost of Rs 847.48 crore.
Under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) for critical gap funding to implement air quality
improvement measures, an amount of Rs. 1313.21 crore has been provided to West Bengal for
implementation of city action plans in six cities namely, Asansol, Kolkata Urban
Agglomeration (including Howrah and Barrackpore), Haldia and Durgapur.
Under Centrally sponsored scheme the National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems
(NPCA) for Conservation and Management of Wetlands, an amount of Rs. 16.91 crore has been
released from 2003-04 to 2019-20 to the Govt. of West Bengal for conservation and
management of Sundarbans wetland for activities like wetland mapping, restocking of aquatic
fauna, habitat improvement, alternate livelihood development activities, public awareness and
monitoring & research.
An amount of Rs. 88.514 lakhs was released for Sundarbans to West Bengal under the National
Coastal Mission during the financial year 2022-23.
(c) Government of India has notified the Hazardous and Other Wastes (Management and
Transboundary Movement) Rules, 2016, under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 to
ensure safe storage, treatment and disposal of hazardous wastes in an environmentally sound
manner. The import/export of hazardous and other waste is regulated thorough the said Rules.
India has ratified the Basel Convention, which mandates Prior Informed Consent (PIC) for
movement of hazardous wastes, and the Rotterdam Convention, which regulates international
trade in certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides, enabling Parties to permit, restrict or
prohibit their import. Transboundary concerns related to climate change, are addressed through
the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) comprising nine sector-specific
missions, implemented by respective Nodal Ministries/Departments. All these Missions focus
on strategies to combat the adverse impacts of climate change in the Country, including in West
Bengal. West Bengal has adopted State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC) 2021–30 as
a roadmap aiming for a carbon-neutral State.
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