India doing enough to combat global warming: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday rubbished criticism from developed nations that India was not doing enough to combat global warming, saying it fully recognised the importance of the issue.

He also said that domestic capacity should be strengthened to meet the challenges arising out of growing energy needs.

"We fully recognise not just how important this issue is to India but also our own obligation to address it," he said apparently referring to criticism from developed nations on the issue.

The prime minister was addressing a national conference of state ministers of environment and forests in New Delhi.

"Our energy needs will increase sharply in the decades to come. We can and must walk a different road, an environment-friendly road," he said.

For this, Singh said, access to new technologies available with developed countries was required."We must also make own investments in environment-friendly technologies."

For strengthening scientific foundations of environment policies and capacity to deal with the challenges,he said, "We must involve more stakeholders particularly youth to lead the movement for environmental protection."

As a step towards this direction, he asked states to create their own action plans consistent with the National Action Plan on Climate Change unveiled last year.

On the adverse impact of climate change on coastal zones, Singh asked island authorities to work in close coordination with the centre to evolve an integrated approach.

He also touched upon the critical issue of river cleaning and advocated the need for synergising the river conservation efforts through innovative models like Special Purpose Vehicles.

The prime minister directed the States to 'effectively enforce legal provisions through state pollution control boards to curtail the discharge of untreated industrial effluents that account for 25 per cent of the total pollution load in our rivers.'

Pitching for community participation in environment protection, he said in no way tribals should become 'orphans' of the environment.

"Our tribals are our environmental foot soldiers. They have guarded our forests and evolved a sophisticated way of living in harmony with nature.The Tribal Rights Act guarantees legitimate rights to forest dwellers," he said.

Apparently endorsing the views of environmentalists, Singh observed that 'environment clearances have become a new form of License Raj and a source of corruption.'

"This is a matter that needs to be addressed. There are trade-offs that have to be made while balancing developmental and environmental concern. But the procedures must be fair, transparent and hassle-free," Singh added.

Image: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh