15-03-2021 | 15:49 PM
State of Environment Report, 2021
Context
The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has released its State of Environment Report, 2021 on February 25, 2021.
Key Highlights of the report
According to the report, the country is all set to host a ‘pandemic generation’. 375 million children (from new-born to 14-year-olds) have a long-lasting impact ranging from being underweight, stunting, and increased child mortality.
Reports state that the pandemic has its hidden victims. Out of the 500 million children forced out of school globally, India accounts for more than 50%.
Covid-19 has also turned the world’s poor into poorer. 115 million additional people might get pushed into extreme poverty and most of them live in South Asia.
India’s air, water and land have become more polluted between 2009 and 2018.
Of 88 major industrial clusters in the country, according to the Central Pollution Control Board, 35 showed overall environmental degradation, 33 pointed to worsening air quality, 45 had more polluted water and in 17, land pollution became worse. Tarapur in Maharashtra emerged as the most polluted cluster.
India ranks 117 among 192 nations in terms of sustainable development. It is behind all South Asian nations except Pakistan.
Report states that in the year 2019, 67 million Indians died due to air pollution. Its economic cost was over US $36,000 million, which is equivalent to 1.36% of India’s GDP.
Environmental crime cases are increasing and disposal of the cases is slow. In 2019, 34,671 crimes were registered and 49,877 cases are pending trial.
Forestland diversion is continuing consistently. In the year 2019, over 11,000 hectares were diverted in 22 states. Eight coal projects were granted clearance in ‘No-Go’ areas. These projects diverted around 19,614 ha of forestland and evicted over 10,000 families.
About State of Environment Report
State of Environment Report is an annual publication by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) along with Down To Earth.
This report covers aspects such as forests, wildlife, agriculture, rural development, water and sanitation, and climate change. This publication is regarded as the most credible and complete annual survey of India’s environment.
