Public Engagement “?”

Under Environmental Impact Assessment 2020

Glad to see voices against the draft EIA notification 2020. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) unveiled the draft notification proposing amendments to the EIA notification 2006. First Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) notification was introduced in India during 1994 under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 which was later amended in 2006. The notification contains measures to be satisfied before commencing development projects to protect environmental consequences due to its implementation.

Broadly, the projects are classified under Category A, B1, and B2. The stages to obtain Prior Environment Clearance for projects under Category A, B1, and B2 are mentioned in Section 10. The proposed section provides for public consultations as a process. However, the draft notification has curtailed public engagement. This has brought a nightmare to the public.

The EIA 2020 also proposes a concept called strategic projects and Section 5 (7) exempts the availability of information related to those projects from the public domain. Those projects that are coined as strategic by the Central Government are exempted from public consultation. A concept called post-facto clearance also poses as a threat as projects functioning in violation would also be able to apply for clearance. EIA is also exempted for construction projects up to 150,000 sq. m. All these came as a shockwave curbing the merits of EIA and public involvement. The notification is open for public responses until 11th of August.

Many websites have been voicing against EIA and some have also been blocked for campaigning against. Petitions and forms circulates on social media to make our opinion count. It is high time we safeguard the purpose of EIA and intensify public engagement. Herewith, I’m attaching a link through which you can voice out your dissent towards EIA 2020!

(Civis collects all our responses and would share it with the concerned Government Department)

Requesting to keep us posted if you find other platforms to post our dissent!

Jallikattu time again? PETA in action!

Jallikattu has been under a lot of controversies in the past. It has been through prohibition and also amendments in the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 1960 reversing the Supreme Court ban.

Yet again, it is on the news. 

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) requested the Tamil Nadu government to comment on the inspection report of the bull-taming sport conducted this year. According to the People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) inspection report, six animals said to have died during the event.

Statements from the report as quoted by Dr. S K Dutta, Secretary, AWBI, exclaimed that pictures showcased cruelty that the animals were teased with nails. Data of one animal death recorded by the committee established in coordination with the TN government contradicts the data put forward by the PETA. Hence, the AWBI has called the government to furnish its comments or views on the report received from PETA at the earliest for further action. Amid pandemic and increasing tensions over the India-China issue, Animal welfare organizations seek public attention.

Concerning Covid-19 Vaccine, the Indian Council of Medical Research wrote to medical institutions and hospitals to fasten the trials aiming to launch a vaccine by 15th August, remarking independence day. On the other hand, a survey by an NGO, Society for Empowerment (SFE) in Patna has exposed that cultural habits of people in tribal areas in Chhattisgarh kept them virus-free. The report expressly stated on the use of traditional herbs and medicines along with social distancing norms of their culture. As cases continue to surge, it’s high time we become more conscious (over health on top priority).

G4 in China

Waves of coronavirus, a global pandemic have already caused an existential crisis all over the world. Meanwhile, researchers in China exposed a study on G4 Swine Flu Virus in the U.S. journal, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PANS). The study stated ‘systematic surveillance is a key measure for pre-warning the emergence of the next pandemic influenza.’ 

The study was published based on the observation of samples in China from 2011 to 2018 and this genotype has been found among pigs predominantly since 2016. Testing workers in the swine industry, it is found that nearly 10.4 percentage test positive to G4. It is said that the G4 genotype has descended from the H1N1 virus that caused the flu pandemic in 2009.

The study exclaimed that the virus possesses ‘all essential hallmarks of being highly adapted to infect humans.’ As reported in the Guardian, it is said that 4.4% of the general population has been exposed to this virus indicating it has already transmitted to human species.  Zhao Lijian, Foreign Ministry spokesperson of China, assured to take up necessary steps preventing the spread and outbreak of the virus.