Work Collectively to Protect Environment and Humanity: President
Smt. Pratibha Devi Singh Patil, President of India, said, “Over the years, we have witnessed sever and unexpected weather patterns. In this situation, managing the environment as well as mitigating and adapting to the many impacts of climate change, will be one of our most important challenges. This knowledge should prepare us for taking suitable actions. We should work collectively to protect environment and humanity. ” Inaugurating the International Seminar on Global Environment & Disaster Management: Law & Society here today, she said, “There has also been, in recent times, a greater frequency of disasters with acutely sever fallouts. Destruction caused by disaster, can be minimized by a well functioning disaster management system. Lack of such systems can be a recipe for even greater disaster. What is needed is efficient policies and institutional support right up to the stage of rehabilitation of affected persons.”
The President said, “While laws and policies have an important role to play in reducing the impact of disasters and laying a framework, awareness levels and conduct of people can play an equally significant role in dealing with natural or manmade calamities. The nature of public reaction can either help or slow down the efforts of public authorities to reach the affected.”
“One lesson is that disasters do not announce their arrival and therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a culture of prevention and preparedness. There should be proactive pre-disaster action. Every State should take this up and set up early warning systems as a mandatory action. Action at the macro level is not enough, it needs to be undertaken at the micro level” she added.
Chief Justice of India, Justice Sh S H Kapadia said, “The traditional concept that development and ecology are oppose to each other is not acceptable today. Sustainable development is the answer to importance of human life. It will help to eradicate poverty and improve the quality of human life .But the most important essence is right to life. We are growing at the rate of 50,000 per day. The shrinking resources will not help any excellent schemes or projects and will destroy growth. The ultimate challenge for environment ethics is conservation of life on earth. The man-land ratio is adverse. The carrying capacity of the supporting economy has to be improved. The forest and environment is national asset and we have to transfer it to our next generation.”
Justice Sh Kapadia suggested to the Ministry of Environment and Forests to simplify their notifications. . He appealed the Ministry to have a panel of experts and follow a common procedure. A change in the pattern of submitting project reports is required where opinion of project applicant for viability of project should not be accepted.
Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan, Minister of state for Environment and Forests (Independent Charge) said, “The poor are more vulnerable towards possible impact of environmental degradation, and they pay disproportionately greater price. They are also affected due to ill-designed policies at some time which do not mitigate properly environmental degradation and climate change. Creating awareness about environment, with disaster management and climate change issues is very much integrated with the issue of human rights and environment justice. We believe that poverty eradication is extremely important.” Addressing at the curtain raiser function on the eve of the International Seminar on ‘Global Environment and Disaster Management: Law and Society” here today she said, “ The efforts of Governments will help to think in a holistic manner to revisit our priorities in dealing with environmental disasters. Deliberations of concerns, views and processes at such seminar will help in guiding our orient institutes towards playing a positive and meaningful role in this regard.”
Sh Salman Khurshid, Minister of Law and Justice said, “The responsibility is of everybody to maintain justice and success of generations to come. This is a significant milestone for us to have an international seminar. This is the age of convergence and specialized persons from specific fields will discuss together on one platform. We will revive our institute in a targeted way. The government has to respond to convergence. Our methodology and our attitudes towards functions have to change. This conference is taking place at such a time where remarkable inputs will be received. The Message from here is that we have to move in a particular direction when industrial and technological revolution has taken place. The rapid industrial growth which bring pressure on natural resources should be reduced which looks more difficult.” Sh Goolam E Vahanvati, Attorney General of India also addressed the august gathering.
In his welcome address Justice Sh Swanter Kumar said this International Seminar on ‘Global Environment and Disaster Management: Law & Society’ will focus debate on the burning issue of global environment. The theme breaks several barriers and brings together 15 countries from around the globe. They will showcase a gamut of innovative suggestions on the resolution of environmental problems. He said , “ The breadth of technical knowledge required within the legal profession - especially in the nascent field of environmental disaster management - is an uphill task for any human being.
Talking about the economy he said, “The “clean economy” is fast becoming an industry to watch and competitive advantages of countries may soon come to be determined on the basis of their competencies in environmental disaster management. The UN Special Representative for Disaster Risk Reduction notes: “…disaster risk reduction is no longer optional – it is a strategic and technical tool for helping national and local governments to fulfill their responsibilities towards citizens.”
“Emerging environmental concerns are voiced by private litigants before Courts; we shall address and assess the responses of global Judiciary. In modern times, law helps betterment of human civilization and in the field of environment. Development can sometimes itself appear to cause disaster. Natural calamities are aggravated and augmented by irresponsible human activity. ‘Biodiversity’ evokes enduring public concern and policy innovation. The healthy debate underlying the science and economics of biodiversity, bio-safety or even genetic modification, are microcosms of the entire Seminar,” he added.
Disasters resulting from nuclear and chemical accidents are another significant threat, which need to be mitigated by appropriate design of nuclear plants, proper management of hazardous substances and proper legal regime for compensation and remediation in chemical accidents.
The import of inclusive growth and water and food security must also not be dismissed. The global conferences at Stockholm, Rio and Johannesburg catalyzed phenomenal growth in environmental policies, legislation and institutions. The Indian Courts have treated environment as an essential facet of the right to live with dignity within the ambit of Article 21 of the Constitution of India. Forests have been treated as ‘national asset’.
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