India ranks very poor in environmental sustainability

New Delhi, Mar 2 (UNI) India ranks very poor among 146 countries in environmental governance and sustainability, the Government told the Rajya Sabha today.

The 2005 Environmental Sustainability Index(ESI) formulated by the Centre for Environmental Law and Policy of Yale University and Centre for International Earth Science Information Network, Columbia University, places India at 101st down the ladder.

The Index is utilised for ranking various countries, integrates 21 indicators of Environmental Sustainability including air and water quality and environmental governance, Minister of State for Environment and Forest Namo Narain Meena told the House in a written reply.

He said that based on the pollution potential, 17 categories of highly polluting industries had been identified: Aluminium, cement, chlore-alkali, copper, distillery, dyes, fertiliser, iron and steel, oil refineries, pesticides, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, sugar, tannery, thermal power plants and zinc.

Mr Meena said the government was taking various steps to control pollution and had notified emission and effluent standards for various industries.

Enforcement and compliance for industries was monitored through state pollution control boards.

Among other steps, charter on 'Corporate Responsibility for Environmental Protection' had been set up as a road map for progressive environment improvement, he said.

UNI