Budget 2022-23: Indian Economy should Go Green with initiatives like EVs to fulfil Sustainable Development Goals & Climate Change commitments at COP 26, Glasgow
V Selvarajan
Talking of Union Budget 2022-23, Nature Lovers, Environmentalists, Sustainable Development Thinks Tanks, and Social & Green Entrepreneurs say that Indian Economy should Go Green with more initiatives like EVs to fulfil Sustainable Development Goals & Climate Change commitments at COP 26, Glasgow.
One aspect that Chemical free Natural Farming is encouraged is a welcome step. But how is it going to be enforced, we have to wait and watch. Solar power will naturally get a boost which is on expected lines, given that the PM promised it at COP 26 at Glasgow recently .
However, the five River Linking Projects that have been said to be finalised have to be done cautiously taking care after proper Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), taking care of Nature and Ecology. also.
Though the FM underlines six thrust areas as focal points of her budget, it seems that there is nothing in the budget to stop deforestation that goes at rocket speed in the country beyond sustainability.
Again the FM says that steps will be initiated to speeden up the Green Clearance, indirectly indicating that Environment Impact Assessment (EIA 2020) will be enforced relegating the enormous people's voice to backseat against the same.
Electric Vehicles for Battery Swapping Policy that is also on cards will help all Electric Vehicles, Rickshaws, Scooters, Three Wheelers (Autos), Loaders, Cars and Buses to run efficiently. However the owners of battery run electric vehicles are still keeping their fingers crossed as Electric Vehicle Charging Stations are very few. This should have been the thrust area to slow down Fossil Fuel consumption.
It's no wonder that the government encourages Private sector, nothing is new that they propose to create sustainable and innovative business models for battery and energy as a service, to improve the efficiency in the EV ecosystem
As the budget is always prospective, one can only be optimistic that the green proposals will be implemented in letter and spirit. On the whole any proposal to enrich environment is welcome but it is unfortunate that it doesn't meet the expectation of environment conscious citizen to put a break on rapid industrialisation, mining and infra projects, and nor the draconian amendments to Biodiversity Act, Forest Conservation Act or EIA are taken into consideration.
V Selvarajan is Founder, Green Circle and has done excellent work on Environment, Water Bodies, like Lakes, Afforestation, Plantations Birds and Nature Photography at many places in North and South India. He is now based in Bangalore, but still active in Delhi also.