In India, enforcement of the provisions of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 has been one of the weakest links in the efforts of controlling air pollution. Technological innovations, initiatives and online monitoring itself may not result in effective prevention and control of air pollution unless it is backed by a strong citizen and CSO driven movement.  

We are engaged in the implementation of this Act through the means of legal and scientific research, in tracking and analysing the policy level development, decision of Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal and various High Courts to bring the substantial progress on the issue of air pollution in public domain. Being an advocacy group, we regularly analyse the performance of various State level Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) and State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) to assess the extent of importance given to air pollution mitigation while appraising any project/activity. Informing citizen and building their capacity to support effective implementation of the Air Act is something that LIFE looks into and to ensure the same, it is engaged in organising capacity building workshops, preparation of issue based policy papers and dissemination of these issues through suitable platforms. 

To allow any non-forestry activity inside a Wildlife Sanctuary or National a Parks also requires mandatory recommendation of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) as per the requirement under the present statutes.  The NBWL delegated powers to the Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) to review and recommend the proposals involving non-forestry activities.

In addition to the above mentioned it is also mandatory to obtain approval of SC-NBWL for any activity including alteration of boundaries of Tiger Reserves. Therefore, any proposal involving any area under the notified Tiger Reserve will also be governed by the relevant provisions applicable to the Wildlife Sanctuaries and therefore, will be referred to the SC NBWL for consideration. Further, approval of NBWL is required for diversion of areas connecting tiger reserves for ecologically unsustainable activities.

The Supreme Court in its order dated 04.12.2006 in WP Civil (460/2004) directed that in case any project requiring Environmental Clearance, is located within the eco-sensitive zone around a Wildlife Sanctuary or National Park or in absence of delineation of such a zone, within a distance of 10 kms from its boundaries, the User agency/Project Proponent is required to obtain recommendations of the SC NBWL.

For detailed procedure of Wildlife Clearance follow the link:

http://indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/Guidance%20document%20for%20taking%20up%20non%20forestry%20activities%20in%20wildlife%20habitats.pdf

  For detailed procedure of Wildlife Clearance

The Biological Diversity Act, 2002 (BD Act, 2002) was enacted owing to India’s obligation under the International obligation under the Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992.  The convention is built on the three-fold objective: conservation of biological resources, their sustainable utilisation and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of utilisation of biological resources and related traditional knowledge. The Act is built on a three-tier institutional structure: the National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs). 

We are working actively on the implementation of the BD Act, 2002. Its activities comprise of both legal researches support and on-field activities