NHRC issues advisory to Centre and State Govts to prevent and mitigate impacts of environmental pollution and degradation on human rights

National Human Rights Commission has issued an advisory to the Centre and the State Governments to prevent, minimise and mitigate the impacts of environmental pollution and degradation on human rights. The commission has finalized the advisory in consultation with the domain experts by examining the effects of air and water pollution and ecological degradation on the enjoyment of basic human rights. Issuing the Advisory, the NHRC has observed that in spite of having one of the world’s best statutory and policy frameworks for environment protection, India is experiencing a serious problem of air and water pollution and ecological degradation causing impediments to the enjoyment of basic human rights.

In a letter to the Secretaries of concerned Union Ministries, Chief Secretaries of States, Administrators of Union Territories and the Registrar of all High Courts, the commission has asked for the implementation of its recommendations in the advisory and sought Action Taken Report within three months. The advisory has focused on five key areas for action by the Centre and State Governments. These include punishment of polluters and violators of environmental laws, prevention and minimization of vehicular pollution and processing of proposals seeking clearances mandated by various environmental laws in an informed, transparent and non-partisan manner.