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International Seminar on Global Environment & Disaster Management
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 on July 2011, 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’. Source: Ministry of Environment and Forests |
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