MUMBAI: In a bid to ingrain green accountability, the union government is now mooting an ‘environment friend rating' for states. India's Ministry of Environment and Forests, a ministry of the Central government has drawn up an Environment Protection or Performance Index (EPI) that is expected to be ready and finalized by next year, 2013. The EPI has been based on the existing Human Development Index (HDI), and in a similar manner will rate states especially on three parameters, besides others — their management of coastal pollution, solid waste, sewerage, water and the rise in sea level in the corresponding waters. “With population increasing by the day and the growth of industrialization in the state, we feel the need for EPI for Maharashtra. This will help us analyze the areas we need to improve upon. We will be able to gauge how much we are conserving the environment,” Minister of state for environment Sachin Ahire told Bikyamasr.com. Several states have been not in the good books with the central MoEF, for cases of illegal mining, violations of coastal environments as well as scant regard for waste disposal norms. Sources in the Union Ministry say that the guidelines and subsequent rating would be dependent on India's 2020 projections on climate change effects drawn up by Director-General of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and Nobel Laureate Dr R K Pachauri. Environmentalists especially in India's ore rich states have long being crying hoarse against the huge environmental effects of mining, which they say tramples on traditional people's rights besides being in gross violation of all environmental norms.
