The recent urge from the Supreme court for the central government to establish an all-India level Indian Environment Service (IES) has brought up the need for a dedicated environmental body. This suggestion for IES was initially recommended by a committee led by former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian in 2014.
Genesis of the IES Recommendation
The concept of an IES was first proposed by a high-level committee, constituted in August 2014 and chaired by TSR Subramanian. The primary motive of the committee was to review the existing environmental laws under the Ministry of Environment, Forests And Climate Change (MoEF & CC) and to align them with demands of the time.
The Role and Purpose of IES
The proposed IES is envisioned as an expert group able to handle environmental matters in the public and quasi-governmental sectors over the coming decades. The service will be necessitated by the constant environmental degradation, ecological imbalance, climate change, and water scarcity that plague India. Citizens face numerous environmental challenges such as air pollution, water pollution, improper waste disposal, and damage to the natural environment.
Reasons for Environmental Degradation
One of the primary causes of environmental degradation is the lack of effective enforcement capabilities within environmental institutions at various levels. The observation of the TSR Subramanian Committee inferred that government servants, given their current administrative setup, find it hard to devote special time for environmental causes.
Lack of a Specialised Cadre
The committee noted that there is a shortage of trained personnel involved in administration, policy formulation, and supervision in the implementation of policies from state and central governments. While India has a robust environmental policy and legislative framework, weak implementation has led to criticism of environmental governance from conservation experts and the judiciary. The committee also highlighted the lack of effective coordination among various ministries and institutions in integrating environmental concerns.
Challenges Associated with Establishing IES
The establishment of an IES would overlap with the existing All India Service (Indian Forest Service), raising potential conflict and confusion. The introduction of the IES could also challenge the federal structure.
A Possible Way Forward
To address the aforementioned challenges, it is suggested that creating new All India Service officers who have a generalist approach may counter contemporary challenges which require a more specialised approach. A potential solution could be the set up of an Indian Environmental Service Academy, assigned with the task of training officers to enforce environmental laws effectively.