Topic : Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.
4. The country’s poor performance on the Environmental Performance Index highlights the urgent need to plug the gaps on the fronts of sanitation, drinking water, air quality and others. Critically analyse and suggest measures to address these concerns. (250 words)
Reference: Financial Express
Why the question:
According to the 12th edition of the Environment Performance Index (EPI 2020)—released by Yale University—India has performed poorly. Out of the 180 countries analyzed, India stood at 168. Thus the question.
Key Demand of the question:
The answer should discuss the poor performance of the country and the underlying causes of it, it must emphasize on the urgent need to plug the gaps on the fronts of sanitation, drinking water, air quality and others.
Directive:
Critically analyze – When asked to analyse, you have to examine methodically the structure or nature of the topic by separating it into component parts and present them as a whole in a summary. When ‘critically’ is suffixed or prefixed to a directive, one needs to look at the good and bad of the topic and give a fair judgment.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Discuss the facts brought about by the EPI and India’s status with respect to it.
Body:
India performed the worst regionally on all five key parameters for environmental health—sanitation, drinking water, air quality, heavy metals, and waste management. It seriously needs to focus on fixing air & water quality and biodiversity. Discuss the causes that have led to such poor performance. Also explain what needs to be done, highlight the policy measures that are already in place in this direction.
Conclusion:
Conclude that the government must take a hard look at the problem areas the report highlights, and, with the help of all stakeholders, act on safeguarding the environment and not only protect it from further degradation, but also try and reverse the damage wherever possible.
