Environmentalists not happy with budget proposals

Calling the scene too vague to comment,Sujit Patwardhan,environmentalist,said,“It is not only too early to comment but also dicey. It often happens that headlines are misleading and the story turns out to be different. For example,a 2.5 per cent cut in custom duty on wind turbines or tax holiday to natural gas products will do no good if the other damaging factors are not checked. So we have to wait and watch and at the same time continue our effort towards saving environment.”

Giving another example of a window-dressing budget,Patwardhan says,“If the government promises cheap fertilisers to farmers,it is not helping them. It is damaging the environment and in the long run it would prove to be harmful for farmers as well. So only the environment related points in the budget would not give the whole picture.”

Navroz Mody,president,Bombay Environmental Action Group,said,“Far and wide,the budget is not at all environmental friendly. It is usual economy driven budget that is cut out to please people but not save them. In the run to meet the economic emergency,the government is being liberal with the industries and the result is polluted environment. It is a matter of concern that not one river India is clean. Government is sidelining the environmental safeguards and is busy in acquiring lands from farmers for industries. However,they should also be ready for a reaction soon. Let alone making big provisions,the economic cost to help environment has also not been calculated.”

Some relief
* 8 per cent duty on man-made fibre and yarn
* Tax holiday extend to natural gas product from NELP VII
* Custom duty on wind power equip cut by 2.5 per cent
* Tax holiday under 80 I B extended to natural gas product
* Farm sector growth at 4 per cent
* Irrigation benefit increased