Latest news with #BhupenderYadav
The Print
2 days ago
- Business
- The Print
Slashing GST on waste can unlock Rs 1.8 lakh crore, high tax hurting circular economy goals—CSE
'Most small dealers who collect scrap cannot afford an 18% GST, so they keep their transactions cash-based and untaxed,' CSE said in a release on the report. 'These unrecorded transactions lead to estimated Rs 65,000 crore annual GST losses for the government.' Under the GST framework in India, scrap materials are treated as goods, and they are subject to GST when sold or traded. Further, the waste management sector in India is divided into the formal and informal sector. The formal sector consists of registered businesses that follow tax regulations, including GST, while the informal sector operates outside this framework. New Delhi: The Indian government is sitting on a hidden revenue of lakhs of crores—from the waste recycling sector, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has said in a new report released Tuesday, arguing that reducing 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST) on several crucial waste categories could bring in Rs 1.8 lakh crore in additional revenue by 2035. The report, titled 'Relax the Tax: Facilitating Waste Circularity Ecosystem through GST Rationalization', states how heavy GST rates on different products obstruct the circular economy around waste recycling in India. From the same tax rates for virgin and recycled products, to a high 18% GST on metal scrap, plastic waste and e-waste, the report explains how the existing GST regime doesn't incentivise and actively hinders waste recycling. Waste recycling and circular economy are seen as pillars of India's sustainable development policies, with Union Minister for Environment Bhupender Yadav announcing this March that India's circular economy could create $2 trillion in market value by 2050. Initiatives like the NITI Aayog's Circular Economy Cell and Circular Economy Action Plans for different waste categories like plastic, e-waste, industrial waste, hazardous waste and metal waste indicate the government's efforts towards this end. However, GST rates remain a financial barrier to the mainstreaming of circularity in most waste categories. 'The (GST) regime does not differentiate between virgin and recycled materials, taxing them equally, which places recycled products at a severe cost disadvantage despite their lower environmental impact,' said Nivit K. Yadav, programme director, industrial pollution unit, CSE, in the release. According to the CSE report, 90% of India's e-waste and metal scrap waste is handled by informal operators. Paying high GST rate on selling this scrap is unviable for many of them. This leads to the problem of GST evasion, leading to loss of crores of revenue from waste recycling transactions for the government. 'The 18% GST on ferrous scrap makes it economically unviable for small dealers to operate formally. A reduced rate would align the fiscal policy with our circular economy objectives,' said Subhrajit Goswami, programme officer, industrial pollution unit, CSE. Also Read: How GST changed import duty revenue for states—no blame, more profit CSE analysis The CSE in its analysis used data from market bodies, interaction with industries in the waste recycling sector, tax bodies like Director General of Taxpayer Services and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs, and industry associations like Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI). The market value of the waste generated and recycled in India was first estimated, and then figures for GST collection and losses were estimated in a year across all waste sectors. In terms of categories, CSE found that most GST losses were in solar panel waste, e-waste, glass waste, paper waste and plastic waste. That is because more than 80% of the waste in these categories is utilised by the informal sector, making it very difficult to regulate the waste streams and therefore collect GST. For example, 95% of paper waste in India is handled by the informal sector. Paper waste operates in a Rs 25,000 crore market and despite having a lower GST rate of 5%, it makes only Rs 64 crore in GST revenue, with loss of up to Rs 1,200 crore in potential revenue, according to the CSE. The CSE reckons that if GST rates on plastic, metal and other waste forms are reduced from 18% to 12%, and informal sector participation is reduced by 50%, India could collect Rs 1,22,297 crore in GST revenue by 2035. And if informal sector participation is reduced by 100% and all waste transactions are taxed, India could collect a revenue of Rs 1.8 lakh crore by 2035. 'Our research shows that the current GST structure is inadvertently penalising the very sectors that could drive India's transition to a circular economy,' said Yadav in the release. 'By rationalising these rates, we're not just talking about tax reform; we're talking about unlocking India's potential as a global leader in sustainable manufacturing.' (Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui) Also Read: Trash piles up across Chennai areas as sanitation workers protest privatisation move
The Hindu
4 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Key focus on human-elephant conflict mitigation MoEF&CC's World Elephant Day celebration in Coimbatore on August 12
Mitigation of human-elephant conflict will be the focus of World Elephant Day celebrations to be held in Coimbatore on Tuesday (August 12, 2025) by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). Minister for MoEF&CC Bhupender Yadav will preside over the celebrations, which is organised in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. A press release said 33 elephant reserves and 150 elephant corridors reflected the strong protection framework for elephants in India, which was home to nearly 60% of the world's wild elephant population. 'With robust legal protection, strong institutional frameworks, and widespread public support, the country is recognised worldwide as a leader in reconciling human welfare with wildlife conservation. Elephants are accorded the status of National Heritage Animal and are deeply embedded in the country's traditions and culture' it said. The annual event reaffirms the global commitment to conserve one of the planet's most iconic species and to strengthen measures to ensure their long-term survival, it stated. According to the Ministry, Tamil Nadu, known for its biological and cultural richness, has a significant population of elephants and plays a vital role in mitigating human-elephant conflict. Tuesday's event will serve as a platform for foresters, policymakers, civil society representatives and wildlife experts to exchange ideas on conservation strategies and conflict resolution, it stated. Mr. Yadav will inaugurate the event in the presence of Kirti Vardhan Singh, Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and R.S. Rajakannappan, Minister for Forests and Khadi, Tamil Nadu. Senior officials from MoEF&CC, Tamil Nadu Forest Department, Ministry of Railways and officials from other States. A workshop on human-elephant conflict at the event will provide a platform for elephant range States to share their challenges related to human-elephant coexistence and discuss the mitigation measures being implemented in their respective regions. 'This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts under Project Elephant, which emphasises community participation and scientific approaches to address conflicts between humans and elephants, a critical concern for conservation and local safety' the release said. Around 12 lakh students from 5,000 schools will participate in the elephant day celebrations in Tamil Nadu.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Science
- The Hindu
World Elephant Day: AI-based warning system helped 2,800 safe crossings of elephants through railway tracks near Coimbatore
The artificial intelligence(AI)-based system for preventing elephant deaths on railway tracks in the Madukkarai forest range in the Coimbatore Forest Division helped around 2,800 safe crossings of wild elephants since its introduction in February 2024. According to the Forest Department, the system generated over 6,000 alerts of wild elephants near railway tracks or crossing them. In fact, the total number of alerts generated is over 10,000, which include detection of the movements of other animals such as gaur, deer, leopard, dhole and even King cobra. The system operates with the support of camera-mounted towers installed on the sides of railway tracks - 'A' and 'B' lines passing through reserve forests areas of the Madukkarai range and connecting Tamil Nadu and Kerala. District Forest Officer N. Jayaraj said that no incident of wild elephants getting collided with trains had been reported in the section after the introduction of the early warning system. A dedicated team of 20 staff for track patrols swiftly respond when the AI-based system detects elephant movement near tracks and generates alerts. Four staff manage the control and command centre. 'A total of 15 staff will be on track patrols at night,' he said. The alerts are also sent to the station masters of the nearest railway stations and loco pilots of trains passing through the reserve forest are kept informed of the presence of elephants near the tracks, so that they can control the speed of the trains. Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, who is attending the World Elephant Day celebrations in Coimbatore on Tuesday, is scheduled to visit the AI-based system at Madukkarai on Tuesday and interact with Tamil Nadu Forest Department officials.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
World Elephant Day: Conservation plans to be discussed in Coimbatore tomorrow
Foresters, policymakers, civil society and wildlife experts will exchange ideas on elephant conservation strategies and conflict resolution as part of the World Elephant Day celebrations in Coimbatore on Tuesday, an official said. The event is being organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, to reaffirm the global commitment to conserve elephants, the official said. The annual event reaffirms the global commitment to conserve one of the planet's most iconic species - the elephant - and to strengthen measures to ensure their long-term survival. India is home to nearly 60 per cent of the world's wild elephant population, with 33 Elephant Reserves and 150 identified Elephant Corridors as per the 2023 Report on Elephant Corridors in India, said a statement. With robust legal protection, strong institutional frameworks, and widespread public support, the country is recognised worldwide as a leader in reconciling human welfare with wildlife conservation, it said. Elephants are accorded the status of National Heritage Animal and are deeply embedded in the country's traditions and culture. Tamil Nadu, known for its biological and cultural richness, sustains a significant population of elephants and plays a vital role in mitigating human-elephant conflict. The Coimbatore event will serve as a platform for foresters, policymakers, civil society representatives, and wildlife experts to exchange ideas on conservation strategies and conflict resolution. The event will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in the presence of Union Minister of State Kriti Vardhan Singh and R. S. Rajakannappan, Minister for Forests and Khadi, Government of Tamil Nadu. Senior officials from MoEF&CC, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the Ministry of Railways, and other states will also participate. A focused workshop on Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) will also be organised in Coimbatore to provide a platform for elephant range states to share their challenges related to human-elephant coexistence and discuss the mitigation measures being implemented in their respective regions, said an official statement. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts under Project Elephant, which emphasises community participation and scientific approaches to address conflicts between humans and elephants, a critical concern for conservation and local safety. The workshop comes at a time when incidents of elephants straying into human settlements in search of food and water have risen, necessitating innovative solutions and cooperation among states. Experts, policymakers, conservationists, and forest officials will deliberate on best practices, ranging from habitat management and corridor maintenance to awareness generation and capacity building in high-conflict areas. This collaborative approach seeks to balance wildlife conservation with human welfare, fostering long-term coexistence between communities and elephants. A nationwide awareness programme will be initiated, engaging approximately 12 lakh school children from about 5,000 schools, underscoring the extensive public outreach and commitment to elephant conservation, said the statement.
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Govt to organise workshop on human-elephant conflict in Coimbatore on World Elephant Day
New Delhi, The government will organise a focused workshop on human-elephant conflict in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, on World Elephant Day on Tuesday to provide a platform for elephant range states to share their challenges and discuss mitigation measures. Govt to organise workshop on human-elephant conflict in Coimbatore on World Elephant Day The workshop will be jointly organised by the Union environment ministry and the Tamil Nadu Forest Department. It will be inaugurated by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav in the presence of his deputy Kirti Vardhan Singh. India is home to nearly 60 per cent of the world's wild elephant population, with 33 elephant reserves and 150 identified elephant corridors, according to the 2023 Report on Elephant Corridors in India. The last population estimation exercise in 2017 counted 29,964 elephants, while the results of the 2022 exercise are yet to be announced. With robust legal protection, strong institutional frameworks and widespread public support, the country is recognised globally as a leader in reconciling human welfare with wildlife conservation. The workshop comes at a time when incidents of elephants straying into human settlements in search of food and water have increased. According to government data presented in the Rajya Sabha, 2,869 people were killed in elephant attacks in India between 2019 and 2023. Odisha reported the highest toll with 624 deaths, followed by Jharkhand , West Bengal , Assam and Chhattisgarh . Experts, policymakers, conservationists and forest officials will deliberate on best practices, ranging from habitat management and corridor maintenance to creating awareness and capacity building in high-conflict areas, the environment ministry said in a statement. A nationwide awareness programme on elephant conservation will also be launched, engaging around 12 lakh schoolchildren from about 5,000 schools. Tamil Nadu sustains a significant elephant population and plays a key role in mitigating human-elephant conflict. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
