Book Reviews

Date01 April 2016
Published date01 April 2016
DOI10.1177/0019556120160212
Subject MatterArticle
BOOK REVIEWS I 335
regulatory reform, programmes and projects for environmental conservation;
and review and enactment oflegislation, by agencies
of
the Central, state and
local governments. The second chapter mainly reviews the basic approaches
to environmental policy in general adopted in various countries in the form
of
eco tax, subsidies, pollution permits, refundable deposits for pollution
control, allocation
of
property rights, etc.
It
also explains
in
detail the key
legislations related to green initiatives
of
various ministries and departments
including eco-labeling scheme initiated in India and various green labels
which are currently prevalent in India. The third chapter mainly concentrates
on the theoretical explanation
of
sustainable development which includes
economy-environment linkages, definition
of
sustainable development
and its explanation, components and rules
of
sustainable development,
and how to realise it. The fourth chapter conveys that our environment is
under attack since the advent
of
the industrial revolution. The inexorable
decay and degeneration
in
quality
of
environment was a matter
of
serious
concern and sought to overcome through command-and-control approach
in the beginning
of
1970s. This chapter clearly establishes that introduction
of
eco tax unleashes the possibility
of
double
dividend-benefits
by both
a reduction in environmentally perilous activities
and
a reduction in
conventional taxation. Environmental challenges are persistently increasing
the pressure on governments to look for ways to mitigate environmental
damage while minimising harm to economic activities. In this background,
the last chapter argues that under the prevailing constitutional and legal
framework in India, eco tax can be imposed. The Central Government has
already imposed Clean Energy Cess as a duty
of
excise on coal, lignite
and peat to create National Clean Energy Fund. Besides, this chapter also
showcases small initiatives and steps
of
several state governments towards
imposing eco taxes to regulate environment.
-DIPANKAR
GuHA
Right
to
Work
and
Rural
India
Working
of
the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee
Scheme (MGNREGS)
Edited
by
Ashok K. Pankaj, SAGE Publications, Rs. 1195.00, p. 383
The economic refonns that were set
off
in India in
1991
resulted in
reduced social sector expenditure which has had adverse implications
for the poor and marginalised in the country. Not only that, it also led
to sectoral and regional inequalities, distress in the rural economy and
failure in generating the commensurate employment opportunities in the
economy. On the positive side
of
it, the higher growth trajectory, attained

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