India has so far documented over 91,200 species of animals and 45,500 species of plants in its 10 biogeographic regions. The varied edaphic, climatic and topographic conditions and years of geological stability have resulted in a wide range of ecosystems and habitats such as forests, grasslands, wetlands, deserts, and coastal and marine ecosystem.

Dr Ajit Tyagi, Director General, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) in his interaction with the Editor, spoke of unfavourable energetics fuelled by the Aila in eastern India coupled with the blocking high of Central Asia that have led to two week delay in restoration of the monsoonal circulation and consequently a shortfall of rainfall in many parts of the country.

Water defies political boundaries and thus cannot be dealt with in isolation. Sustainable water resources management are major challenges of the future. An increasing number of countries are experiencing permanent water stress, yet in most cases, agreements, mechanisms and institutions to manage disputes over water resources are either absent or inadequate.

India’s existing domestic production of about 0.7 million barrels of oil per day (BOPD) is much less than its current consumption of 2.8 million BOPD, creating a wide gap necessitating imports.

Natural gas is the fastest growing primary energy source amongst fossil fuels and is projected to grow around 3 to 4 times in the next 20 years.

Hazardous wastes need to be effectively managed through regulatory bodies and operators, so as to avoid environmental pollution and adverse health effects due to its improper handling and disposal.

In the last few years, the Indian refinery sector has witnessed continuous capacity addition. India has a total capacity of about 149 MMTPA at present.

Shri J S Kamyotra, Member Secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) speaks with the editor about the new features of the rules regarding hazardous wastes and succinctly mirrors India’s commitment to adapt with the changing times.

A long term policy for the hydrocarbons sector has been envisaged by the Government of India to facilitate meeting the future needs of the country.