Acursory perusal of the draft National Environment Policy (nep), 2004 indicates that we are inching towards a scientific approach in managing environmental matters in the country. Keeping aside sectoral considerations, the document stresses that poverty alleviation is essential for environment protection. But despite attempts to study the environment holistically, the draft nep disappoints us on many counts.

Take the case of managing coasts. The Coastal Regulation Zone Act of 1991