Section II　Text A: Modi and the Environment

Part 1　Power of Words

Core Words

1 consensus [kən'sensəs] n.

A consensus is general agreement among a group of people.

synonym　accordance; unity; agreement; accord; harmony; compromise; consent; keeping

antonym　disagreement; disharmony

word family　consent; consensual

related phrase　consensus on/about; reach a consensus; broad/generous consensus

Example 1 The consensus among the world's scientists is that the world is likely to warm up over the next few decades.

Example 2 There is a consensus among teachers that children should have a broad understanding of the world.

2 moreover [mɔːr'əʊvə] adv.

You use moreover to introduce a piece of information that adds to or supports the previous statement.

synonym　besides; again; also; then; additionally; furthermore; what is more; in addition

Example 1 The rent is reasonable and, moreover, the location is perfect.

Example 2 She saw that there was indeed a man immediately behind her. Moreover, he was observing her strangely.

3 mull over

If you mull something over, you think about it for a long time before deciding what to do.

Example 1 McLaren had been mulling over an idea to make a film.

Example 2 They need time to mull it over, compare products and prices, and decide if they really need it.

4 veiled [veɪld] adj.

A veiled comment is expressed in a disguised form rather than directly and openly.

synonym　indirect; oblique; obscure; covert; roundabout; hidden; latent; implicit; unclear

antonym　overt; uncovered

word family　veil; veiling

related phrase　veiled words

Example 1 He made only a veiled reference to international concerns over human rights issues.

Example 2 His speech is being seen as a veiled attack on asylum-seekers.

5 pertinent ['pɜːtɪnənt] adj.

relevant to a particular subject

synonym　relevant; relational; correlative; related

antonym　irrelevant

word family　pertinently; pertinence; pertain

related phrase　pertinent data/question

Example 1 He asked me a lot of very pertinent questions.

Example 2 The last point is particularly pertinent to today's discussion.

6 domain [dəʊ'meɪn] n.

A domain is a particular field of thought, activity, or interest, especially one over which someone has control, influence, or rights.

synonym　province; territory; world; industry; kingdom; universe; sphere

related phrase　in the public domain; time domain

Example 1 Looking after the house was viewed as a woman's domain.

Example 2 Those people are the great experimenters in the domain of art.

7 ensue [ɪn'suː] vi. (ensued/ensued/ensuing)

If something ensues, it happens immediately after another event, usually as a result of it.

synonym　follow on; succeed

antonym　precede

related phrase　ensue from

Example 1 The government had to deal with the problems that ensue from food and medical shortages.

Example 2 If the Europeans did not reduce subsidies, a trade war would ensue.

8 repeal [rɪ'piːl] vt. (repealed/repealed/repealing)

If the government repeals a law, it officially ends it, so that it is no longer valid.

synonym　abolish; cancel; revoke; rescind; annul; retract

antonym　enact

word family　repealer

related phrase　repeal legislation/law

Example 1 The government has just repealed the law segregating public facilities.

Example 2 He believes that death penalty will be repealed sooner or later.

9 deploy [dɪ'p lɔɪ] vt. (deployed/deployed/deploying)

To deploy troops or military resources means to organize or position them so that they are ready to be used.

synonym　adopt; arrange; array; employ; implement

word family　deployer; deployment

related phrase　deploy forces/troops/weapons

Example 1 The President said he had no intention of deploying ground troops.

Example 2 NATO made a decision to deploy cruise missiles.

10 empower [ɪm'paʊə] vt. (empowered/empowered/empowering)

If someone is empowered to do something, they have the authority or power to do it.

synonym　grant; authorize; allow; sanction; permit

antonym　forbid; discourage

word family　empowerment; empowered

related phrase　empower sb. to do sth.

Example 1 The President is empowered to appoint judges to the Supreme Court.

Example 2 The army is now empowered to operate on a shoot-to-kill basis.

11 oversee [ˌəʊvə'siː] vt. (oversaw/overseen/overseeing)

If someone in authority oversees a job or an activity, they make sure that it is done properly.

synonym　supervise; manage; superintend; direct

related phrase　oversee sb./sth.

Example 1 Use a surveyor or architect to oversee and inspect the different stages of the work.

Example 2 A team leader was appointed to oversee the project.

12 appraisal [ə'preɪzl] n.

Appraisal is the official or formal assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of someone or something; Appraisal often involves observation or some kind of testing.

synonym　assessment; evaluation; judgment; review

word family　appraise; appraiser

related phrase　graduation/performance/real estate/assets appraisal

Example 1 One of the most important tools for organizational improvement is the performance appraisal.

Example 2 The higher education appraisal is the important means of promoting higher education development.

13 compliance [kəm'plaɪəns] n.

Compliance with something, for example a law, treaty, or agreement, means doing what you are required or expected to do.

synonym　obedience; acquiescence; agreement; submission; amenability

word family　noncompliance

related phrase　in compliance with sth.

Example 1 Inspectors were sent to visit nuclear sites and verify compliance with the treaty.

Example 2 The staff involved should be monitored to ensure compliance with the policy.

14 broach [brəʊtʃ] vt. (broached/broached/broaching)

When you broach a subject, especially a sensitive one, you mention it in order to start a discussion on it.

synonym　propose; present; submit; mention; bring up

related phrase　broach the subject/question/matter

Example 1 Eventually I broached the subject of her early life.

Example 2 Broaching the topic at the wrong time could cost you the job—or thousands of dollars.

15 forfeit ['fɔːfət] n.

A forfeit is something that you have to give up because you have done something wrong.

synonym　penalty; forfeiture; loss; penalization; punishment

Example 1 That is the forfeit he must pay.

Example 2 All goods may be forfeit to the State in time of war.

16 retribution [ˌretrɪ'bjuːʃn] n.

Retribution is punishment for a crime, especially punishment that is carried out by someone other than the official authorities.

synonym　punishment; payback; reprisal; revenge

word family　retributive; retributory; retributivism

Example 1 He didn't want any further involvement for fear of retribution.

Example 2 Victims are demanding retribution for the terrorist attacks.

17 offspring ['ɒfˌsprɪŋ] n.

You can refer to a person's children or to an animal's young as their offspring.

synonym　progeny; children; young; brood

Example 1 Eleanor was now less anxious about her offspring than she had once been.

Example 2 All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.

18 breakthrough ['breɪkθruː] n.

A breakthrough is an important development or achievement.

synonym　progress; advance; innovation

related phrase　breakthrough point/technology; make a breakthrough; medical/scientific/major/significant breakthrough

Example 1 The company looks poised to make a significant breakthrough in China.

Example 2 Scientists have made a major breakthrough in the treatment of cancer.

Words for Self-study

Please find and memorize the meanings and usages of the following words with the help of dictionaries, online resources and other references.

abate　　contentious　　crave　　forestry　　goodwill

hefty　　infrastructure　　judicial　　jurisdiction　　mandatory

obnoxious　　opportune　　precinct　　protocol　　reef

revamp　　rev　　scrupulous　　sizeable　　snag

subsist　　viewpoint

Part 2　Text
Modi and the Environment

As India's NDA¹ government led by Narendra Modi² settles into the corridors of power in New Delhi, its policy directions are becoming clear. The initial trends are not very encouraging for environmentalists. Affirmative decision-making is normal for new regimes and not unique to the NDA. Many thousands of hectares of forestland were cleared for development projects—mainly mining—in the last three decades.

But the process of obtaining clearances for a range of projects, from mining to roads, has been fast-tracked in the last few months. Over a short four months, more than 92 projects have been approved, requiring the clearing of 1,600 hectares of forests. Pursuant to an office memorandum issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, demanding easing of conditions for certain projects such as coal mining, clearances for projects located near sanctuaries and national parks have also been fast-tracked. An extraordinary procedure of making states responsible for clearances has also been accomplished, which is a new thrust in India's center-state relations. It is a public secret that the state pollution control boards are under-staffed, under-equipped and corrupt.

Safeguards that subsisted in the clearance procedure, such as required communal hearings³, have also been largely bypassed or diluted. Wherever possible, subjecting projects to public hearings and consensus of the gram sabhas (a body of all eligible voters in a village) has been avoided. The NDA and the media apparently view the mandated requirements of environmental impact assessments and public hearings as impediments to development. Existing coal-mining projects can now apply for a one-time capacity expansion of up to 25 percent without any public hearing. Moreover, small coal mines, producing less than 8 million tons annually, have been allowed to double their capacity without any hearing.

High-Level Committee Headed by T.S.R. Subramaniam

Especially worrisome, the government has constituted a four-member committee, under the erstwhile cabinet secretary T.S.R. Subramaniam, to review laws relating to the protection of the environment and forests, with the ostensible aim of suggesting amendments that will make these laws more effective. The committee will review the implementation of five major green laws: Environment (Protection) Act 1986, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Wild life (Protection) Act 1972, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981. The committee is to recommend amendments to bring them into conformity with "current requirements", according to the memorandum of the Ministry of Environment and Forests. Most obnoxiously, this panel will mull over various court orders and judicial pronouncements relating to these acts. This seems a veiled threat to negate the Supreme Court's handful of environmentally protective judgments.

This raises the pertinent question of what the Ministry's current requirements are. Activists have claimed that the clearances in question are an attempt to abate the laws related to environmental protection for purposes of economic development. Strict procedural norms, such as those relating to public hearings, may inconvenience industrialists. The leadership in the NDA government has spoken repeatedly about how projects were being held up for "frivolous" reasons and that they were proving to be "snags" to development. It is believed that two laws of the previous government, the UPA⁴, namely the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010, and the Forest Rights Act, 2006, have delayed, among others, the 52,000 crore (roughly $90 billion) POSCO⁵ project in the high unemployment state of Odisha. While the government has denied wishing to dilute the laws, it is clear that the government considers the environment laws, as currently implemented, as constituting a roadblock, and wishes to rev the process of development at the cost of environmental protection and sustainable growth.

Not only is the policy of the government unlikely to benefit the environment; it is also unlikely to benefit its own objectives. Most projects are not rejected on environmental grounds. The developers continue to pollute. The NDA is not doing much more than furthering the policy of the UPA in a more transparent manner, since less than 3 percent of the projects were rejected under the UPA on environmental grounds. While reform of the legislation may definitely be required, the need of the hour is not fast-tracked clearances, but rather the consolidation of clearances, called single-window clearances, and greater transparency, including publishing all information related to environmental clearances in the public domain. Not only does this help the environment and communities, but it is also likely to uplift the speed and efficiency with which environmental clearances ensue.

National Green Tribunal

One important thrust of Modi's actions seems to be to undermine the National Green Tribunal (NGT). Environmental lawyer Ritwick Dutta told The Hindu that many dilutions have been in the offing for a long time, but in the case of the NGT, it would be very difficult to recast it as an administrative or quasi-judicial body⁶, as suggested by reports. When asked, new Minister of Environment Javadekar ruled out any such change in the NGT. Dutta said that the NGT was instituted by an act of Parliament and could not be wished away. "While green protocols have been facing threats throughout, what is different now is the lack of concern for environment protection ... [There is] emphasis on transparency in the form of clearances, [but] what about compliances? You cannot be selectively transparent."

The Environment Ministry wants the NGT to make recommendations to the government instead of issuing directions like a judicial body. In its viewpoint, only the impressionable Supreme Court of India should have the right to repeal clearances. A year ago, the ministry asked the tribunal to limit its jurisdiction, but the proposal was rejected. The move to revamp legislation was initiated by Javadekar himself. A cabinet note—prepared by his ministry—to water down the powers and jurisdiction of the tribunal would be circulated for inter-ministerial discussion soon, sources said.

Since its onset in 2010, the NGT, which is deployed by a former Supreme Court judge, has stayed approvals for several projects. In the POSCO case, the NGT asked the Environment Ministry to review clearances after some local villages refused to consent to the project under the pro-tribal Forest Rights Act, 2006. Officials say the requirement of mandatory consent from the gram sabha for initiating any project is the biggest hurdle in heightening infrastructure development in mineral reef and poor precincts.

Consolidated Green Clearances

An alternative to the current government's actions would be to consolidate all green clearances, be they related to the environment, forestry, wildlife or coastal zone, so that decisions can be taken understanding the overall impact of each project. Hefty clearances required separately lead to delays and poor decision-making. The Supreme Court has asked the executive to establish and empower a national regulator for environmental clearances. It is either this officer, or a comparable red tape⁷ cutter, who should oversee all clearances.

As of now, 99 percent of projects manage to get environment-related clearances; 94 percent get forest clearances. Industries are able to bag these clearances due to a multiplicity of regulations and regulators that help unscrupulous elements in industry. In the current scenario, the government has no system in place for independent appraisal of project clearances. The authorities lack the capacity to monitor compliance with clearance conditions. And lack of access to reliable and relevant information related to project clearances makes them contentious.

These flaws must be broached and this can be best done if an independent body is set up to oversee clearances. The body should be given enough powers and resources to conduct an opportune appraisal of relevant conditions as well as to impose sizeable forfeit and retributions. It must be transparent and accountable and encourage public participation in green clearances. All information related to green clearances should be put in the public domain. The process of public hearings must be fortified and made more transparent. Governance is not only about faster clearances and industrial development alone, but also about compliances, sustainable development and equity for future offsprings. Modi must not forget the goodwill of millions of people who voted for him craving for an equitable share in the India's economic breakthrough.

(Adapted from "Modi and the Environment", http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/26547-modi-and-the-environment, written by Armin Rosencranz)

Notes

1 NDA

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is a coalition of political parties in India. At the time of its formation in 1998, it was led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and had thirteen constituent parties. Its honorary chairman is former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Also representing the alliance are L. K. Advani, former Deputy Prime Minister, who is the acting chairman of the Alliance; Narendra Modi, Prime Minister and Leader of the House in Lok Sabha; and Arun Jaitley, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha. The coalition was in power from 1998 to 2004. The alliance returned to power in the 2014 general election with a combined vote share of 38.5%. Its leader, Narendra Modi, was sworn in as Prime Minister of India on May 26, 2014.

2 Narendra Modi

Narendra Damodardas Modi, born on September 17, 1950, is an Indian politician who is currently the Prime Minister of India, in office since May 2014. He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, and is the Member of Parliament for Varanasi. Modi, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is a Hindu nationalist and member of the right-wing Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

3 hearings

In the law, a hearing is a proceeding before a court or other decision-making body or officer, such as a government agency or a Parliamentary committee.

4 UPA

The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is a coalition of centre-left political parties in India formed after the 2004 general election. One of the members of UPA is Indian National Congress, whose National President Sonia Gandhi is also the chairperson of the UPA.

5 POSCO

POSCO India Private Limited (commonly POSCO India or Posco-India) is an Indian subsidiary of Korean conglomerate POSCO.

Its parent company POSCO signed a memorandum of understanding in June 2005 with the state government of Odisha to construct a $12 billion steel plant. Various regulatory delays and controversies prevented the company from starting construction. The memorandum expired in June 2011, and as of April 2012, it has not been renewed. Apart from Odisha, POSCO India has project sites in the Karnataka and Maharashtra states.

6 quasi-judicial body

A quasi-judicial body is an entity such as an arbitrator or tribunal board, generally of a public administrative agency, which has powers and procedures resembling those of a court of law or judge, and which is obliged to objectively determine facts and draw conclusions from them so as to provide the basis of an official action. Such actions are able to remedy a situation or impose legal penalties, and may affect the legal rights, duties or privileges of specific parties.

7 red tape

Red tape is an idiom that refers to excessive regulation or rigid conformity to formal rules that is considered redundant or bureaucratic and hinders or prevents action or decision-making. It is usually applied to governments, corporations, and other large organizations.

Part 3　Exercises

I. Reading Comprehension

1. Directions: Read through the passage and answer the questions based on your understanding.

1) What kinds of environmental problems are human beings faced with? In your opinion, what is the root of the environmental problems? What can we do to protect our Mother Earth?

2) Some people believe that economic development should take priority over environmental protection because the development of economy provides jobs and increases people's living standard while others maintain that this is only short-sighted thinking and that mankind has a long-term responsibility to protect the environment. What is your opinion about this issue?

3) The green gross domestic product (green GDP) is an index of economic growth with the environmental consequences of that growth factored into a country's conventional GDP. Green GDP monetizes the loss of biodiversity, and accounts for costs caused by the climate change. How do you evaluate on the term "green GDP"?

4) As India looks to ratchet up its manufacturing exports and China expands its services industries, Asia's two giants are going to be "battling" more for the global market. What do you think about the competition between the two developing countries?

2. Directions: Read the passage and decide whether the following statements are true or false. Choose T (True) if the statement agrees with the information given in the passage, F (false) if the statement contradicts the information given in the passage and NG (not given) if it is not mentioned in the passage.

1) ________ Over a short time, most forest projects have been made approvals.

2) ________ The government has implemented five major laws.

3) ________ More than 97% of the projects were approved on environmental grounds.

4) ________ Further delays and worse decision will be caused by government's actions.

5) ________ It is true that only the Supreme Court of India should have the right to reject clearances.

3. Directions: Read aloud and listen to the audio of the text for full understanding.

4. Directions: Practice subvocal reading at fast speed (200 words per minute).

5. Directions: Try to suppress subvocal to achieve faster reading speed.

II. Blank Filling

Directions: Please choose an appropriate word from the following box for each blank. Make changes if necessary.

1) They argue that access should be made available because of the global benefits that would________.

2) So far, however, we have said nothing about how to ________ it.

3) She ________ at the elevator buttons.

4) You just ________ this person.

5) When I bought perfume yesterday, I got a lipstick as a ________.

6) The traditional order began to ________ soon after.

7) The ________ of the car glared at me.

8) In this phase, the shouts and histrionics will ________ somewhat.

9) However, it must be acknowledged that she had faults to ________ her gifts.

10) Then tighten the nut on the drain body, sealing the ________ and washer against the drain flange.

III. Translation

Directions: Please translate the following sentences into Chinese.

1) Existing coal-mining projects can now apply for a one-time capacity expansion of up to 25 percent without any public hearing.

2) Activists have claimed that the clearances in question are an attempt to abate the laws related to environmental protection for purposes of economic development.

3) Officials say the requirement of mandatory consent from the gram sabha for initiating any project is the biggest hurdle in heightening infrastructure development in mineral reef and poor precincts.

4) An alternative to the current government's actions would be to consolidate all green clearances, be they related to the environment, forestry, wildlife or coastal zone, so that decisions can be taken understanding the overall impact of each project.

5) Governance is not only about faster clearances and industrial development alone, but also about compliances, sustainable development and equity for future offsprings.

IV. Writing

Directions: Please use your imagination and write a paragraph about a topic you like, including at least five of the words given below.

V. Additional Vocabulary Fun

1. Directions: Match the words in the left column with their corresponding explanations in the right column.

1) wick　　a. turning or able to turn around a fixed point

2) tong　　b. a secret vote in which people select a candidate in an election, or express their opinion about something

3) stadium　　c. a large sports field with rows of seats all around it

4) tar　　d. to gather or seize with tongs

5) stamina　　e. the piece of thread in a candle, that burns when you light it

6) sacrament　　f. a plant with large leaves and long red stems and you can cook the stems with sugar to make the jam or pie

7) slit　　g. sleep or slumber

8) scab　　h. a Christian religious ceremony such as communion, baptism, or marriage

9) sawdust　　i. very small pieces of wood which are produced when you saw wood

10) shunt　　j. ring or cause to ring, especially with tedious repletion

11) kip　　k. a long narrow cut

12) ballot　　l. the physical or mental energy needed to do a tiring activity for a long time

13) ding　　m. a hard, dry covering that forms over the surface of a wound

14) rotary　　n. a thick black sticky substance that is used especially for making roads

15) rhubarb　　o. to move someone or something to another place, especially in a way that seems unfair

2. Directions: Choose the word which does not belong to the same group and write the letter in the bracket.

1) (　　) A. chorus B. cockney C. courier D. cobweb

2) (　　) A. groin B. rem C. arsehole D. kneecap

3) (　　) A. le B. tut C. sizzle D. coo

4) (　　) A. thyroid B. testicle C. armpit D. wank

5) (　　) A. fart B. constipate C. pee D. slang