NEW DELHI — India reported a sharp increase in environment-related crimes in 2023, with the total number soaring to 68,994, marking an over 30% rise from the 52,920 cases recorded in 2022. The latest ‘Crime in India’ report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) highlights that the majority of these offences are linked to non-core environmental issues.
Nearly 86% (59,279) of the reported environment-related crimes pertain to a single offence: the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA), which governs the advertising, trade, and distribution of tobacco products.
Top Offences and State Rankings
Excluding the tobacco linked cases, the second and third most reported environment-related offences are:
• Noise Pollution Act: 6,640 cases
• Forest Act and Forest Conservation Act: 2,076 cases
Other reported offences include the Wildlife Protection Act (526), the Environmental Protection Act (389), and Air and Water Pollution Control laws (68). Notably, all 16 cases reported under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010 were filed in Meghalaya.
Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of overall environment-related crimes by a significant margin with 41,304 cases, followed by Kerala (8,786), Rajasthan (7,794), Maharashtra (4,854), and Uttar Pradesh (1,804).
Low Conviction in Core Environmental Cases
While the report shows chargesheets were filed in nearly 98% of environment-related cases, leading to a higher conviction rate compared to other general crimes, this high rate is largely skewered by the overwhelming number of cases filed under the Tobacco and Noise Pollution Acts. The conviction rate in other core environment-related offences remains quite low.
Focus on Key Environmental Violations:
• Forest-Related Crimes: Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of cases at 1,282, followed by Rajasthan (232), Himachal Pradesh (141), Jharkhand (139), and Karnataka (98).
• Wildlife Protection Act: Rajasthan led the count with 181 cases, followed by Uttar Pradesh (116), West Bengal (41), Maharashtra (27), and Bihar (25).
• Air Pollution Control Act: Despite facing an annual air pollution crisis, the UT of Delhi did not file a single case under the Air Pollution Control Act in 2023. Punjab, which witnesses stubble burning violations, also failed to file a case under the Act, though its neighbour Haryana reported three cases.
The NCRB data underscores a significant increase in environmental enforcement, though the bulk of the action remains concentrated on regulatory offences rather than core pollution and habitat destruction crimes.