Your suggestions unfounded, based on misinterpretation: Javadekar to Jairam Ramesh

Vibha Sharma

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 26

Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Sunday termed as “unfounded and based on misinterpretation” the “suggestions” by Chairman of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests and Climate Change Jairam Ramesh on the contentious draft EIA notification 2020.

“All your suggestions are unfounded and based on misinterpretation,” Javadekar said responding to the “strongest objections” voiced by Ramesh, who yesterday said the “proposed changes in environmental clearance process for infrastructure projects will routinely legitimise illegality and promote land grab, not development”.

Writing back, Javadekar said the draft notification is kept in the public domain for comments and suggestions.

“Your suggestions are noted. There are 15 more days for suggestions.

I will reply to you in detail. Government will finalise after considering various suggestions. Government decisions are always open for scrutiny by Parliament and Standing Committee,” Javadekar said

In his letter to Javadekar and marked to Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, Ramesh said “environmental regulation is not an unnecessary burden but an essential obligation for the health and welfare of our people and sustainable development”.

The proposed changes are not based on audits, assessments and analyses or any research but reflected a mindset that sees environmental regulation as an unnecessary regulatory burden, the former Environment Minister said in response to the notification that aims to overhaul the environmental clearance process which has received widespread criticism from environmental experts.

They are questioning various provisions, including for post-facto project clearance, doing away with the mandatory process of public consultation for a wide range of projects and increasing validity of the environment clearances.

According to Ramesh, the “draft notification allows post facto approvals that go against very principle of assessment and public participation prior to environment clearance”, “has provisions that will routinely legitimise illegality” and “reduces public participation in all steps of the environment clearance process”.