The Odisha Government is of the view that Environment, Ecology and Climate Change should be kept in the Concurrent list of the Constitution and this should be a collaborative effort between the States and the Centre.
The State Government, while responding to the recommendations made by the Commission on Center-State Relations, has objected to the recommendations of the commission to keep these subjects in the Union list of the Seventh Schedule empowering the Union Government on the matters of Environment, Ecology and climate Change.
The Union Government recently circulated the recommendations of the commission and has asked the State Governments to put forth their views in this regard. Accordingly the Odisha Government has put forth its observations, official sources said here.
On the issues of Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure, the Odisha Government, which is harping for more powers on environment protection with levying Green Tax, has held the view that the States and the Centre need to act jointly for protection of environment.
Secondly, the Odisha Government has also suggested that the Union Government may delegate more power to the State Governments, at least to approve forest diversion for development projects of both the States and the Centre up to an area of 100 hectaress for each project.
The commission has advised for no change of delegation of powers so far forest diversion is concerned. However, the Odisha Government has agreed that a national policy on “Compensation” should be put together through consultation and consensus. The policy shall compensate the States for maintaining forest and tree cover in excess to the national average.
The Odisha Government has also said the forest-rich States may be compensated on an objective criterion on the lines of Carbon Credits. The commission has recommended setting up of an experts’ body with representative of the Centre and the States to determine the amount of compensation to the forest-rich States, which the Odisha Government agreed to.
On the issue of mineral royalty, the commission has suggested that an independent statutory body comprising experts and representatives of the Centre and States as also of industries and utilities be set up. The Odisha Government has agreed to the proposal, saying revision of royalty is inordinately delayed. A suitable mechanism such as an independent statutory body may be formed to recommend revision of royalty in a time-bound manner.
Recommendations of the experts’ body should be accepted and any decision regarding revision of royalty differing from the recommendations of the State Government along with reasons should be placed before Parliament, said the Odisha Government in its observation.