The new system for online submission of applications for environmental clearances launched earlier has become fully operational from World Environment Day on Thursday. And from July 1, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said, no application would be entertained for clearances through any route except for online method.
While stating that the online service system for TOR (Terms of Reference) and environment clearance proposal is operational from Friday, he, however, said that submissions can be done both online and in the form of hard copies for the next 25 days.However from July 1, one need not make rounds of the office of the Environment Ministry but simply submit their proposals online, said the Minister. He added hat this would make the system more transparent with real time monitoring possible at every phase besides being time bound. He was speaking on the sidelines of a function organised to mark the World Environment Day.
The Minister has already mentioned earlier of giving priority to fast track environmental clearances of defence and public sector projects that had been stranded in the UPA -II regime. The projects of SAIl, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam, Essel, Aditya Birla, Grasim etc. are amongst the big ticket players that are queued up for the much awaited green signal from the Ministry.
However, allaying fears on environmental damage due to fast tracking of these infra projects, Javadekar said India as a developing country should not be portrayed as a “villian” in the debate on climate change but should instead provide new dimensions to the discourse. India will provide a new vocabulary to the world in conservation, he said, adding this will be achieved by “keeping energy efficiency as the central theme of work.”
Media advertisements would be taken to a new level through crowd sourcing, This would bring new ideas and designs and the best ideas would be rewarded.”We want to change the whole interface with the public. This will not look official at all,” he said. The Minister said he would undertake a brain-storming session in his Ministry and look for new ideas to deal with environment protection and development.
Javadekar conceded that many officers do have new ideas but are unable to come across because of babudom, so he has asked his Ministry to pick around 25 “passionate” officers with new ideas. The Ministry would also organise motivational camps with which officers above Under Secretary level and above, would participate.
A special poster on the islands and coastal areas of India was released on the occasion by the Minister. The theme for World Environment Day this year was “Small Island Developing States”. Javadekar also said that as a politician he has to inaugurate various events but from henceforth he would not inaugurate saw mills.