TSR Subramanian to head committee to suggest ways to remove bottlenecks
The Environment Ministry on Tuesday constituted a high-level committee to review various green laws to remove bottlenecks to speed up economic growth. The four-member committee is headed by former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian. It also includes former Environment Ministry Secretary Viswanath Anand, Justice (Retd) AK Srivastav and senior advocate of Supreme Court KN Bhat.
The panel has been asked to review environmental laws that involve protection and conservation of environment, forest, wildlife, pollution of water, and air, etc. According to sources, the committee will predominantly review the important environmental laws enacted between 1971 and 1986. These include Environment (Protection) Act 1986, Forest (Conservation) Act 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981. The panel has been asked to submit its report within two months.
The committee will assess the status of implementation of each of the Acts along with its objectives. In the process it will also examine and take into account various court orders and judicial pronouncements pertaining to these Acts. The sources added that the panel will recommend specific amendments required to bring the Acts in line with current requirements. The panel will also draft proposed amendments in each of the aforesaid Acts and suggest appropriate amendments to bring them in line with their objectives.
The committee has been set up against the backdrop of Government taking serious measures to ease out norms for the process of clearance process and achieve economic growth while balancing with environment and wildlife. According to sources, the review is basically the need of the hour such that the pace of development is evenly poised without jeopardising country’s rich bio diversity.