Chief Minister Raghubar Das has ordered to reconstitute State-level Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SIEAA) and State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC), the agencies meant to issue environmental clearances before mining of minor minerals like sand in Jharkhand. This apart, the CM has also directed to initiate vigilance probe into the clearances given.
The action has been taken after receiving complaints of corruption in dealing with the applications coming for environment clearances. Acting on the allegation, the CM, at the same time, also directed the newly constituted agencies to switch to completely online mode and work in a transparent manner. Information Technology Department has been told to work in tandem and prepare software for transparent conduct.
"After the corruption charges in issuing environmental NOC through SEAC and SIEAA for minor mineral came to light, the CM has ordered a vigilance probe. He termed the practice a hindrance in building a better image of the State when it is trying hard to attract investors," said an official of the CMO.
Dr Gurdeep Singh of Centre of Mining Environment, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad is Chairman of SIEAA while Ashwni Kumar Saxena heads SEAC. The centres had come into existence for providing clearances to minor minerals over less than five hectares of land. The SEIAA comprises three members and SEAC comprises six members and a secretary besides, the chairpersons. Both the agencies had their term till December 2015.
However, no official information in this regard has reached SIEAA and SEAC so far. "We are not aware about any such development. As far as I know the State Government cannot dissolve the agencies," said a senior office bearer of SIEAA.
Nevertheless, both the entities were in the eye of storm in the wake of recent hullaballoo on sand mining issue. The State Government's effort to ease the sand mining by allocating sand ghats to panchayats has taken a dent with the necessary NOC clause issued by the twin agencies. Some allegations of wrongdoing have come in issuing the licenses that perhaps led to the step.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das has mooted a university for animal husbandry and directed to initiate process for the same. Holding a review meeting of the Department on Friday, the CM also directed the officials to fill all the vacancies in the department as soon as possible.
He, on the occasion, promoted fishery and underlined the importance of attaching unemployed youth to it. The CM also stressed over the need to link the profession with market. "We have several tribal-dominated areas those are extremely backward. Our aim is to identify those areas and support as much as possible. We should link farming, horticulture and dairy together," he said and added the reservoirs of the State should be developed in the lines of Chandil.
The CM directed the officials to promote dairy farmers and also to link women SHGs to it. He said that training centres continuing in various parts of the State through NDDB should be propagated more. The also told to identify villages in backward areas within 15 days and prepare work plan for improving breed of cows.
The CM also expressed worry over illegal trade of animals and directed DCs to work in that direction. At the same time he also talked about the need of 'cattle hostel' in villages where farmers can keep their herds.