NEW DELHI: The Environment and Forests Ministry on Wednesday constituted a high-level four-member committee headed by former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian for tweaking five environment laws administered by it and give its recommendations within two months.
The exercise is to amend the laws that deter the economic progress but without compromising the concerns that affect environment, forests or wildlife.
The committee has been asked to review status of the five laws vis-a-vis their objectives and draft amendments to bring them in line with the current requirements to meet objectives, an official announcement said.
The acts to be reviewed by it are: Environment Protection Act, Forest Conservation Act, Wildlife Protection Act, Water Prevention and Control of Pollution Act and Air Prevention and Control of Pollution Act.
A ministry official said all these laws were enacted in 70s and 80s and need examination to make necessary changes. The committee has been asked in its terms of reference to examine and take into account various court orders and judicial verdicts relating to these acts.
The 76-year old Subramanian, a 1961 batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, had retired as the cabinet secretary 16 years ago in 1998. Other members of the committee are retired Delhi High Court judge A K Srivastav, retired Environment and Forests Secretary Viswanath Anand and former Additional Solicitor General K N Bhat.
Suggestions have been invited from stakeholders within 30 days in not more than 1000 characters. Interested persons and organisations can approach the committee via email to hlc.moef2014@gmail.com or through the ministry’s website <envfor.nic.in> and clicking the necessary button.
The committee will be visiting the state capitals, starting with Bhubaneshwar on Friday and Saturday, to consult state government officials, relevant organisations, enlightened citizens and civil societies to elicit their views and experiences in respect of functioning of the environment, forest and wildlife related statutes. It shall be in Patna on September 16 and 17, Bengaluru on Sept 26 and 27.
Intriguingly, the committee has two secretaries, including Gandhinagar-based Gujarat State Pollution Control Board Secretary Hardik Shah. The other secretary is Bishwanath Sinha, a joint secretary in the ministry.
