CAG should suggest measures to protect environment: Hamid Ansari

Vice President Hamid Ansari today said CAG has an important role to play in efforts towards improving environment by not only commenting on the effectiveness of the rules and regulations in this regard but also by offering suggestions to the government for the purpose.

He said that India has been active in international forums relating to environmental protection, and is party to 94 multilaterals environmental agreements.

Ansari was inaugurating the International Centre for Environment Audit and Sustainable Development (ICED) set up by the Supreme Audit Institution of India, headed by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India.

“We have signed the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in 2002,”he said.

The Vice-President said the importance of environment audit has been compounded by the ever increasing expenditure on protection and conservation of environment.

He recalled the growing international commitments made by India as state party to various global treaties and conventions and introduction of laws and regulations aimed at controlling degradation of environment.

There is an increasing environmental awareness as corroborated by various grassroots green movements across India, he said.

Ansari said the CAG, besides commenting on effectiveness of rules, regulations and programmes for conserving the environment, should also offer concrete recommendations to the executive for improving environmental governance.

Speaking on the occasion, Comptroller and Auditor General of India, Vinod Rai, said CAG has been actively associating itself with the International Community of Supreme Audit Institutions to factor in Environmental concerns while undertaking auditing.

Environment degradation a big concern

Ansari said the impact of indiscriminate human action and insatiable consumption on global environment has manifested itself in what is widely accepted as the phenomenon of climate change.

“The high social, economic and political cost of environmental degradation and climate change is clear to all, even though the international community continues to debate on how to tackle climate change and who should foot the bill for ensuring sustainable development,” he added.

Some of environment reports of the CAG such as Management of Waste in India and Water Pollution in India have given new insight to the executive in improving environmental governance in these areas, he said adding “I am confident this good work will be continued.”

He said the CAG is already an important member of the Steering Committee of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit institutions, and of its Working Group on Environment Audit.

The creation of this Centre here, and its emphasis on research to upgrade knowledge and skills, will further strengthen India’s role in this important body, the Vice President added.

Meanwhile, Vinod Rai said environmental issues are among major factors facing global societies today.

“The UN and other major international organisations are continuously working on securing a more sustainable environment for our future generations,” he said.

“When we undermine natural processes, we expose the delicate ecological systems to risk. This is bound to affect the public health systems in various countries in the long run,” he said.

The world today believes that trends towards environmental degradation can be slowed, and even reversed, by active interventions through governmental and civil society efforts, Rai said.

“We, as public auditors, have to present to the government timely, relevant and balanced reports on environment issues along with constructive suggestions which will enable the administration in tackling this critical concern more effectively.”

CAG’s oversight functions of government environment policies, programmes and projects help the executive in their endeavour to be pro active in this arena, Rai added.

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