A committed headed by former Cabinet Secretary TSR Subramanian, set up to review environmental laws, has submitted its report to Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.

The committee’s report takes ahead the Government’s move to amend five key green laws to ensure transparency in clearances along with protecting the environment. Receiving the report, Javadekar said it would help the Ministry avoid “undue delays and ensure transparency in clearances and implementation of projects.”

Subramanian said the committee had built on the existing mechanisms to optimise efforts “to balance developmental imperatives causing least possible damage to environment”.

Environmentalists cry foul

He said the committee had had wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders and formulated action points to streamline the Ministry’s efforts to strengthen institutions and processes. Incidentally, green activists had protested the absence of any environmental expert in the panel, fearing “complete dismantling” of laws and institutions related to environmental governance.

Himanshu Thakkar of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People, questioned the process of submissions to the committee “in less than 1,000 characters”. In a blog, Thakkar said the “whole process limits participation to English speaking and writing people who have access to the internet, leaving a vast majority out of the review process”.

The expert panel was assigned to review the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

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