Govt to set up autonomous environment regulator

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has proposed to set up a National Environment Protection Authority to grant environmental clearances to different projects, besides ensuring compliance with environmental laws. “This shall be an autonomous body manned by professionals with the twin aims of granting environmental clearances and ensuring compliance with environmental laws,” Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh told reporters here today while releasing a discussion paper proposing to create the authority.

The paper proposes various models that can be used to structure and position the authority within the environmental regulatory framework of the country. Ramesh emphasised on the polluter-must-pay model apart from a system of incentives for environment management.

The ministry is also looking at accreditation and certification of the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) by a consultant.

On the talks with the Chinese government on captive breeding of tigers, Ramesh said that India is opposed to it and an Indian delegation will be sent for discussing tiger preservation. “Though the talks are not completely successful, we are optimistic about this,” said Ramesh.

In another development, the environment ministry has advised the Karnataka government against its proposed power projects in the endangered Western Ghats as they would threaten the fragile ecology of the biodiversity hotspot. “I have written twice to the Karnataka chief minister to not execute power projects like the 440-Mw Gundia hydel project as it would drown a large area and threaten ecological security there,” said Ramesh.

“The Western Ghats are one of the four critical biodiversity hotspots. We need to save them from the adverse impact of power projects,” he added.