Debate on development vs environment unnecessary: Natarajan

The development versus environment debate is unnecessary and irrelevant, Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan said Wednesday and asked officials in her ministry to take objective and transparent decisions while according environment clearance to development projects.

"There is an unnecessary and irrelevant debate going on about development versus environment. There is no development without environment and country cannot develop until it grows sustainably," Natarajan said in her address at a function on World Environment Day.

Stating that the battle between environment and development is mythical, Natarajan said it was unfortunate that they were placed on opposite sides when they actually go together.

"We all know that natural resources are running out... what will we do when we have finished all our resources like coal (and) oil among others. We cannot replace natural resources with anything," she said.

The environment minister asked officials in the ministry to take fair, objective and transparent decisions while according environment clearance to development projects.

Industry and several ministries have accused the environment ministry of delaying green clearances to crucial projects.

The government has constituted a cabinet committee on infrastructure to speed up green clearances for important projects.