Environment ministry to review 5 acts

A high-level committee has been constituted by the government to review various environment laws in order to bring them in line with "current requirements", an official said Wednesday.

The committee has been set up in the backdrop of the government taking serious measures to speed up the environmental clearance process for achieving economic growth without compromising green issues

It will review the Environment (Protection) Act of 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, said an official release here.

The committee will assess the status of implementation of each of these acts vis-a-vis the objectives, and will examine and take into account various court orders and judicial pronouncements relating to these acts.

The committee will recommend specific amendments needed so as to bring them in line with the current requirements to meet objectives.

It will then draft proposed amendments in each of these acts.

The committee will be headed by former cabinet secretary T.S.R. Subramanian. The other members include former environment secretary Viswanath Anand and Justice (Retd.) A.K. Srivastav.

The ministry has also invited comments and suggestions in this regard on the environment ministry website.