Forest officials' views to be considered before amendments to key environmental laws

Suggestions of 600-odd forest officers from different parts of the country on the key policy decisions will be taken at three chintan shivirs

The government will take the views of senior forest officials before bringing amendments to five key environment laws enacted between 1971 and 1986, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Friday.

He said suggestions of 600-odd forest officials from across the country will be taken on the key policy decisions, at chintan shivirs to be held in Bengaluru, Bhopal and Guwahati. The minister said the draft of the amendments to five environment laws were being prepared. He, however, did not say whether the amendments will be brought in the Budget session of Parliament.

The laws, reviewed by a four-member panel headed by former cabinet secretary T S R Subramanian, are the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Javadekar said the chintan shivir is an open dialogue with forest officers on environment. Their views will be taken on how people’s participation can be ensured in areas of forest development, pollution control, river cleaning and other activities of the ministry. “There are four sessions in which only participating officers will speak. Nobody from the dais will speak. Each one will be given five minutes,” he said.

The first chintan shivir will take place on February 8 and February 9 in Bengaluru. Environment ministry officials from southern states and Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa will attend this programme. The chintan shivir for officers from northern region will be held on February 20 and 21 in Bhopal. The third meeting, for officers from eastern and northeastern states, will be in Guwahati and dates will be announced later, the minister added.