Govt examining national regulator for appraising projects

Government is examining the feasibility of setting up a national regulator for appraising projects, enforcing environmental conditions and imposing penalty on polluters, the Rajya Sabha was told today.
Minister of State for Environment Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply that they will seek more time from the Supreme Court to set up the regulator.
"The matter has discussed in the union cabinet on July 9, 2014 and the cabinet decided that the matter would need an indepth analysis by the new government including examining the feasibility of setting up a statutory regulator and decided that the Supreme Court may be moved to grant more time to the government for a decision in the matter," Javadekar said.

He said the Supreme Court had on January 6, 2014 in a case directed the central government to appoint a national regulator under section 3(3) of the Environment (Protection) Act 1986 for appraising projects, enforcing environmental conditions and impose penalty on polluters.
He said his ministry will file an application before the apex court seeking extension of time for setting up of the regulator.
He, however, clarified "there was no proposal to set up national regulator for framing and monitoring zonal disaster management plans."
Replying to another question, he said the proposal of Maharashtra government as recommended by Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) for amending the CRZ Notification, 2011 to incorporate special provisions to enable development of a memorial of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar by permitting reconstruction with change of land use from industrial purpose to development of memorial has been sent by his ministry for legal vetting to the Ministry of Law and Justice.

"In the meantime, the Ministry of Textiles has obtained a legal opinion from the Solicitor General as per which the legislations regarding the transfer of land shall be made prior to bringing the proposed amendment to the CRZ Notification. The proposed legislation is yet to be enacted," he said.