HC asks Centre to reply to plea on environmental consultants

"Issue notices to respondents (the MoEF, the Quality Council of India and the National Accreditation Board for Education and Training (NABET)," Justice Rajiv Shakdher said and fixed the matter for hearing on January 28.

Environmental consultants prepare environment impact assessment (EIA) report of a project which enables regulatory authorities to monitor "effective implementation" of the law and giving clearance to industrial and other activities.

The petition, filed through lawyer Ruchi Kohli of Alliance Law Group, alleged, "The Forest ministry on December 2, 2009 issued an office Memorandum ...Delegating its rule making powers contemplated under the Environment Protection Act, to NABET in contravention of the Act, to evolve a framework and make rules for registration of environmental consultants...

"The Ministry in contravention of the statutory provisions of the Act and without any guidelines, conferred upon NABET, uncontrolled and uncanalised power to make rules pertaining to qualifications and credentials of EIA consultants."

The petition also alleged that NABET on January 10 had rejected the plea for accreditation of 'Shri Environmental Technology Institute,' a Delhi-based environmental consultants' firm owned by Rani Gupta, on "whimsical" basis.

Justice Shakdher, considering orders of the various high courts on the issue, allowed the firm to "present research papers" regarding environmental clearances before central and state-level Environmental Appraisal Committees. (More)