CAG vital in improving environmental governance: Ansari

Says the high social, economic and political cost of environmental degradation and climate change is clear to all

Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) has an important role to play in improving environmental governance, according to Vice-President Hamid Ansari, who inaugurated the International Centre for Environment Audit and Sustainable Development  today. To be headed by CAG, the institute is situated around 40 kilometres away from Jaipur.

“The high social, economic and political cost of environmental degradation and climate change is clear to all, even though the international community continues to debate on how to tackle climate change and who should foot the bill for ensuring sustainable development," Ansari added.

Ansari pointed at the growing international commitments made by India in global treaties and conventions, and the increasing environmental awareness as corroborated by green movements across India, to highlight the significance of the issue.

Constructed by the Central Public Works Department, the institute building has a five star green rating and is expected to enhance the professional capabilities of the auditors and collaborate with auditors from other countries as well

“The use of natural lighting, solar energy, geothermal cooling will help in saving energy. We have also used features like insulation on walls and roofs, solar PV cells to achieve carbon neutrality,” said CAG of India Vinod Rai.

Rai said the audit agency should look into environment issues related to water pollution, afforestation etc. CAG is in the process of advising the environment ministry on the CAMPA (Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Agency) project for which the government has created a corpus of approximately Rs 18,000 crore. Rai also said that CAG would tie up with “credible NGOs” in doing environment audits.