Tenures Of Two Green Authorities Extended

The Cabinet yesterday extended the tenures of two environment protection authorities, one concerning Tamil Nadu and another the Dahanu Taluka in Maharashtra.

The tenure of the Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority has been extended for one more year, till December 2001. A notification to this effect is to be issued under the relevant provision of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

Dahanu Taluka Environment Protection Authority was constituted on December 19 1996 for a tenure of two years ending on December 18, 1999 to deal with the Dahanu Taluka regional plan in Maharashtra, under orders from the Supreme Court. It is headed by a former Mumbai High Court Judge Chandrashekhar Shankar Dharmadhikari.

Its tenure has been extended because the authority is yet to complete its work and required more time to do so, the Cabinet decision said.

Another extension given is in respect of the Loss of Ecology (Prevention and Payments of Compensation) Authority for Tamil Nadu, constituted under the EPA to deal with the pollution discharge and consequent environmental degradation problems caused by the tanneries and other industries of the state.