Panel, suggesting changes in green laws, submits its report

NEW DELHI: The high-level committee, set up in August to review green laws and suggest amendments to bring them in sync with the Modi government's development agenda, on Tuesday submitted its report to the environment ministry.

It recommended many changes in existing laws to ensure speedy clearances and make the whole process more transparent.

The panel, headed by former Cabinet secretary T S R Subramanian, also proposed setting up a national laboratory for airwater quality within the environment ministry and instituting an All India Environment Service.

The new service is proposed to have a dedicated pool of officers to man central and state pollution control boards and related monitoring and investigating bodies across the country.

"The government is ex pected to bring bills to amend a couple of existing green laws during the forthcoming winter session of the Parliament," said an official.

Amendments may also be introduced by the government in the Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2012 which has been pending in Rajya Sabha. After receiving the report, Union environment and forests minister Prakash Javadekar said his ministry would expedite consultations with all stakeholders and that the recommendations would enhance his ministry's efforts to "avoid undue delays and ensure transparency in clearances and implementation of projects".

"We've tried to reduce inspector raj, bring a system where the project proponents make a commitment and they are enforced with the use of science and technology. So, the environment improves and project processes also improve," Subramanian said.