CII clarifies it hasn't sought dilution of green norms

NEW DELHI: Trying to distance itself from the controversial finance ministry report that recommended severe dilution of the environmental clearance process, Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has said it had not asked for easing of environmental norms.

In a statement, it said the industry association had often called for greater streamlining and rationalising of approval and clearance processes and none of these recommendations were aimed at diluting environmental standards.

Controversy was also created with CII being represented in the expert committee that wrote the secret report by Ravi Singh, the head of prominent environmental NGO, World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India). Trying to undo the damage, CII said Singh had represented CII as an individual. Singh, responding to the CII statement, told TOI, "I was part of the expert committee as an individual representing CII. WWF works with CII and industry on some issues like sustainability and low carbon economy. On other environmental concerns, it holds the right to have a different opinion."

Singh said he did not see any point of conflict while representing CII ��� an industry representative ��� even though he is the head of an environmental NGO. The move by CII came after new environment minister Jairam Ramesh made scathing remarks against the finance ministry report while speaking to TOI. Ramesh had made clear that he did not agree with the report that the industry associations had so far been asking to be implemented immediately. He had said he would bring in transparency in the process but was not in favour of dilution of norms.