Same person should not hold SEAC and SEIAA posts: Centre

NEW DELHI: The Centre has asked state governments to comply with a court direction that same person should not hold the post of Member Secretary of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority as well as the State Expert Appraisal Committee.

The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and the State Expert Appraisal Committee (SEAC) in states are constituted by central government to grant environmental clearances for various projects at state level.

The SEAC scrutinises and refers project proposals to the SEIAA for its appraisal. Based on the recommendations of the Expert Appraisal Committee, the SEAC decides the issue of environmental clearance.

In a circular, the Environment Ministry has informed that the Delhi High Court, while hearing a petition, observed that the post of the Member Secretary of these two bodies should not be held by the same person.

"The states and union territories are therefore advised to ensure compliance with this direction of the Hon'ble High Court while forwarding proposals for constitution of SEIAA and SEAC," the circular said.

A senior official of the ministry said that the circular has been issued because in one case same person had held the two posts which was challenged in the court, a senior official of the ministry said.

The official said the new direction will ensure there is no conflict of interest because SEAC was a recommendatory authority, while SEIAA was an accepting authority.