The Minister of State (Independent Charge), of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar has emphasized the need to reduce timelines and right conditions to be prescribed that are reasonable, practical, real and need-based. Inaugurating a One-day Workshop on “Environmental Impact Assessment: Challenges in India and Way Forward” at Vigyan Bhawan here today, Shri Javadekar said that processes must be simplified and cases must be decided solely on the basis of merit. The Minister urged all the stakeholders to give suggestions on the accreditation process and become partners in the progress of the nation. He said that the delivery status of 2200 online applications would be evaluated within one month.
Referring to the recent preparation of Standard Terms of Reference in 39 sectors, Shri Javadekar said that besides the environmental impact, a study on the social impact is also required. The Minister said that a law is being worked upon to enable funds under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) to be given to the States for aggressive afforestation. He also stressed upon the need for increased accountability and compliance through technology. Dr. Prodipto Ghosh, former Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Shri Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman, Quality Control of India and Dr. P.B Rastogi, Director, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change also addressed the gathering. The One-day Workshop is being jointly organized by Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Quality Control of India, QCI and National Accreditation Board of Education and Training, NABET.