Centre likely to review two key environment policies

Centre likely to review two key environment policies

Abhijit MulyeUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 10:03 PM IST
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Mumbai : The Central government is likely to review two major environment-related policies that regulate coasts and fragile ecosystems soon, Union Minister for Environment Prakash Javadekar has indicated.

“My ministry is about to complete two studies soon where a review is being taken regarding the current Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) policy and its impact over the development and the global practices in this regard,” he told FPJ on Saturday.

When asked regarding development projects in the city being stalled due to CRZ regulations and the likely way out that the ministry may suggest, Javadekar said that his ministry is in the process of looking at the issue in its entirety and doesn’t want to perceive it in a fragmented manner.

“We have 10 states with a total 5,500-km long coastline. To be able to manage this coast, we are studying global practices and trends in managing coasts. That would give us an idea regarding environmental regulations at par with the global standards,” the minister said.

He also added that the government wants the development to be sustainable and would try to keep the regulations in line with the principles of sustainable development.

When asked when the study is likely to be completed and about the expected outcome, the minister said that the study is likely to be completed soon and immediately after that, a formal report would be placed before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which might then take the form of a new policy. “That would be a big policy decision,” he added.

Javadekar also indicated that the policy regarding centrally empowered committees monitoring the eco-sensitive zones, especially the hill stations, too is likely to be reviewed soon.

“We have realized that just allocating Eco-Sensitive status to any place hardly achieves anything. Neither the forests are protected nor any proper development achieved. We are now trying to find a way out,” the minister said, pointing out the situation at places such as Dahanu, Matheran and Mahabaleshwar.

“The task is not easy. Courts are involved in several of these decisions. Hence we are minutely studying all the things,” Javadekar added.

“The people’s representatives at all these places have absolutely no role left in managing the places. We are thinking about how they too can be involved in preserving the nature at all these places,” the minister said.

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