By Our Correspondent
NEW DELHI/BHUBANESWAR: RP Gupta, Secretary Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, was on Friday said that Necessary actions are being taken by MOEFCC to streamline the statutory Environment and Forest clearances.
While speaking at a webinar on “Conducive Environment and Forest Regime for Growth of Mining Sector” hosted by Federation of Indian Mineral Industries(FIMI) at New Delhi, Union Secretray Gupta said there are time consuming processes in EC and FC at different levels. “We are reviewing at every level to streamline and improve the appraisal system.It is necessary to construct a balance between environment and development in the country. But most important of all is how to act to achieve such a balance,” Gupta said.
Today, majority of the mineral deposits are in forest areas. It is therefore essential that the mining industry should practice self-discipline and adopt sustainability in all its activities.
The draft EIA Notification, 2020 has received both criticism as well as suggestions on how to improve the process. We all should adopt a disciplined approach and engage constructively to create an atmosphere that will streamline the process, make it objective and improve monitoring. There is a strong need today for all stakeholders including Government, industry, civil society etc. to work together towards achieving the balance between the environment and development, he added.
