Comments'It is only a draft!'
Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar said that the criticism of the Environmental Impact Assessment, 2020, was “premature”, as the document was merely a draft at this stage, reports indicated. He said the ministry will consider the suggestions it has received and then prepare a final draft.
“As per rules, only 60 days notice is to be given, but owing to Covid-19, we extended it up to 150 days,” Javadekar said. “Thousands have sent their views, but some are overeager and hence they are protesting. People jumping at the draft [EIA] is not a fair practice. It is just a draft right now, we will take a call on these views and then it will be finalised.”
Several environmentalists and organisations have alleged that the draft notification does away with the requirement for public consultation for a number of projects that could create an adverse ecological impact.
Cartoonist: Satish Acharya
Source: Sify
