Centre will soften, redefine environmental norms: Prakash Javadekar

Stressing that environment and progress can supplement each other, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Saturday spoke of softening and redefining of parameters to allow quarrying in rivers. Javadekar, after meeting with Uttrakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat and senior state officials, also agreed to empower his ministry's nodal officer in Dehradun for forest clearance upto five hectare forest land in 13 types of projects like road, water, electricity and others.

"The Environment Minister agreed to empower the nodal officer of his Ministry in Dehradun for forest clearance upto 5 hectare forest land in 13 types of projects like road, water, electricity etc. "The Union Minister also assured to consider releasing 1,200 crore rupees under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). He also assured to soften and redefine the parameters to allow quarrying in the rivers," a ministry press statement said.

The minister was on a one-day visit to Dehradun where he attended the annual convocation of 2012-14 course of the Indian Forest Service Officer trainees of Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy. Rawat said that environment and progress can supplement each other and they are not contrary to each other as is the general perception. However, the government will not tolerate any attempt to corrode the environment in the state which was struck by the horrific natural disaster last year, he added.