Industry in India may soon have to shell out nearly five times the money which it presently pays for forests land being diverted for industrial projects. Not just more money, the mandatory compensatory afforestation may also be doubled soon.
The high-level committee (HLC) formed by the union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) in August to review India's green laws has suggested wholesale changes in green governance sector aimed at environment protection but with faster development too. The report would probably end fears of environmentalists and activists who thought HLC would recommend major dilutions in environmental laws spelling doom for environment protection.
dna accessed the HLC report submitted to MoEF on Tuesday and the report running into over 100 pages gives at least 55 major recommendations cutting across all environmental areas ranging from forests management, environment conservation, wildlife management, green clearances, noise pollution and others.
For instance, the committee has recommended amendment of the environment protection act to "incorporate noise pollution as an offence".
It has also criticised MoEF for not defining forest area as yet. It thus asked MoEF to not only define forests but identify no-go areas (inviolate) as well.
Former cabinet secretary TSR Subramanian, who headed the HLC committee, in a conversation with dna, said that, "running theme" of their report is "securing the environment".
"Environment and development has to go together. We cannot have areas in country which only get electricity for two hours a day. But at the same time we have to leave environment which we inherited in better shape for the coming generation. We have advocated for ending inspector raj with huge thrust on use of technology," said Subramanian.
While talking about major highlights of his report, he said: "Environment has to improve. So if one one hectare of forest is taken, you (industry) have to carry out compensatory afforestation in two hectares. We have also recommended increasing NPV by five times. So industry is going to be costly but we would prefer industry to pay more cost - like land acquisition law."
NPV is Net Present Value for diversion of forest areas for non-forestry purpose like setting of industry or mining. Industry have to shell out NPV while seeking diversion of forest land. The HLC committee has favoured increasing that by five times.
He also revealed that the HLC committee has recommended that "every industry unit appoints a nodal officer for pollution control" who will be responsible for controlling emission and pollution from that industry or unit.
Interestingly, the report of the committee has not been put in public domain with MoEF of the view that it would only make relevant portions of the report public and that too after taking action on the HLC report.
When asked whether it should be put in public domain, Subramanian said: "It is for the ministry to decide. But it is the age of transparency and thus everything should be in public domain."
Key recommendations
Identify and specify no-go areas and defining of forests area at an early date
Amendment of the Forest Rights Act for faster forest clearance for linear projects by considering removal of gram sabha approvals for such projects
Special treatment for linear, power, mining and strategic border projects
Doubling of compensatory afforestation and increasing NPV by five times
Faster prosecution in wildlife crimes cases
Immediate action to demarcate ESZs around all protected areas like wildlife sanctuaries
A new umbrella law for environment – Environmental Laws Management Act
Wide-ranging reforms in forest sector.
Environment mapping of whole India and pecial attention for dealing with municipal solid waste.
Incentive system for encouraging green projects.
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