Environment minister Jairam Ramesh today said he was 'not sniffing around for a big guy to catch' and his actions were in response to the representations from various organisations.
Under attack within and outside the government for his aggressiveness on green issues, environment minister Jairam Ramesh today said he was 'not sniffing around for a big guy to catch' and his actions were in response to the representations from various organisations.
"I can challenge my critics to point out one example that I have taken (decision) my own. Even Adarsh was in response to a demand from a section of society. I have not taken single action of my own. I am not sniffing around for a big guy to catch. That is not the approach I have taken," he told reporters.
Admitting that there is a profound misunderstanding of what triggered his action, Ramesh said, "My actions are not suo motu actions. My actions are response to the representations I receive from different organisations."
Interacting with media after addressing a conference on 'Environmental Governance and Climate Regime', organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Ramesh said his purpose "is to alleviate fears and concerns of industry that environment is becoming a constraint to industrial growth".
The minister said he would also participate in a function to be organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) on January 24 to alleviate concerns of the industry.
"I dont believe that environment is going to become a constraint. It is important to address their concerns and fear," he said.
"Most of the problems of Indian industry are relating to forest clearances, and most of them are really in the mining sector. I am trying to address them. We will try to find the way to address these concerns, fears, the anxieties the people have that environment has become a barrier to faster industrial growth and industrial expansion," he said.
Ramesh, however, maintained that he was playing according the rules of the game.
Referring to the green laws enacted by Parliament that empowers him to take action against the violators, the minister said, "There is no question of diluting these laws... No question of abandoning these laws. But within the framework of these laws, can we be more accommodative of the concerns that the industry have."
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