Mrudul Godbole
08-08-2012, 01:48 PM
Government reconstitutes statutory advisory body on forest diversion
7 AUG, 2012, 11.06PM IST, ET BUREAU
NEW DELHI: Government is sending out yet another industry friendly signal. The environment and forest ministry has reconstituted the statutory advisory body on forest diversion with members, who have strong pro-industry, particularly mining and hydro power, bias.
The ministry has appointed KP Nyati, head of Sustainable Mining Initiative an outfit of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, Mohammed Firoz Ahmed, a wildlife biologist working with Aaranyak, an Assam-based wildlife conservation NGO and NP Todaria of the HNB Garhwal University's department of forestry, who has supported the idea of hydro power projects on the upper reaches of the Ganga, as non official members of the Forest Advisory Committee. Non-official members of the panel are appointed for a period of two years.
The three new non-official members will take over Ullas Karanth, the world's foremost tiger expert; Amita Baviskar, associate professor at the Institute of Economic Growth; and Mahesh Rangarajan, environmental historian and director of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. The term of the earlier panel had come to an end in late May.
The Forest Advisory Committee is a key statutory body which considers questions on the diversion of forest land for non-forest uses such as mining, industrial projects, townships and advises the government on the issue of granting forest clearances.
While its role is advisory, the It comprises official members, including the top bosses of the forest bureaucracy and three independent experts, who are the non-official members. The decision to balance the Committee with a mix of official and independent experts was arrived at after a long drawn out stand off between the ministry, the Central Empowered Committee and the Supreme Court.
The appointment of an official from an industry lobby, and an academic, who has already made public his support for hydroelectric projects in the upper reaches of the Ganga river are indicative of the seriousness with which the ministry is keen to shed its image as an obstruction to the country's growth story.
The concern that advisory panel may now be gearing towards clearing forest diversion for projects, appears to be not completely without cause.
KP Nyati's association with an apex mining body raises a red flag, given that the mining sector has been among the most vocal in questioning the forest clearance process. Futher, Nyati's inclusion raises questions given that his professional involvement has been on matters relating to pollution-- till about four years ago he headed the environmental management division of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
A chemical engineer, Nyati began his career in the National Productivity Council and was in-charge of its Pollution Control Division. He has been involved on pollution related committees of the environment ministry.
Nagendra Prasad Todaria, has publicly supported setting up hydro-power projects in the upper reaches of the Ganga. The forestry professor at the Garhwal Central University has questioned the Wildlife Institute of India's report on the cumulative impact of hydropower projects on the Alaknanda and Bhagirati rivers. The report had suggested that the government should turn down all proposals for setting up hydropower on these two rivers.
Todaria had described the report as "misleading" which "strengthen vested interests that are already active in stalling hydropower development in the state (Uttarakhand)." Instead of a holistic view, Todaria had taken a state-centric approach to the issue. He had argued that hydropower and tourism were the only ways for economic development of the hilly state.
Madhu Kishwar, a key voice in the fight to preserve the Ganga was of the view that the decision to appoint NP Todaria as a member of the Forest Advisory Committee showed "a certain malafide intent, a prejudiced approach on part of the minister when a person who has toed a line at variance with the government's stated environmental policy in relation to the ganga and Himalayas is appointed to such a crucial body."
The forest bureacracy's top boss, the director general of forests, who heads the Committee, PJ Dilip Kumar was unavailable for comment. A senior government official speaking on the condition of anonymity said having persons clearly stated positions, which are aligned to industry interests in a statutory body like the Forest Advisory Committee would constitute "constitutional impropriety".
"Members must declare their interests when they come for these meetings and excuse themselves from discussions on projects where there is a conflict," an expert said. In the past such a move has been taken, while considering clearance for Coal India's mining projects when the company floated its public offering, members of the Committee were asked to disclose whether they had applied for shares.
There is concern among the environmentalists and conservationists. Ravi Chopra of People Science Institute and a non-official member of the National Ganga River Basin Authority said, " I expect a committee like the FAC would have as its forst priority the well being of forests. They should be worried about nothing else. It not a balancing act that needs to be made while constituting the committee.
So what should be considered whether these members are the best experts that are available. So by this count Nyati is out, he is from the industry. Todaria has been a consultant for the environmental impact assessment for dams, and he has not shown an ability to protect forests. You need to put people who have expert knowledge of forests and have an independent mind say some like Madhav Gadgil."
7 AUG, 2012, 11.06PM IST, ET BUREAU
NEW DELHI: Government is sending out yet another industry friendly signal. The environment and forest ministry has reconstituted the statutory advisory body on forest diversion with members, who have strong pro-industry, particularly mining and hydro power, bias.
The ministry has appointed KP Nyati, head of Sustainable Mining Initiative an outfit of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, Mohammed Firoz Ahmed, a wildlife biologist working with Aaranyak, an Assam-based wildlife conservation NGO and NP Todaria of the HNB Garhwal University's department of forestry, who has supported the idea of hydro power projects on the upper reaches of the Ganga, as non official members of the Forest Advisory Committee. Non-official members of the panel are appointed for a period of two years.
The three new non-official members will take over Ullas Karanth, the world's foremost tiger expert; Amita Baviskar, associate professor at the Institute of Economic Growth; and Mahesh Rangarajan, environmental historian and director of Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. The term of the earlier panel had come to an end in late May.
The Forest Advisory Committee is a key statutory body which considers questions on the diversion of forest land for non-forest uses such as mining, industrial projects, townships and advises the government on the issue of granting forest clearances.
While its role is advisory, the It comprises official members, including the top bosses of the forest bureaucracy and three independent experts, who are the non-official members. The decision to balance the Committee with a mix of official and independent experts was arrived at after a long drawn out stand off between the ministry, the Central Empowered Committee and the Supreme Court.
The appointment of an official from an industry lobby, and an academic, who has already made public his support for hydroelectric projects in the upper reaches of the Ganga river are indicative of the seriousness with which the ministry is keen to shed its image as an obstruction to the country's growth story.
The concern that advisory panel may now be gearing towards clearing forest diversion for projects, appears to be not completely without cause.
KP Nyati's association with an apex mining body raises a red flag, given that the mining sector has been among the most vocal in questioning the forest clearance process. Futher, Nyati's inclusion raises questions given that his professional involvement has been on matters relating to pollution-- till about four years ago he headed the environmental management division of the Confederation of Indian Industry.
A chemical engineer, Nyati began his career in the National Productivity Council and was in-charge of its Pollution Control Division. He has been involved on pollution related committees of the environment ministry.
Nagendra Prasad Todaria, has publicly supported setting up hydro-power projects in the upper reaches of the Ganga. The forestry professor at the Garhwal Central University has questioned the Wildlife Institute of India's report on the cumulative impact of hydropower projects on the Alaknanda and Bhagirati rivers. The report had suggested that the government should turn down all proposals for setting up hydropower on these two rivers.
Todaria had described the report as "misleading" which "strengthen vested interests that are already active in stalling hydropower development in the state (Uttarakhand)." Instead of a holistic view, Todaria had taken a state-centric approach to the issue. He had argued that hydropower and tourism were the only ways for economic development of the hilly state.
Madhu Kishwar, a key voice in the fight to preserve the Ganga was of the view that the decision to appoint NP Todaria as a member of the Forest Advisory Committee showed "a certain malafide intent, a prejudiced approach on part of the minister when a person who has toed a line at variance with the government's stated environmental policy in relation to the ganga and Himalayas is appointed to such a crucial body."
The forest bureacracy's top boss, the director general of forests, who heads the Committee, PJ Dilip Kumar was unavailable for comment. A senior government official speaking on the condition of anonymity said having persons clearly stated positions, which are aligned to industry interests in a statutory body like the Forest Advisory Committee would constitute "constitutional impropriety".
"Members must declare their interests when they come for these meetings and excuse themselves from discussions on projects where there is a conflict," an expert said. In the past such a move has been taken, while considering clearance for Coal India's mining projects when the company floated its public offering, members of the Committee were asked to disclose whether they had applied for shares.
There is concern among the environmentalists and conservationists. Ravi Chopra of People Science Institute and a non-official member of the National Ganga River Basin Authority said, " I expect a committee like the FAC would have as its forst priority the well being of forests. They should be worried about nothing else. It not a balancing act that needs to be made while constituting the committee.
So what should be considered whether these members are the best experts that are available. So by this count Nyati is out, he is from the industry. Todaria has been a consultant for the environmental impact assessment for dams, and he has not shown an ability to protect forests. You need to put people who have expert knowledge of forests and have an independent mind say some like Madhav Gadgil."