TSR Subramanian Committee Submits Report to Shri Prakash Javadekar


The TSR Subramanian Committee constituted to examine several environmental laws has submitted its report to the Hon'ble Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Shri Prakash Javadekar. Speaking on the occasion, the Minister likened the Report to be a historic achievement that would strengthen processes to balance developmental commitments and environment protection. The recommendations of the Report would enhance Ministry’s efforts to avoid undue delays and ensure transparency in clearances and implementation of projects. Lauding the efforts of the Committee for submitting the report in a short span of time, the Minister stated that Ministry would expedite consultations with all stakeholders for the timely implementation of the recommendations of the Committee.

In his remarks, Shri TSR Subramanian, Chairman of the Committee, said that the committee had built on the existing mechanisms to optimize the efforts to balance developmental imperatives causing least possible damage to environment. He further said that the committee had undertaken wide-ranging consultations with stakeholders and formulated action points to streamline Ministry’s efforts to strengthen institutions and processes. Unfortunately, this is farthest from the truth as this review with such a wide ranging impact was hurriedly done. There was a month to email the responses and there was a word limit of 1000 words. So many areas were not covered in the responses.

The High Level Committee conducted only few meetings with stakeholders. The meeting at bangalore was stopped abruptly when stakeholders questioned the committee about the short time and demanded time to be voice their suggestions. So it is really surprising to hear the views of the Chairman that they did wide ranging consultations and their suggestions will involve "least damage" to the environment. If we interpret this correctly, the floodgates to grab our wild areas are going to open soon.