NEW DELHI: Concerned over reports that recommendations of T S R Subramanian committee constituted by the NDA Government to review the green laws could dilute them, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Thursday heard views of civil society organisations.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests chaired by Congress MP Ashwani Kumar heard members of various environmental groups. There have been apprehensions that T S R Subramanian recommendations if implemented by the government could dilute the laws and design to protect environment, forest and wildlife. “Considering the non-negotiable imperatives of environmental protection and preservation it was considered advisable for the Committee to apprise itself of the views of experts, activists and stake stakeholder on the subject,” said Kumar.
Kumar, who was the Science and Technology Minister during the UPA regime, said that these laws deal with inter-generational activities and have to very carefully considered and reflected upon and should be a hurried through. “We have read that the report was done hurriedly and there was no proper public discussion. One of the criticism in the media is that the report is a product of hurried reflection,” Kumar said adding that no timeframe has been set by which the committee will submit its report.
On why the committee took up the issue when the report is still being discussed in the ministry, Kumar said: “The report is in the public domain and the standing committee does take up the report which is of vital concern. He, however, refused to divulge the apprehensions which were expressed by the experts, saying it would be a breach of confidentiality.