‘We put both environment and growth on an equal footing’

Minister for Environment PRAKASH JAVADEKAR tells Aditi Phadnis the draft environment impact assessment plan protects the environment while keeping court judgments and growth compulsions in its sights. Edited excerpts:

For several projects, public consultation has been done away with in the process of seeking environmental clearance. In some, the period of consultation has been truncated. How does reducing the consultation period from 30 days to 20 days have any impact on the ease of doing business? The notification issued in 2006 says the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and public hearing is not necessary for buildings up to 150,000 square (sq.) metre (m). Even today, the EIA is not required, according to the 2006 notification.

We have reduced this facility up to 50,000 sq. m only. We are proposing that only green buildings will get this concession up to 150,000 sq. m.

But this does not take into account people whose livelihood could be affected.

We have not changed the existing 2006 provision.

There are many who believe the 2006 provision itself was flawed. People who were silent in 2006 can’t raise objections now.

There is a sense among environmentalists that you are proindustry at any cost, even damage to the environment. Industry believes you have given in to environmentalists at the cost of growth.

We put both environment and growth on an equal footing.

“PEOPLE WHO WERE SILENT IN 2006 CAN’T RAISE OBJECTIONS NOW”