COVID-19/GOVERNANCE

done is make logistic changes—work out a different way of conducting meetings and talk about a new policy to conduct public hearings with social distancing, say experts. “The ministry has found technological solutions to some of the problems created by the pandemic, without really addressing ground-level challenges. Some of the public-level interface role of the government has taken backseat,” says Kohli.

CLEARING PROJECTS FRANTICALLY After the lockdown, the Centre went into an overdrive and appraised 298 projects in 21 meetings conducted over video-conferencing. The meetings were held with the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC), Forest Advisory Committee and National Board for Wildlife to grant environmental, forest and wildlife clearances. Of these, 112 projects were cleared. The ministry is yet to upload the status of

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY SPECIAL

rights recognised. But with the dilution, government has denied people this right,” says Shomona Khanna, a Supreme Court advocate and former legal consultant with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. As per a 2009 ministry circular, forest clearance can be given only if the rights under FRA are settled.

This apart, the state pollution control boards have decided to extend the Consent to Operate for industries in case it expired around March 31. Goa has extended it till June 30, Maharashtra till September 30, Tamil Nadu till June 30 and Telangana till August 15.

While announcing the stimulus package, Sitharaman said there is a need to reduce the compliance burden on industry. “Instances such as LG polymer gas leak and Raigarh gas leak, however, show the need to tighten monitoring. The Union government’s message is to limit the burden on industry, not the environment,” says Kohli.