 "Environment clearance process to go online")
In a bid to encourage transparency, the environment ministry is going online whole hog from July 1, from applications to the green clearance process.
"The online submission for terms of operation (ToR) and environment clearance proposals has been made effective from today and from July 1, this process will be made entirely online to improve transparency in the system," environment minister Prakash Javadekar said at the World's Environment Day function organised by the ministry in the Capital on Thursday.
In another effort to hasten decision-making, Javadekar has organized a "motivational camp" for officials in the ministry. Author Shiv Khera has been called to deliver an inspirational speech to the babus. Just a few days ago, power minister Piyush Goyal had called author Chetan Bhagat for a pep talk to bureaucrats.
The minister, who has initiated individual meetings with senior officials, will hold a "brainstorming session" next week with his officers. Further, the first high-level meeting of the inter-ministerial group on Ganga is expected to meet on Friday to finalise the final draft for cleaning river Ganga.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for a collective effort to protect environment. In a series of tweets, Modi said that every citizen will have
to become trustee to ensure sustainability and conservation of resources. "Let's serve as trustees, where we utilise our natural resources for the present and at the same time ensure happiness of future generations," Modi said on the microblogging site Twitter. "Along with government efforts, people's participation can make a big difference in creating a cleaner and greener planet," he said in another tweet.
"We are blessed to be a part of a culture where living in complete harmony with the environment is central to our ethos." He added, "lets ensure that even the smallest step we take in our daily lives will be an effort towards conserving nature and natural resources."