'Pro-profit' green policies being pushed: Civil society

Civil society members today accused the government of initiating "pro-profit" policies and laws in an "undemocratic and unconstitutional" way, particularly the proposed amendments to green laws.
Civil Society organisations and green bodies from across India said the proposed amendments to the environment laws, mooted by the government, are a clear indication of its intent to centralise environmental governance to push various mega projects that would displace millions.
"Of particular focus was the disastrous implications of the proposed Environmental Laws Amendment Bill, 2015, which is a clear indication of the intent of the government to centralise environmental governance...
"...In order to push through various mega projects that would displace millions and destabilise decades old largely progressive environmental jurisprudence in India," they said.

The groups who met today to discuss these issues also resolved to work across the country wide to save people's, forests, coastal areas, various ecologically sensitive areas and also constitutional rights.
"It was recognised that impacts of climate change induced extreme weather events are being maximised, causing havoc to millions, and this is a direct consequence of decades of deliberate neglect of people centred and democratic planning," the groups said in a statement.

The groups also decided to "expose and fight" the manner in which the laws protecting environment, forests and forest rights were being manipulated to the advantage of "certain corporate interests".

"The ongoing effort of engaging certain private consulting firms to craft laws and policies is unconstitutional and forfeits the sovereign power of people and their representatives in deciding such matters.
"This must be exposed and stopped and the power to form policy and law must return to the people and the legislature. All such pro-corporate and anti-people methods are employed under the guise of 'Make in India' schemes which is oriented to maximise wealth and political power in the hands of a few, the groups alleged.