A final decision on the recommendation of the High Level Committee (HLC) which reviewed the six environment laws will be taken after the technical consultant appointed by Environment Ministry gives its final report, Lok Sabha was informed today.
"In order to prepare a broad framework based on the recommendations of HLC, the Ministry has appointed a technical consultant who has submitted the inception report and gap assessment report which is to be followed by a final reported expected in November 2015.
"A final decision on the recommendations of the HLC will be taken thereafter and after completing stakeholder consultations," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told the Lok Sabha.
The Environment Ministry had in August last year formed a HLC headed by TSR Subramanian to review six key green laws concerning protection and conservation of environment, forest, wildlife, water and air.
The HLC had submitted its report in November last and the recommendations witnessed widespread criticism as it was hurriedly prepared and lacked consultations.
These laws include Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Indian Forest Act 1927.
Javadekar informed the Lok Sabha that the HLC had submitted its report with 55 recommendations which include enacting a new Environment Law (Management) Act to provide for setting up of National Environment Management Authority and State Environment Management Authority.
The HLC had also recommended setting up of a national level institute on environment, a national level electronic database for environment and forest parameters, integration of various clearances amongst a host of other recommendations.
