The T.S.R. Subramanian high-level committee, constituted to review five environmental laws, will submit its report to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests next month.
Speaking to reporters here on Sunday, the retired Cabinet Secretary T.S.R. Subramanian said several new suggestions, including stringent punishment to violators, fixing responsibility on officials and noise pollution issues, were raised in Mangalore, which did not come up in earlier meetings in four other States.
The committee’s role is limited to submitting recommendations. It would strive hard to reason out the best ways to improve environment and to achieve development at the same time, Mr. Subramanian said. He clarified that the committee is not there to dilute existing laws but to strengthen them, give more teeth and speed up clearance process.
Asked whether the two-month period is too short, Mr. Subramanian said achieving 80 per cent target in two months is better than achieving 90 per cent in six months.
Moreover, such reviews would take place at regular interval, he said. The committee is looking at ways to clear the way for leaner projects like supply of water, power and road and rail infrastructure without delay.
Ashokvardhan, who works on wildlife conservation and has bought a few acres of revenue land on Bisile Ghat and converted into forest, said the government is not categorising forest on revenue land as forest land.
Because of this, many conservation enthusiasts are unable to buy land and convert them into forests, he said.
The retired Allahabad High Court Judge A.K. Srivastav, Supreme Court Advocate K.N. Bhat, Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim, ZP CEO Thulasi Maddineni and others were present.
