In order to bring more transparency, environment clearances can now be sought online, Prakash Javadekar, Minister of State for Environment and Climate Change, on Thursday said.
“The online service system for TOR (Terms of Reference) and environment clearance proposal is operational from Thursday.
For 25 days, submissions can be done both online and in the form of hard copies.
“But from July 1, it will be fully online. That is our beginning of transparency. One need not visit the office but submit their proposals online,” Mr. Javdekar said, adding that he had, while taking charge of the ministry, announced that the system would be made online in order to bring more transparency.
The Minister was speaking on the sidelines of a function organised to mark the World Enviornment Day.
Mr. Javadekar, who also handles the Climate Change portfolio, said India (a developing country) should not be portrayed as a “villian” in the debate on climate change but should instead provide new dimensions to the discourse.
“The world has always provided a vocabulary (on climate change) and we have reacted. We will provide a new vocabulary to which the world will react and we will take the discourse to a new height because we bother about climate change. We will work by keeping energy efficiency as the central theme.”
He emphasised on better interaction between his ministry and people and said “we will be meeting the public more often at different places”.
Referring to the media advertisement issued by the Ministry on the occasion World Environment Day, Mr. Javadekar said suggestions, ideas and designs would be “crowd sourced” for the new advertisements and best ideas would be rewarded.
“We want to change the whole interface with the public. This will not look official (government) at all,” he said.
The Minister said he would undertake a brain-storming session in his ministry and look for new ideas to deal with environment protection and development.
Mr. Javadekar said many officers have new ideas but are unable to put forth because of babudom , so he has asked his Ministry to pick around 25 “passionate” officers who can come with new ideas.
The Ministry would also organise motivational camps with which officers above Under Secretary level and above, the Minister said.
Mr. Javadekar also said that as a politician he has to inaugurate various events but from now on he would not inaugurate saw mills.
