New green mantra: Fast-track nod but strict pollution check

This may be radically different from the existing regiment in which clearances of industrial projects are marked by uncertainty, arbitrariness and even allegations of rent-seeking. But once the clearance is obtained, there is little follow-up, oversight or monitoring to check whether these industries are adhering to prescribed environmental standards.

The new two-pronged approach is likely to satisfy the industry but environment campaigners are not impressed. “First of all, there is no evidence to show that strict compliance is being ensured, while it is very clear that rules are being relaxed, standards are being lowered. But even if the compliance is tightened, it does not compensate the damage done by an unsustainable project. These are two different things. A project that will cause more damage than it is worth is not going to become beneficial just because compliance becomes strict. One does not balance the other out. This is a very misleading argument,” said Shankar Gopalakrishnan, secretary of Campaign for Survival and Dignity, a platform for NGOs working for rights of tribals and forest dwellers.

Nonetheless, the decisions and utterances of this government clearly point towards a movement towards such an approach. A series of relatively medium-impact decisions by the MoEF suggest that it is in favour of easing at least some of the regulatory norms in a bid to help faster industrial growth (see box). Last week, it formed a four-member committee, under former Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian, to review five major green laws in order to “bring them in line with current requirements to meet objectives”, an euphemism that can be easily interpreted to mean greater flexibility in laws to allow faster industrialisation. In addition, the project appraisal and clearance processes are also sought to be made time bound.

There have been fewer decisions on the other side, to show that the government is serious about imposing higher standards of environment protection, though Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar has said on record that pollution standards would be upgraded for every industry. These have already been done for the cement industry.

The movement towards creation of an independent environment regulator, even though forced down the neck by a directive of the Supreme Court, can be seen as an important step. A massive infusion of resources, manpower, and expertise is required to make the proposed regulator efficient and effective, something which the current structure comprising the Central Pollution Control Board and its affiliates in the states is not.

So far, the decisions of this government on environment-related issues have conformed to this pattern (see box). If pursued ahead as well, this two-pronged approach holds very important implications for the manner in which environment regulation is carried out, especially with regard to project clearances for industrial and infrastructure development.