The Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology Environment and Forest (GoI) Dr. T. Subbarami Reddy calls Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at his residence late last evening.
Chandigarh, June 26, 2013: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today urged the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology Environment and Forest, GoI to empower the state authority to clear Environmental Clearance for minor mineral projects irrespective of their areas instead of present limit of 50 hectares.
This demand was raised by Badal before the Chairman of Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology Environment and Forest (GoI) Dr. T Subbarami Reddy, who called on Badal at his residence late last evening. The other members of the committee who accompanied Reddy included MP (Bihar) Prof. Ranjan Prasad Yadav, MP (UP) Ramashnaker Rajbhar, MP (Assam) Joseph Toppo and MP (Bihar) Ramkripal Yadav.
Expressing concern over the inordinate delay in Environment clearance for mineral projects of 50 ha., Badal said that the state cases regarding this were still pending with the central authorities for the last six months despite his personal frequent requests to the Central Ministers. He also demanded that the limit of 10 km. from the International Border and Inter State Boundary to be reduced up to 1 km for the Environment clearance of mineral projects rooted through GoI.
Discussing the other issues pertaining to Industrial and Forest sectors Badal said that the state Government had adopted a diversification programme under which the state government would boost alternative crops, Agro activities and Forestry to reduce the much water consuming crop of paddy consistently in next 5 years which would save the ground water. He asked the committee to recommend the Centre to permit forestry under agro activity besides revision of 10% enhancement in the limit of Rs.1000 crore for all states under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) and farm forestry must be allowed under CAMPA.
Regarding the issue of water Cess collection from the industry and local bodies which was attributed the consolidated fund of India and 80% of it be reimbursed to Pollution Board after 2 to 3 years, Badal asked that Pollution Board must be allowed to retain this 80% and deposit remaining 20% in the Consolidated Fund of India. He also asked them to revise the ten year old water Cess rates, which earlier fixed in 2003.
On the occasion, Reddy assured the Chief Minister to take up all these issues with the respective authorities and support to resolve soon. He also asked the state government officers’ team to visit New Delhi so that process could be expedited with committee’s support and guidance.
Prominent amongst those were present on the occasion included Financial Commissioner Forests DS Bains, Principal Secretary to CM SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce Karan A Singh, Special Principal Secretary to the CM KJS Cheema and Secretary Coordination Sanjay Kumar.