PM's statement on September 6:Environmental concerns cannot emerge as the 21 century’s version of industrial control or license raj. They must not lead to "perpetuation of poverty".
Dr Singh here is news for you, India has amongst the worst environment monitoring and regulations on the environment, which is a major reason why investors flock here, dump their toxic wastes-while they prefer to keep their country clean.
The Env Impact Assessment reports are currently mere PR documents authored by the proponents themselves.
Here is another bit of news: About 90 per cent of projects sail through the MoEF which you deem 'anti-development'
Once cleared, subject, of course, to strict norms, there is simply no system of monitoring compliance of environment laws or standards,
And for the record, ecological damage is irreversible, and compliance with environment standards essentially translates to clean water, air, uncontaminated soil and food--which one would think are the right of the citizens of India.
Environmental concerns do not perpetuate poverty, Mr Prime Minister. They are not dispensable. On them depend our very existence. Unregulated industrialisation and development as defined by mines--with little thought to consequences--severs the poor and the vulnerable from natural resources on which they are dependent, and perpetuates poverty. Ecology helps meet the basic needs of the common man (including the 'privileged us') --and provides him livelihood.
Think, sir, where would your GDP and economic development when there is simply no water?
