Draft EIA 2020 notification must be withdrawn: Elamaram Kareem MP

Elamaram Kareem MP, leader of the CPI(M) in the Rajya Sabha and CITU state general secretary, has written to Union Forest and Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar demanding the withdrawal of the draft EIA 2020 notification, which undermines the country's existing environmental protection policies.

A detailed response opposing the provisions of the draft notification has also been submitted with the letter. The new draft is structured to water down all the environmental protection rules under the 2006 EIA notification. Through it the government has opened the way for corporates to exploit natural resources and the environment unchecked, without fear of any legal restraint. This notification, which will ruin our environment, must be withdrawn as soon as possible. The draft was prepared not only to override the 2006 EIA provisions but also to disregard the orders issued by the National Green Tribunal and courts including the Supreme Court against the Centre's attempts to relax environmental laws. The central government's priority is to help big monopolies, with serious consequences for those who depend on natural resources for their livelihood and for the environment itself. Environmental norms for mining are being diluted, liberalised and deregulated. Many provisions of the new notification violate even the constitutional rights of Adivasis. This is only part of the central government's plan to appease corporate interests and promote investment by implementing its 'ease of doing business' policy. Relaxing even the provisions on environmental impact studies required when large projects begin is part of the same agenda. The letter demanded that this notification, which surrenders all our natural resources to corporate greed for profit, be withdrawn, and that a new notification be issued with provisions to make India's environmental regulatory structure stronger.