Cement, Energy and Environment

He has also held various administrative positions in the Ministry of Surface Transportation (see 'Current chairpersons'). Similar is the case of Alok Perti, chairperson of EAConriver valley and hydro sector. "Perti was involved with the coal ministry between 2009 to 2013, holding various administrative positions, and in ministries like defence and family welfare before that," says HimanshuThakkar of South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People . His current affiliation with the board of Coal India Limited also raises questions of conflict of interest. However, confl ict of interest in appointments is not new. The Delhi High EAC Court made some significant observations in 2009 while hearing a case related to environmental clearance of Goa's Borga iron ore mine. After it emerged that M L Majumdar, the then chairperson of EAC on mines, was the director of four mining companies, the court noted that "appointing a person who has a direct interest in the promotion of the mining industry as chairperson of the EAC (Mines) is an unhealthy practice, as that will rob the EAC of its credibi li ty since there is an obvious and direct conflict of interest." The situation is a little better as far as appointment of members to EACs is concerned. An analysis of the background of EAC on coal and thermal power shows that the committee includes people who have been involved in these areas. One of the members, A K Bansal, has been the additional director general of forests in the Union ministry. Another, N K Verma, has been the additional director of the Central Pollution Control Board Similarly, C R Babu has served on the EAC se<tor faculty of the School of Environmental Studies at the Delhi University. Though the petitioners agree that the situation is better as far as appointment of EAC members is concerned , they say it "still remains problematic given the central role of the chairperson, particularly with them being ex-bureaucrats in commanding power" Need to change Considering the huge development push underpinning the current Union government's agenda, a revision in the criteria for appointing EAC chairpersons is certainly needed. Appointment of EAC chairpersons based on their managerial merits is also problematic because such an approach focuses on meeting development goals and environmental fallout remains a secondary consideration. NGT's observation is significant in this regard: "If people who are not strictly qualified and eligible in the field of environment are selected as members of EAC/SEAC, the obvious result would be improper application of mind . " The order adds that this "would lead to improper consideration and disposal of application for clearance filed by the project proponent". Courtesy: Down to Earth, 16-31 August 2014, Pp. 18-19 Climate Change & Global Warming I INDIA TO PLAY PROACTIVE ROLE IN EVOLVING CLIMATE CONSENSUS Minister of State for Environment ' Forests and Cl imate Change Prakash Coal minmg AS l amba Yes Member of the Secunties Appellate Tribunal: former secretary, Mrmstry of Development of Nor!hEastern Javadekar on July 1 assured a French delegation that India would play a proactive role in the next climate change conference in evolving a COI\Sensus . Thermal power A 5 Lamba plants Non-coal mining M5Nagar Yes No s,1me as above filrmer secretary. department of chen11cals and petrochemiCals: former chairperson·wm·dlrector of Indian RareEarths Lrmited lndustnal M Raman Yes filrmer secretary, Ministryof Chemicals and Fertilisers Mr. Javadekar met a six-member delegation led by Foreign Affairs and International Development Minister Laurent Fabius. An official statement said he also assured them that a part of the Green Cl imate Fund could be utilised to finance the differential cost of IPRs which would help developing countries adopt cutting-edge technologies. Infrastructure/ Coastal Zone Nuclear Rrver valley/ llydro Anil Razdan A RReddy Afok llerti Yes No Yes Former secretary. Power: additional secretary. Mmistry of Petroleum and Natural Gas formerly with theDefence Research & Development Organisation,Ministry of Defence Drrector. Board of Coal lndra Lrmited; former secretary. Coal: JOint secrerory.Mimstrv of Defence: JOint secretary, Mmistry of Healthand Welfare Mr. Javadekar highlighted the initiatives taken by Narendra Modi in Gujarat by setting up a separate ')(\