Mangaluru (TNN): Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change under the Narendra Modi regime has changed its characteristics from a road block, speed breaker ministry to that of a facilitating one. In doing so, ministry has ensured that environmental protection and development are both made possible without destruction of the environment, noted union minister of state (independent charge) Prakash Javadekar interacting with the media here on Thursday.
"We have gone online with all our (statutory) clearances," Javadekar said adding projects of public utility are cleared on priority. "My ministry has sanctioned 100 such projects in Karnataka, and you can ask your Chief Minister Siddaramaiah about this," Javadekar said, adding that there is no discrimination or any hidden political agenda in this. "The proposals are treated merely on their merit and disposed as per rules and changes if any are intimated to the states," he said.
On PM Modi's pet project of Swachh Bharat, Javadekar said, "Swachh Bharat will not happen unless a series of steps are taken to bring all aboard." The ministry accordingly has brought in solid waste management rules, new plastic handling rules, as well as rules pertaining to handling of e-waste, bio-medical waste rules, hazardous waste rules, and construction waste rules.
These are now in public domain and up to the people to go through and present their views, the minister said adding the ministry will take all views - divergent or otherwise before the above rules are notified and published in the Gazette. "The ministry believes in transparent processes," Javadekar said it is on these very issues that the ministers who handled the ministry in UPA II government were always in the news for. MP Nalin Kumar Kateel was present.
