Panel to draw framework for green regulator

The Centre on Thursday decided to form a committee of four ministers to

prepare a framework for an independent environmental regulatory authority to
monitor compliance of green laws in the country.
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, Transport Minister Nitin adkari, Power
Minister Piyush oyal and Chemicals and !ertilisers Minister "nanth #umar have
$een asked to look at long%standing proposals for creation of a regulator and
suggest the most via$le structure. The move comes after &upreme Court
directed the government to form a regulator in January this year.
The regulator would $e tasked with appraising environmental impact
assessments for setting up new industries, monitoring the compliance of
conditions laid down during granting clearance to pro'ects and prescri$ing
penalties for errant (rms.
The proposed regulator will take most of the operational work away from
Environment Ministry which will then $e left with the 'o$ of framing policy
guidelines.
The past proposals have $een to make the regulator fully autonomous of
Environment Ministry, administratively, functionally and (nancially. )t is e*pected
to employ e*perts who will work on environment regulation full time.
Currently, these 'o$s are done $y ad%hoc committees attached to the MoE!,
which meet once a month to clear several, sometimes over +,, pro'ects in a day.