The Hindu : Notification on urban projects being politicised: Baalu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 31, 2003

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Notification on urban projects being politicised: Baalu

By Our Staff Correspondent

NEW DELHI Oct. 30. The Union Environment and Forest Minister, T.R. Baalu, said today that the draft notification issued by his Ministry, making it mandatory to get its clearance for all major urban projects exceeding Rs. 50 crores, was being "politicised"' and it was not aimed at targeting any individual or State Government.

The statement came soon after the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, performed the "bhumi puja" and laid the foundation stone for the Rs. 400-crore state-of-the-art secretariat-cum-Assembly complex at Kotturpuram in Chennai.

Speaking at a press conference here today to announce the holding of the Climate Technology Bazaar and related conferences in the Capital from November 10 to 13, Mr. Baalu said he was unaware of the magnitude of the Chennai project and hence would not like to "politicise it further". However, the notification would not be just another bureaucratic hurdle. "The Ministry is committed to implementing the notification,'' he said, adding that if the Tamil Nadu Government obtained a certificate from the Chennai Municipal Corporation clearing the project, his Ministry would grant permission after verification.

Mr. Baalu asked an official of his Ministry to answer queries and the latter clarified that the matter had been pending since 1980 and the Centre's attention had been drawn towards it two years ago. "The Centre wanted to bring the notification two years ago following reports of large-scale pollution of rivers and other water bodies. But, we cannot stop any project before the final notification is issued after two months, though the notification is applicable to all the ongoing projects from the date it was issued.''

Not taking any questions, Mr. Baalu said the Chief Ministers concerned could speak to him directly. This was in reference to the Sabarimala River Action Plan.

The Climate Technology Bazaar is yet another step towards reiterating India's commitment to the Kyoto Protocol. The event is jointly organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Environment Ministry to provide an opportunity for business from developed economies to exhibit their technologies and services to companies in India to achieve the target of greenhouse gas emission reduction. Several environment conferences are also being organised during the Bazaar.

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