By TCN News,
Thiruvananthapuram: The Environment Impact Assessment Authority came into being in Kerala. Union Minister of Forests and Environment, Mr Jairam Ramesh, yesterday announced that the terms of reference for the authority to conduct an environmental impact study for the proposed Vizhinjam Project have been cleared.
Dr AE Muthunayakam, former secretary in the central government’s Department of Ocean Development, has been named the chairman of the authority by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Dr KP Joy, former Syndicate member of the Mahatma Gandhi University, is a member of the authority, which has the Director of the Climate Change Department as the member-secretary. A value-assessment committee will also be formed in the state level, with Dr NGK Pilla (former scientist at the CMFRI, Kochi) as chairman and Dr K Sajan (professor of Marine Geology at the Cochin University of Science and Technology) as secretary.
The Authority would ensure that environmental clearance for all major projects would be done within the state itself. It would assess the possible positive or negative impact of a proposed project on the environment, consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects.
The formation of the authority makes it evident that governments can no longer close their eyes on the increasing awareness and struggles for the protection of environment. The newly-formed UDF government has already taken some people-friendly measures after coming to power, giving importance to the environment and its people. The financial and other aid announced to the victims of the endosulphan in Kasargode and the cordial settlement of the Moolampilli Rehabilitation Package have been the major examples.
That the Authority is formed during the UDF government is also another important matter, as normally the left parties have been considered more environment-friendly.