India Committed for Clean Water, Clean Air and Solid Waste Management as Priority Areas – Shri Prakash Javadekar

US Delegation Calls on Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change

The Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting (Independent Charge), Environment,
Forest and Climate Change (Independent Charge) and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri Prakash Javadekar
meeting the Ms. Kathelene Stephens, Ambassador-Designate, USA in India, Ms. Nish Biswal, Asstt. Secy.
(India Policy Head) USA, Mr. Atul Kashyap, Deputy India Policy and
Mr. George Sible, Minister-Council, in New Delhi on June 09, 2014

Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Shri Prakash Javadekar has said that the Ministry would remain committed to keep sustainability at the core of the planning process while putting the country on a high growth path. He said that the environmental conservation can go hand in hand with development. To achieve this, environment and forest clearance systems would be made more predictable, transparent and time-bound. The Minister stated this during discussions with the US delegation comprising of Ms.Nisha Biswal, Assistant Secretary (India Policy Head), USA and Ms. Kathleen Stephens, the Ambassador Designate USA in India. The Indian side was represented by Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change and Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. 

During the deliberations, the Minister gave an overview of the policy framework and other initiatives of the Ministry. A special reference was made to the key policy highlights outlined in the Presidential address to the Parliament today. Shri Javadekar touched upon the issues related to the development framework and stated that an effective system would be in place which would enable sound appraisal processes of environmental clearance proposals. He further added that the cleaner fuels would be promoted to bring down pollution levels in Indian cities. Clean water, clean air and solid waste management would be the priority areas of the Ministry and efforts would be made to increase the energy efficiency while concentrating on the reduction of green house gas emissions. 

Further speaking on the occasion, Shri Javadekar threw light on changing the nomenclature of the Ministry to “Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change”. He stated that the change was a deep thought initiative taking into account the contemporary trends related to issues pertaining to climate change. He assured that India would have a proactive role in the International events related to environment in the days to come. 

Courtesy :Press Information Bureau