The high level committee, which was set up in August to review green laws and suggest appropriate amendments to bring them in sync with the government’s economic development agenda, on Tuesday submitted its report to the Union environment and forests minister Prakash Javadekar.
The committee, headed by former cabinet secretary T S R Subramanian, is learnt to have suggested some amendments in almost all green laws including those relating to environment, forest, wildlife and coastal zone clearances.
Sources in the ministry said based on the suggestions of the Committee, the government would bring Bills to amend couple of existing green laws during the winter session of the Parliament, beginning November 24.
Exact amendments to the existing laws could not be immediately known as the government prefers to keep it away from scrutiny of media, environmentalists and civil societies at this juncture.
Though the government had in October given this panel one month additional time to submit its report, it urged the Committee to finish its work as early as possible so that the ministry gets enough time to bring amendments during the Winter Session.
The month-long session will have 22 sittings till December 23.
The panel was set up on August 29 and asked to submit its report in two months. But, later government had given it one more month till November 28.
The panel has examined laws pertaining to environment protection, forest conservation, wildlife protection and prevention of air and water pollution.
Former environment secretary Viswanath Anand, retired judge of Delhi High Court Justice A K Srivastav and senior advocate and former additional solicitor general K N Bhat are the other three members of the committee.
