HC issues notice to MoEF on conflict of interest issue

The Delhi high court has sought response from environment ministry on whether there is conflict of interest in appointment of chairpersons of two environment appraisal committees (EAC), mandated to approve projects.

The Delhi high court has sought response from environment ministry on whether there is conflict of interest in appointment of chairpersons of two environment appraisal committees (EAC), mandated to approve projects.

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The petition filed by Kalpravaksh Group and Goa Foundation said Rakesh Nath who is presently the chairperson of the EAC on River Valley Projects was earlier chairperson of Central Electricity Authority and Bhakra Beas Management Board and is at present technical member of Appellate Tribunal for Electricity.

VP Raja who is chairperson of the EAC on thermal power projects is also chairperson of the Maharashtra State Electricity Commission, a regulatory body on power tariff issues. He had also served as in different senior positions in the Department of Atomic Energy.

“Both the persons have no qualification or expertise on environmental issues,” the petition alleged. It also said there was dilution of the qualification of members of the EAC wherein environmentalist and ecologists have been replaced with experts in management and Public administration.