Environment laws being tweaked in favour of industry: Jairam Ramesh

Accusing the Centre of ‘weakening’ the country’s environment laws, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said the ministry has become a rubber stamp body.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP-led government at the Centre on Saturday of “weakening and tweaking” the country’s environment laws in favour of industry.

Former environment minister Jairam Ramesh alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not practise what he preached regarding green conservation. (HT File Photo)

Ramesh, who was the minister for environment, forest and climate change from 2009 to 2011 in the UPA II government, alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not practise what he preached regarding environment conservation.

“The environment laws are being weakened every day. The ministry of environment has become a rubber stamp body. In the name of ease of doing business, environment laws are being tweaked in favour of industry,” he said on the sidelines of a programme in Kolkata.

Praising the efforts of Indira Gandhi in environment conservation, Ramesh said she was a prime minister who walked the talk regarding environment conservation and included it in day-to-day governance.

“She spoke about environment conservation, climate change way back in 1972... The present Prime Minister does not walk the talk on environment conservation,” he said.