Had Jairam Ramesh been Environment minister for long, some of the infrastructure projects may not have come into existence. This was what he told Planning Commission deputy chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia categorically, when he came to meet him to clarify the ministry’s position on alleged delay in environment clearances.

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The minister, who brands himself as being green, refused to agree with Ahluwalia that slow environment clearance process was hampering higher economic growth.
Environment first was his motto at the meeting.
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