The State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA) and State Environmental Appraisal Committee (SEAC) today said that the statement made by the Thma U Rangli (TUR) was unfounded, baseless and defamatory in nature.
In a clarification issued today SEIAA member secretary W.S. Manner said, “Both SEIAA and SEAC have no role whatsoever, to play, in case of coke industries being granted Single window, CTE, CTO etc, including functioning and monitoring. Moreover, both have no authority or mandate to arbitrarily interfere in all environment related issues, except in specific cases of category B projects where a project proponent approaches for grant of EC, under EIA Notification, 2006.”
Yesterday, TUR has demanded severe action against officials of the two bodies stating that they had allowed coke factories to proliferate and operate with impunity in East Jaiñtia Hills district.
Manner also said that they had even rejected proposals of few coke industries, seeking environment clearance. “This action was taken as per Schedule of EIA Notification 2006, PARA4(b), wherein it is clearly stated that coke industries with approved production capacity of 25,000 MT per annum and above are only liable for environment clearance,” he said.
Manner also informed that the entire process from filing of application by a project proponent to grant/rejection of environment clearance is online and uploaded to the Parivesh portal to maintain total transparency and accessibility for all citizens of the country, wherein the entire documentation and process flow, basis of decision, relevant conditions etc for each individual case, state wise, is available.
“Such sweeping statements without verification of the truth are liable for legal defamatory action for casting baseless innuendo to tarnish the image and reputation of members representing both SEIAA and SEAC. It appears to be a case of seeking action against those who are upholding the law instead of those breaking the law,” the member secretary said.
