Thiruvananthapuram: KPCC president Mullappally Ramachandran demanded the central government to immediately withdraw the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) draft notification 2020 citing it will raise threat to the environment in future. He also criticised the state government for not clearing its stance on EIA.

“At a time when natural calamities are wreaking havoc in the country, the central government’s EIA notification challenges all environmental protection acts. This decision will shatter the environment. The central government which stands for the interest of corporates aims to make financial gains with EIA,” criticised the KPCC president.

“The new draft notification grants permission for people with vested interests to exploit the environment. It will allow to blindly approve all projects including rail-NH road work in forest regions, mining, establishment of nuclear power plants and hydro-electric power plants which harm the environment,” he added.

He alleged that cancellation of criteria of environmental clearance to projects will lead to serious consequences in future.

“Rajiv Gandhi government passed the most effective Environmental Protection Act in 1986. A strict recommendation on EIA was given in 1994. All of these steps were taken to protect the environment. But the Modi government subverted all these plans," he noted.

He alleged that the central government reduced the number of days to file complaint and recommendations on EIA as the government is desperate to sell the natural resources.

He pointed out that the central government also notified a strange condition that the public can't complain against projects which cause pollution.

He raised a sharp criticism against the central and state governments over environmental exploitation.

“The central and state governments are going hand in hand to implement projects which destroy the environment. The Kerala government has been sanctioning quarries even in ecologically sensitive areas,” he pointed out.