Against the backdrop of drought that affected most states in the past 2 years, it is essential to take a look at a report on improving water governance in the country, which was submitted to the Ministry of Water Resources in July, 2016. That report, which was prepared by the Committee on Restructuring the Central Water Commission (CWC) and Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) under the chairpersonship of Dr. Mihir...

-The Indian Express In its first two years, the Narendra Modi government cleared over 2,000 projects involving investment worth Rs 10 lakh crore. Don’t delay project clearances by repeatedly asking for different studies. That was Environment Minister Anil Madhav Dave’s message to non-official expert members of the ministry’s appraisal committees. He urged them to work hard to clear the bulk of pending processes over the next three months. Around 40 expert members...

-TheWire.in Data compiled by the mines ministry notes several thousand hectares of mineable area has potentially been prevented from being auctioned, saving the companies that own them money and costing the exchequer in terms of revenue foregone. New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government changed regulations meant for protection of tribal rights, forests and environment in order to ensure that more than 130 mines do not face fresh auctions and are instead retained...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal barred on Thursday any fresh constructions under the Environment Ministry's December 9 notification exempting real estate projects of all sizes from environment impact assessment and environmental clearance. The NGT has received two applications questioning legal issues with the December 9 notification, which even has a "self-declaration" clause that will ensure issuance of permission from urban local bodies. For larger projects of more...

-Down to Earth Eighteen months and Rs 4,275.31 crores later, not even 0.1 per cent of the project could be completed "By the time the nation completes 75 years of its Independence (2022), every family will have a pucca house with water connection, toilet facilities, 24x7 electricity supply and access." It was May 2014 and the Modi-led government had just come to power. A year later, during the presentation of Annual...