New Delhi: Congress leader Jairam Ramesh attacked the Modi government on World Environment Day, alleging that there is a push for a radical loosening of environment and forest laws, with "more assaults" on the regulations in the offing.
Hitting out at the government's actions in the environment sector, the former environment minister on Monday said that there is a "gigantic gap" between the global talk and local walk.
"Today is World Environment Day and undoubtedly self-styled Paryavaran Premi will give his gyaan. However, the reality is that he is pushing for a radical loosening of environment and forest laws and regulations," Ramesh said in a tweet.
"Environmental approvals have been hugely liberalised. The Standing Committee I chair was deliberately bypassed to bulldoze far-reaching amendments to the Forest Conservation Act, 1980. The Forest Rights Act, 2006 has been rendered toothless affecting tribal communities. The National Green Tribunal has been emasculated. Elephant trade has been opened up," he said.
More assaults on regulations are in the pipeline while environmental activism has been intimidated, the Congress leader alleged.
"There is a gigantic gap between the global talk and local walk," he said.
Notably, World Environment Day, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually on June 5 since 1973, is the largest global platform for environmental public outreach.
Meanwhile, speaking during the World Environment Day event, PM Modi said that India is focusing on the environment in a big way just like any other area for its growth.
"India focusing on environment in a big way just like any other area for its growth," PM Modi said, as quoted by the news agency PTI. On one hand if India has expanded its 4G/5G network, it has also enhanced its forest cover, he added.
Last year, on the occasion of World Environment Day, PM Modi called for a lifestyle that is in tune with the planet and does not harm it and said those with such a lifestyle are known as "pro-planet people". He said that human-centric, collective efforts and robust actions are the 'need of the hour' for sustainable development.