'BJP is conspiring to destroy the biodiversity of Assam': Ripun Bora

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI: The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Ripun Bora said that the party is against the draft EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) notification 2020 and it demands withdrawal of the same as the notification will cause not only environmental damage but also economic damage.

Addressing the media at Rajiv Bhawan on Tuesday, Bora alleged that BJP is hatching conspiracy to destroy the biodiversity of Assam and North East by imposing EIA 2020. Bora said that APCC has written to the secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change over the matter and has appealed for withdrawal of the notification. Bora said that the draft EIA notification 2020 exempts a long list of projects from public consultation. One such example is linear projects such as roads and pipelines in border areas will not require any public hearing. Bora claimed, "As the border area is defined as an area falling within 100 kilometers aerial distance from the line of actual control with bordering countries of India, it will cover much of the North East India. This is a repository of one of the country's richest biodiversity."

Bora further claimed that besides the fact that the draft EIA 2020 proposes permanent mechanism for industries violating 2006 norms by creating an opportunity for post-fact approvals, the notification also encourages pollution with diluted regulations over industrial and development practices.

Bora alleged, "There were 30 conditions after fulfilling which industries are allowed for establishment. It was a step taken by the Congress government after the Bhopal Gas tragedy. But now we have got to know that BJP government has diluted many conditions. The BJP government has further introduced a word – "Economically sensitive area", after which no public statement will be applicable. This is quite undemocratic."

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