Photo Courtesy: nenews
Kohima: The Union Environment Ministry has officially reconstituted Nagaland's state-level environmental regulatory panels to strengthen the oversight of development projects. The update covers both the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority and the State Expert Appraisal Committee, which work together to review and approve projects that require environmental clearance.
The ministry confirmed that the chairmen and members of these bodies will serve three-year terms. The State Environment Impact Assessment Authority will now consist of a chairman, one member, and a member secretary. The State Expert Appraisal Committee, which serves as an advisory panel to examine project proposals, will be made up of a chairman, a member secretary, and four additional members.
To ensure greater transparency and neutrality in the approval process, the ministry implemented new rules regarding potential conflicts of interest. Any official who has provided consultancy services or conducted impact studies for a project proponent in the previous five years is now prohibited from participating in meetings related to that entity. The ministry stated that these measures aim to enhance the "transparency, neutrality and credibility in the environmental clearance mechanism while reinforcing oversight of developmental activities in Nagaland."
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