ET BureauYes, strategic projects critical to defence in border states must be executed on priority. But the environment ministry's plan to speed things up isn't helpful. The ministry has proposed exempting these projects from the environmental clearance process, instead requiring them to stick to standard environmental safeguards. Rather than an exemption and a boilerplate environmental safeguards checklist, GoI should put in place an expedited clearance process. Disregarding environmental impacts actually undermines security and reduces the resilience of these strategic projects, the very opposite of what the plan ostensibly sets out to do.
There is an urgent need to build and augment border infrastructure, particularly along the long border with China, especially with Beijing incrementally 'mainstreaming its peripheries'. It is, however, perilous to disregard the reality that India's longest border is in the ecologically fragile Himalayan region. Activities here have regional and global implications. Environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change have security implications. Therefore, undertakings, including those related to strategic needs, must mitigate impacts.
GoI should set up a specialised committee comprising relevant multidisciplinary experts to review and set environmental norms for pipeline projects and undertake advance studies for future projects. The committee must explore ways to build required infrastructure with the smallest environmental footprint. A self-compliance system is acceptable as GoI is the project proponent. However, independent audits to assess a project's environmental viability and impact when in operation is critical. Environmental norms will strengthen, not impede, security.
There is an urgent need to build and augment border infrastructure, particularly along the long border with China, especially with Beijing incrementally 'mainstreaming its peripheries'. It is, however, perilous to disregard the reality that India's longest border is in the ecologically fragile Himalayan region. Activities here have regional and global implications. Environmental degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change have security implications. Therefore, undertakings, including those related to strategic needs, must mitigate impacts.
GoI should set up a specialised committee comprising relevant multidisciplinary experts to review and set environmental norms for pipeline projects and undertake advance studies for future projects. The committee must explore ways to build required infrastructure with the smallest environmental footprint. A self-compliance system is acceptable as GoI is the project proponent. However, independent audits to assess a project's environmental viability and impact when in operation is critical. Environmental norms will strengthen, not impede, security.
