NDA not different from UPA in green clearances, says CSE

Despite widespread perception, the NDA government's record of giving green clearances has "not" been different from the previous UPA regime and it has brought "selective" changes to regulations in the name of streamlining the system without strengthening grass-root institutions, a green body on Tuesday said. In an assessment of NDA government's one-year record on environmental conservation, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said the more "difficult" agenda remains "neglected" as the government has not unveiled plans to reduce air pollution in cities or to clean Ganga. "The analysis shows that there have been no major reforms to improve the green clearance processes for safeguarding the environment and lives and livelihoods of communities  rather, incremental changes have been made to 'ease the process' of project clearances.