Hyderabad: Is an environment assessment report enough to keep polluting industries under check? It seems assessment reports are mere formality and often do not contain enough details.
“Often, facts about the project are hidden in assessment reports as they are tailor made to suit interests of companies. Even the experts on the panel fall in line to avoid hurdles,” noted professor Purushotam Reddy.
In a recent environmental assessment report, filed by representatives of Kakatiya Mega Textile Park in Warangal, the state level expert appraisal committee found that it failed to disclose that the project would disrupt the water level in the tanks near the project.
Experts have been demanding a change in procuring permissions for projects. Depending upon the nature of the project, permissions have to be sought from the Central and the state governments, who, in turn, appoint an expert committee to study the reports.
Professor Babu Rao said that environment assessment reports are often outsourced to consultants who also resort to plagiarism. “Recently, we came across a report that had lifted contents from Russia,” he said.
