(a) whether a Conference of Environment Ministers, Environment Secretaries of the State Governments and the Chairmen of the State Pollution Control Boards was held in Delhi in the first week of September, 2004;
(b) if so, the main agenda of the said Conference;
(c) whether a final decision was taken on any agenda;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor and the outcome of the Conference?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIORNMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) & (b) The Conference of State Environment Secretaries / Chairmen, State Pollution Control Boards was held on 8th September, 2004 as a preparatory meeting leading to the Environment Ministers meeting on 9th September, 2004.
The main agenda items related to Draft National Environment Policy, National River Conservation Plan, National Lake Conservation Plan, Reforms in grant of environmental clearance, Pollution abatement issues and Implementation of National Biodiversity Authority Act and Wetlands Conservation Strategy.
(c) to (e) The main features of the National Environment Policy, which is on Ministry’s Web-site, were discussed, and it was decided to hold further consultations with stakeholders. The last date for the same is 15th December, 2004. Recommendations were made for resources generation for completion and maintenance of works under River Conservation Programme. The meeting decided to extend the process of consultations on process of grant of environmental clearances with various other stakeholders concerned. As for the implementation of National Biodiversity Authority, it was decided to make State Biodiversity Boards functional at the earliest. Under the Wetlands Conservation Strategy, the suggestions made included need for separate legislative measures at national and state level, and taking total economic value of wetlands into account while categorising a wetland as that of incomparable value.