Environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan, who has raised objections to the proposed National Investment Board (NIB), on Monday said that she would speak to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue.
?We will speak to the PM about the reservations we have on the issue. Whatever I have to say, I will say it in the Cabinet to the PM. But I will protect the interest of the environment,? she said.
The statement came days after Natarajan raised concerns on the very idea of such a board being made as it seeks to transfer the decision-making authority of the environment minister to the NIB.
In a five-page letter to the PM, Natarajan said: ?The current proposal is completely unacceptable as it will decimate the role of individual ministries in taking responsible decisions. The proposal assumes that environment and forest clearance are the key reason for delay in infrastructure projects and therefore, seeks to overrule the executive and decision making powers of the ministry to speed up the process.?
However, the infrastructure ministries have supported the decision of the establishing such a body as it will speed up the clearance process and boost investment. Natarajan had also raised questions on the fact if any decision by the minister is overruled by the NIB, then who would answer in Parliament.
