“The members have made important suggestions. Even though their exact demands may not be part of the official amendments moved by the government... but I am open to their suggestions...I will remove all objectionable clauses or sections in the proposed law and keep the window of discussion open," Jairam Ramesh said after the completion of arguments by the MPs.
First it was BJD's Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo (36), who picked up specific sections and sub-clauses Section 14, 15, 18 of the Bill to drive home the point that it fell short on the parameters of “scope, efficiency, and access to justice". “While Section 14 fixes a rigid timeframe of six months for filing a complaint, Section 15 fixes a rigid timeframe of five years to claim compensation...Knowing the nature of different environmental damages like groundwater pollution and radiation effects, among others, these provisions would devoid the local community to seek damages," Deo argued, pointing out other issues which got a patient hearing from Ramesh.
Read the original Indian Express article here.
