National Consultation on Proposed Changes to Environmental Laws in India

The Institute of Public Policy, NLSIU in collaboration with Environment Support Group, Bangalore is organising a national consultation to respond to the proposed changes to the environmental laws in India on 18th July, 2022. The Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, GOI, had issued a notice inviting public comments on the Ministry’s website on 1st July 2022.  Comments from the public and State/Union Territory and Local Governments are required to be submitted via email by 21st July 2022.

The proposal has been put forth to amend various provisions of the following laws and make several environmental violations a civil offense: Environment Protection Act, 1986, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 and Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991. Besides, there are fundamental changes proposed in the Forest Rights Act, 2006, Indian Forest Act, 1927, Biological Diversity Act, 2002 and other environmental and forest protection laws.  A collation of the proposed Bills is accessible here.

To assess the implications of the proposed changes, and also to propose a pathway for progressive reforms of India’s environmental laws,  a half day consultation is being organised on 18th July 2022 (Monday) from 2 pm – 6 pm. The Consultation will be held in the Training Centre (Ground Floor) of NLSIU.

Anyone interested to participate in the event through online mode may send the request to . As this is an hybrid event to accommodate participation across the country, links will be sent to those confirming from outside the Bangalore region a few hours before the consultation.