By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Planning and the Finance department are still examining the proposal for creation of a separate Directorate of Environment in the State.
The State Government had planned to set up the new Directorate of Environment by the end of last year.
According to official sources, the Government is now going slow with this proposal due to paucity of funds.
“The Government is not in a position to set up this Directorate immediately since a huge amount of funds is expected to be involved. Besides creation of new posts, the Government would also require to allocate funds for the creation of infrastructure for this new Directorate,” official sources informed here on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, sources also informed that the process is taking a long since it is a huge exercise as the new Directorate would include the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board, a part of the PHE along with the Forest and Environment departments.
“Other departments having a stake in environment policy regulation will be brought under the Environment department which will look after the factors affecting the environment in the State,” the official stated, adding that all the government and non-government projects will need to get clearance from the Environment Directorate before being executed.
The Directorate will also work in close relation with Mining and Geology, Industries and Forest departments.
The State Cabinet had given a nod for the creation of a separate Directorate of Environment in June 2012 to ensure proper protection of the environment.
