Chandigarh: The ministry of environment, forest and climate change has officially reconstituted the state-level environment impact assessment authority and the expert appraisal committee for Chandigarh, establishing a new three-year term that will dictate the ecological oversight of future urban development.As the apex regulatory body, the assessment authority is tasked with the definitive approval or rejection of environmental clearances across Chandigarh’s industrial, infrastructure, residential, and commercial sectors. “The newly appointed administration ensures all proposed projects strictly comply with statutory environmental norms,” said a senior UT official.Statutory Authority FormedExecuted under legal provisions of the Environment Protection Act of 1986 and the Environmental Impact Assessment Notification of 2006, the newly-appointed board will function under centralised executive leadership.Dr Harsh Mitter, who previously served as principal chief conservator of forests for wildlife and chief wildlife warden of Himachal Pradesh, has been named authority chairman. Dr Randeep Singh Saini will serve as member, while the director, department of environment for the Chandigarh administration, will serve as member secretary.Scope of mandated projectsThe oversight of these newly-established panels strictly governs projects designated under Category B of the federal environmental frameworks. Given Chandigarh’s distinct urban landscape, the mandate heavily targets large-scale building construction and township development rather than heavy manufacturing.Under these regulations, any commercial office park, retail mall, public hospital expansion, or residential group housing society surpassing a built-up area of 20,000 square metres must secure formal clearance before breaking ground. Besides, expansive township layouts spanning more than 50 hectares or exceeding a cumulative built-up threshold of 1,50,000 square metres trigger mandatory scrutiny.Authorities will also evaluate crucial municipal infrastructure, including solid waste management operations, effluent treatment plants, and localised manufacturing units operating within the city’s designated industrial zones.Technical advisory panel structuredFinal clearance verdicts issued by the apex authority will rely directly on scientific evaluations and recommendations of the newly-restructured 10-member expert appraisal committee.The technical panel will be chaired by Dr Avinash Kumar Sharda. Additional expert panel members appointed to the committee include Professor Devinder Singh, Dr Alka Sharma Grover, Professor Daizy R Batish, Dr Sarita Gupta, engineer Daljeet Singh Cheema, and Sunil Aggarwal.The committee also integrates institutional representation from the Central Ground Water Board and the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee. A scientist from the department of environment will fulfill the role of member secretary.The advisory body is responsible for scrutinising environmental impact assessments and vetting project proposals prior to final board reviews.Operational guidelines and conflict rulesAccording to the official gazette notification, the committee must function on the principle of collective responsibility, relying on majority votes when the chairman cannot reach a consensus. To eliminate conflicts of interest, officials must declare prior consultancy ties and are strictly barred from preparing environmental assessments for any projects under evaluation during their tenure. The directive adds that if any member provided consultancy services to a proponent during the preceding five years, they must recuse themselves from those specific appraisal meetings. To ensure seamless execution, the Chandigarh administration will establish a dedicated secretariat to provide full financial and logistic support, including accommodation and transport facilities.
