ALL INDIA PEOPLE’s SCIENCE NETWORK (AIPSN)
Regd. No. PKD/CA/62/2020.
AIPSN Central Secretariat, E-mail: gsaipsn@gmail.com
O/O Tamil Nadu Science Forum Ph: 094429 15101
6, Kakkathoppu Street, MUTA Building,
MADURAI-625 001-Tamil Nadu
President: General Secretary: Treasurer:
Dr. S.Chatterjee Prof. P.Rajamanickam Dr.S.Krishnaswamy
To
The Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,
Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, Aliganj
New Delhi – 110003
e-mail address: eia2020-moefcc@gov.in
5 May 2020
Dear Sir/Madam
We are writing to you regarding the Draft EIA Notification 2020 notified on 12th March 2020. As per the notification all suggestions and responses are to be sent by 11th May 2020.
As the largest science movement of the country, the All India Peoples Science Network, comprising over 36 independent Member Organizations, feels that we are an important stakeholder in the process of finalizing this significant Notification through public consultations. The Draft Notification has raised many major issues requiring careful examination. As an all-India movement, this requires is to hold intensive public interactions at the grassroots level, and then consolidating these into considered responses.
This Draft Notification was issued when many organizations and institutions were already adhering to work-to-home and physical distancing norms, and the nationwide lockdown was announced soon after, which is still in operation in large parts of the country. No meaningful discussions have been possible during this period, nor are they possible now.
In view of the circumstances, and the importance of public consultations which are not possible under the present circumstances, this letter strongly urges an extension of the deadline for responses by another 3 months at least i.e. till 11th August 2020 at the least.
We sincerely hope that this request for an extension will be granted.
Thanking you in anticipation, and with regards
Yours sincerely
P.Rajamanickam Sabyasachi Chatterjee
Secretary, AIPSN President, AIPSN
———————————————————————————————————————————–
A Network of nearly 40 People’s Science Movements working in nearly 23 states