State/UT Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority and Expert Appraisal Committee Constituted for Puducherry

The Central Government has constituted the State/UT Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority for Puducherry. The Authority will play a crucial role in assessing the potential environmental impacts of various projects and activities in the region. This notification was issued on 25th July, 2023.

The newly constituted State/UT Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority for Puducherry comprises the following members:

1. Dr. M. Dwarakanath – Chairman
2. Dr. V. Ravitchandirane – Member
3. Director, Department of Science, Technology, and Environment, Government of Puducherry – Member Secretary

The Chairman and Member of the Authority will serve for a term not exceeding three years from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette.

In addition to the Authority, a State/UT Level Expert Appraisal Committee has been constituted to assist in the decision-making process. The Committee members include experts from various fields related to environmental sciences and management. They will support the Authority in evaluating projects and activities from an environmental perspective.

Key highlights of the State/UT Level Expert Appraisal Committee for Puducherry:

1. Dr. K Srinivasamoorthy – Chairman
2. Dr. M. Velan – Member
3. Dr. Nehru Kumar Vaithilingam – Member
4. Dr. G. Vijayakumar – Member
5. Dr. K. Sivakumar – Member
6. Dr. R. Sridar – Member
7. Dr. S. Gajalakshmi – Member
8. Dr. A. Sankaran – Member
9. Dr. G. Pradeep Kumar – Member
10. Dr. Kumaresan Vadivelu – Member
11. Senior Scientific Officer, Department of Science, Technology, and Environment, Government of Puducherry – Member Secretary

The Chairman and Members of the Committee will serve for a term of three years from the date of publication of the notification in the Official Gazette.

To ensure transparency and avoid any conflict of interest, the members of both the Authority and the Committee are required to declare any consulting organization they are associated with, as well as project proponents. They are also prohibited from undertaking any consultation or association with projects that may be appraised during their tenure.

The Union Territory of Puducherry administration will appoint an agency to act as the Secretariat of both the Authority and the Committee, providing the necessary financial and logistic support for their statutory functions.