With growing instances of opposition to projects due to environment issues, NCCL president JP Sharma and secretary Tejinder Singh Renu have appealed that any step which are for the prosperity of the nation must not be blocked in the name of environment.
"We agree that over-consumption of our natural resources should be avoided and a blind eye should not be turned to environment violations, but at the same time development should not be stopped," said Sharma. Copy of the memorandum has also been submitted to finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, environment minister Jairam Ramesh and commerce minister Anand Sharma.
Listing out few facts and figures, the NCCL has pointed out that the Tendulkar Committee report accepted by the Planning Commission in April 2010, says that 37% population of India lives below poverty line, while more than 400 million people in the country are missing improved housing, water supply, sanitation, education, health and social security.
Similarly, malnutrition is said to be the cause of over 50% child deaths. The NCCL states that 2.1 million Indian children die before reaching the age of 5 years. Over 350 million still need homes as the shortfall in housing is estimated to be more than 41 million units.
The NCCL further highlighted the fact that after exploiting mother earth to its best and getting developed in all senses, the developed countries are making a hue and cry of environment only to keep the developing and under-developed countries backward.
"We have to keep in mind that we need plenty of FDI to build roads, power plants and other infrastructure. The NCCL strongly believes that reducing poverty should be India's number one environmental priority and not stopping projects that bring prosperity and change," said Tejinder Singh Renu.
A copy of the memorandum has also been sent to Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) and Indian Chamber of Commerce Limited (ICCL).
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