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Rekha Dixit
Rekha Dixit

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Harshvardhan takes charge as minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

PTI10_20_2013_000150B [File photo] Harshvardhan | PTI

Given the additional portfolio after the death of former minister Dave

Union minister for science and technology Dr Harshvardhan has been assigned the additional charge of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) following the demise of minister Anil Dave. Harshvardhan took charge on Monday and planted a sapling in the ministry's office at IP Bhavan in memory of his predecessor. 

In his will, Dave had requested to be remembered by planting of trees. Recalling Dave's words, “If I can, so can you,” Harshvardhan said the ministry would keep alive his predecessor's legacy by nurturing trees and cleaning ponds and rivers. 

Harshvardhan said it was important for the ministry to quickly adopt latest technologies and  re-engineer clearance processes to carry forward the government's commitments. He added that addressing the issue of pollution in the entire country, especially in the National Capital Region, remained the ministry's priority.

Harshvardhan will be the third minister but the first in cabinet ranks of the current NDA government to handle the ministry. His predecessors, Dave and Prakash Javadekar, held the post as ministers of state (independent charge). Since there is much overlap between the Ministry of Science and Technology and MoEFCC, Harshvardhan was the obvious and apt choice for the post. 

Despite a short tenure, Dave's term had contributed its share of controversies. It was during his tenure Delhi witnessed one of the worst smogs last November. Dave handled the crisis badly, and even said it was not his job to clean up the air. 

The ministry gains significance with India having said in its Intended Nationally Determined Commitment before the Paris Climate Summit of 2015 that it would scale up the percentage of renewable energy in its fuel mix to 40 per cent by 2030. It has also committed to reduce emissions by 35 per cent below 2005-levels by 2030, as well as create an additional carbon sink of up to three billion tonnes of carbon dioxide by planting trees. 

Also, India is on the verge of approving commercial mustard with the final approvals pending with the government. This is another contentious issue for the ministry, given the pro- and anti-debates surrounding genetically modified crops. The previous UPA government had put a moratorium on GM brinjal nearly a decade ago. With the policy on biotechnology clearances (and not just genetically modified crops) in limbo, there is an urgent need for a dose of revivalism. 

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