In exercise of the powers conferred by sub section 3 of section 3 of the Environment

## Policy Analysis Report: Amendment to Environmental Protection Act Notification **1. Executive Summary:** This report analyzes a notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on February 17, 2021. This notification constitutes an amendment to a previous notification (S.O. 4001E, dated December 20, 2017) under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. The core purpose of this amendment is to extend the terms of the Chairman and Members of the Authority and the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEAC) of Andhra Pradesh until June 19, 2021, or until the constitution of new bodies, whichever is earlier. The key finding is that this is a temporary measure to ensure continuity of environmental oversight in Andhra Pradesh during a transition period. **2. Introduction:** This report aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the notification issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on February 17, 2021, pertaining to amendments within the Environment Protection Act framework. The analysis is based solely on the information contained within the provided text. **3. Policy Overview:** * This notification is an amendment to the Government of India's Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change notification number S.O. 4001E, dated the 20th December, 2017. * The core objective of this amendment, as inferred from the text, is to temporarily extend the tenure of existing members of environmental authorities in Andhra Pradesh. **4. Background and Rationale:** The amendment suggests a potential delay or transition in the constitution of new environmental authorities in Andhra Pradesh. The extension of the existing members' terms indicates a need to maintain operational capacity within the Authority and SEAC of Andhra Pradesh to avoid any gap in environmental oversight and decision-making during this transition. **5. Key Provisions / Changes:** This notification introduces the following specific changes: * **Change 1:** Adds paragraph 2A to the original notification. * **New Rule/Provision:** Notwithstanding anything in paragraph 2, the Chairman and Members of the Authority, Andhra Pradesh shall hold office for a term up to the 19th June, 2021 or till the constitution of new Authority, Andhra Pradesh, whichever is earlier. * **Effect of Change:** Extends the tenure of the existing Chairman and Members of the Authority, Andhra Pradesh, until June 19, 2021, or until a new Authority is constituted, whichever comes first. This avoids a vacancy and ensures continuity of function. * **Change 2:** Adds paragraph 6A to the original notification. * **New Rule/Provision:** Notwithstanding anything in paragraph 6, the Chairman and Members of the SEAC, Andhra Pradesh shall hold office for a term up to the 19th June, 2021 or till the constitution of new SEAC, Andhra Pradesh, whichever is earlier. * **Effect of Change:** Extends the tenure of the existing Chairman and Members of the SEAC, Andhra Pradesh, until June 19, 2021, or until a new SEAC is constituted, whichever comes first. This maintains the operational capacity of the SEAC during the transition. **6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:** The primary target audience and stakeholders directly affected by these changes include: * The existing Chairman and Members of the Authority, Andhra Pradesh. * The existing Chairman and Members of the SEAC, Andhra Pradesh. * Industries and project proponents operating in Andhra Pradesh, as the environmental clearance processes are directly related to SEAC and Authority. * The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. * The Andhra Pradesh State Government **7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):** * **Responsible Agencies/Bodies:** The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change is the issuing authority. The Authority and SEAC of Andhra Pradesh are directly affected. * **Timelines:** The extension is valid until June 19, 2021, or until the new authorities are constituted, whichever is earlier. This sets a clear, albeit temporary, timeframe. * The changes are effective immediately upon publication in the Gazette of India. **8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:** The likely intended outcome of these specific changes is to: * Ensure the continuity of environmental impact assessments and regulatory oversight in Andhra Pradesh. * Prevent a lapse in environmental governance during the transition to a new Authority and SEAC. * Provide a defined timeline for the constitution of new authorities. **9. Conclusion:** The notification represents a temporary amendment to the existing environmental regulations, specifically focused on extending the terms of current members of the Authority and SEAC in Andhra Pradesh. This ensures uninterrupted environmental oversight and assessment processes until new bodies are formed. The amendment is significant as it addresses a potential gap in governance, ensuring continued compliance with environmental regulations and consistent support for industries in Andhra Pradesh.

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