Importance of preserving environment

National Investment Board(NIB) has been given power to make clearances without approval from the Environment Ministry. NIB can over rule other ministries when it comes to big projects.This is to facilitate making of industries faster.This is highly regrettable.Industrialists can see only profits. They will not care for the environment, which would get damaged.
Many times procedures are altered to meet deadlines and targets and these procedures violate the norms and guidelines of Department of Economic Affairs.One should not be motivated to evade rules.To meet the target, which is 20 km of road per day, orders were issued so that the National Highway Authority of India could quickly invite tenders.So tenders were invited for Public Private Partnership projects before it could be approved by Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee.Bids were invited before approvals for them were obtained, so the bidding date was extended. Traversing rules has become so casual, for environmental clearance seems so unimportant to bureaucrats.
In Goa, 169 environmental clearances were given within five years (2004 to 2009) for mining 60 million ton of iron ore every year.25% mined iron was made without clearances. Much more were mined illegally and shipped to far away shores(China) and no approvals were obtained for that.When approvals were made, there was no transparency or accuracy. Environmental impact assessment was done without knowing that the mined ore would dissolve with the many rivers there increasing the iron content of the water to dangerous levels. This affects the aquatic life and makes the water undrinkable.Between 2007 and 2008, 17 mines were cleared but they were in wild-life sanctuaries.
Mineral exploration is encouraged and even incentives are offered to develop mines. These are see as simple and easy procedures that have immense repercussions later on.
Wild life sanctuaries are affected, people's livelihoods(fishermen) are affected.Inaccurate environment impact assessment destroys the land, water and air. Without having proper parameters to assess, judgements are made. Diversity of flora and fauna cannot be ever replaced. These policies will have long term ecological impact on the country's environment.When the results come out, it would be too late.