Govt-certified auditors can assess environment projects: Ministry

Government-certified environment auditors can review projects and activities approved by the environment ministry, to ensure that norms and stipulated conditions are complied with, according to a draft notification issued by the ministry last month.

- Jayashree Nandi

The audit, the draft notification added, will encourage "self-compliance" of environmental norms by industries and also keep a check on pollution.

"Authorized Environment Audit means Environment Audit undertaken by registered Environment Auditor under the extant notification; and prior to the extant notification, Environment Audit undertaken by government recognized Environment Auditor, and/or by the Environment Auditor duly engaged by the Government or its agencies," the draft notification titled "Environment Audit Notification" and published on January 29 said.

The notification also said that a registered environment auditor refers to a certified environment auditor who is registered with the ministry for undertaking such exercises.