New Delhi,PTI) India was firming up its stand which it will present in the crucial UN conference on climate change to be held in Peruvian capital Lima next month, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Friday.
The minister also ruled out there was any “confusion” in the government over the stand to be taken at the upcoming United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) when asked about the reported remarks by India’s ‘sherpa’ for G-20 Suresh Prabhu that aligning with China on climate issue was hurting the country.
“There is no confusion… Yesterday, in a press conference has made it very clear… what he explained was his opinion.”
“Ultimately, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in consultation with all experts, Prime Minister’s council on climate change and everything articulates our stand,” the Minister said in response to a question on Prabhu’s reported remarks.
Javadekar said the ministry will be in the process of consultation for next two weeks to formulate a policy on climate to be adopted at the Lima conference.
“So, Lima we are taking very seriously,” he said, adding that the country was in the process of getting more and more support for that.
He also rejected suggestions that the Forest Rights Act (FRA) was being diluted.
He said the latest notification on FRA had only made clear some facts about forests and plantations.
If no tribal is living in an area for three generations why should such places be called forests, Javadekar asked.
“There is no dilution. We have not taken a new decision.
It is just a clarification of state of fact. There is nothing new, no dilution,” he said and added that the government’s motto is “development without destruction.” PTI ADS