Jayanti Natarajan's letter to Prime Minister, opposing the proposed National Investment Board (NIB) for fast-tracking environmental and other clearances
Ms Jayanti Natarajan, in this letter to the Prime Minister, had expressed concern that the proposed NIB could end up substantially leveraging corporate interests over human rights and the environment. She had said giving projects worth “Rs 1,000 crore (approximately $200 million) or more a route for fast-track appeal,...does not contemplate giving a hearing to citizens, stakeholders, or NGOs, who may be aggrieved by the impact of the project.”
The Environment Minister said, "This concept is unacceptable. The NIB has no constitutional authority to decide on the failure of any minister... when the Minister of a Ministry takes a decision, there is absolutely no justification for an NIB to assume his/her authority. Nor will the NIB have the competence to do so."