New Delhi Jul 8 (UNI) The Congress on Wednesday alleged a "collapse of governance" in the union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change following the reported removal of four members of the personal staff of the union Environment Minister, and accused the Narendra Modi government of failing to safeguard the country's environment and biodiversity.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh made the allegations in a post on social media platform X, claiming that the Prime Minister's Office exercises tight control over appointments in ministers' personal staff.
"During the Modi regime, all key appointments in the personal staff of Ministers are vetted by the PMO," Ramesh said.
He further claimed that four close aides of the union Minister of Environment, Forests and Climate Change had been removed "in two batches in two successive days."
"One of the aides is widely considered the closest of close confidants of the Minister concerned," he said.
Describing the reported development as indicative of deeper administrative problems, Ramesh said, "Clearly there has been a collapse of governance in this important Ministry which has, in recent years, done little to protect the environment and forests and to deal with the implications of climate change."
The Congress leader also alleged that ecological degradation was continuing unchecked across several environmentally sensitive regions of the country.
"Ecological destruction across the country continues unabated -- including in Great Nicobar, the dense forest areas of central and east India, the Aravalli Range, and other biodiversity-rich ecosystems. Air pollution continues to extract a heavy toll on public health and standards that need to be updated and enforced are simply not. The list is endless," he said.
In a sharp attack on the Centre, Ramesh added, "But does the Modi regime even care? The Paryavaran Mantralay has become a Pravachan Mantralay."
The Congress has repeatedly criticised the Centre's environmental policies, alleging that the government has diluted environmental safeguards, weakened forest conservation mechanisms and expedited project clearances at the cost of ecological protection. It has also raised concerns over large infrastructure projects in ecologically fragile regions, including Great Nicobar Island and the Aravalli Range, while accusing the government of not doing enough to tackle worsening air pollution and the growing impact of climate change.
There was no immediate response from the government or the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change to the Congress leader's allegations. UNI SKA AAB