Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday said there was no confusion in India’s position vis-à-vis China on climate change.

Responding to questions after India’s ‘sherpa” for the G20, Suresh Prabhu, called for India and China to go their own ways on climate issues in a media report, Mr. Javadekar said the matter was clarified and it was clear that he was expressing his own opinion. Ultimately it was for the Environment Ministry to articulate a stand and this matter would be discussed in the next two weeks before the climate talks begin in Lima in December.

“We are taking the climate issue very seriously and we will soon formulate our view and seek support for it,” the Minister said.

Forest rights

He clarified that the Forest Rights Act (FRA) was not being diluted and the latest notification had only made clear some facts about forests and plantations. If no tribal was living in an area for three generations why should such places be called forests? “We have not made any changes and we have only clarified the law.” These are all policy decisions.

On the Western Ghats notification, he said only two States had submitted proposals for eco- sensitive zones and some had sought more time. The IIT Consortium report on dams in Uttarakhand was being studied and some ideas were being put up.

GM trials

Regarding trials of genetically modified crops, the Minister said there were two reports pending in the Supreme Court. The Centre had consulted the States on the Environment Regulator and some had sent in replies.