The centre on Friday constituted State Level Environment Impact Assessment Authority, Jammu and Kashmir, and in consultation with the State Government formulated a State Level Expert Appraisal Committee to assist the Authority.

According to a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Environment Impact Assessment Authority shall be headed by Lal Chand of Jammu.

The Authority comprises Nazir Ahmed—house number 12, Jeelanabad, Lane 1, Batpora, Srinagar —  as its member and Director, Ecology, Environment and Remote Sensing, J&K its Member Secretary.

“The Chairman and members of the Authority shall hold office for a term of three years,” the notification reads.

Further to assist the Authority,  the Government of India, in consultation with the Government of Jammu and Kashmir, constituted State Level Expert Appraisal Committee which shall be headed by Subhash Chandra Sharma of Jammu.

The members of the Committee are MA Tak, resident of Anantnag, Braj Bhushan Sharma of 278, Abdul Rashid Makroo, Professor Arvind, Dr Ghulam Muhammad Dar (Associate Professor) JK IMPA and Rural Development.

Moreover, Irfan Yasin, Professor MA Khan, Professor Falendra Kumar Sudan of Department of Economics, University of Jammu, Professor Anil K. Raina of Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Jammu, and Professor Shakil Ahmad Romshoo of Department of Earth Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar are its members.

While as Scientist, In-charge Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System Lab is Secretary of the Committee. The Chairman and members of the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee, Jammu and Kashmir shall hold office for a term of three years, the notification reads.

It further said that the State Level Expert Appraisal Committee shall function on the principle of collective responsibility and the Chairman shall endeavour to reach a consensus in each case, and if consensus cannot be reached, the views of the majority shall prevail.

According to the notification, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir shall notify an agency to act as Secretariat for the Environment Impact Assessment Authority, J&K, and shall provide all financial and logistic support including accommodation, transportation and other such facilities in respect of all their statutory functions.