‘Collapse of Governance’ In MOEFCC After Aides Removed: Congress
"The Paryavaran Mantralay has become a Pravachan Mantralay," said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh, taking a swipe at the government
The Congress on Wednesday accused the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MOEFCC) of witnessing a “collapse of governance” after four close aides of Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav were removed from their posts within two days.
Senior Congress leader and former Union environment minister Jairam Ramesh alleged that the developments reflected serious administrative problems within the ministry, while also accusing the Centre of failing to protect India’s environment and forests.
Referring to the personnel changes, Ramesh claimed that appointments to ministers’ personal staff are closely scrutinised by the Prime Minister’s Office.
“During the Modi regime, all key appointments in the personal staff of Ministers are vetted by the PMO. Now four close aides of the Union minister of environment, forests and climate change have been sacked in two batches in two successive days. One of the aides is widely considered the closest of close confidants of the Minister concerned,” Ramesh said in a post on X.
He argued that the developments raised serious questions about the functioning of the ministry.
“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,” he said.
The Congress leader further alleged that the ministry had failed to address pressing environmental concerns despite growing ecological challenges across the country.
Congress alleges ministry has neglected environmental protection
Ramesh accused the Centre of allowing environmental degradation to continue across several ecologically sensitive regions while failing to tackle air pollution and climate-related issues effectively.
According to him, environmental damage continues in key biodiversity-rich areas, including the Great Nicobar Island project region, the forest belts of central and eastern India, and the Aravalli range.
He also criticised the government’s handling of air pollution, saying existing environmental standards were neither updated nor effectively enforced.
“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. But does the Modi regime even care? The Paryavaran Mantralay has become a Pravachan Mantralay,” Ramesh said, taking a swipe at the government.
The Congress’ criticism followed a series of official orders issued by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change regarding changes in the minister’s personal staff.
According to ministry orders dated July 3, the minister’s private secretary and two additional private secretaries were removed from their positions.
The private secretary was relieved from service on “administrative grounds”, while the appointment of one additional private secretary was terminated. Another additional private secretary was prematurely repatriated to his parent cadre.
The official orders did not specify detailed reasons for the personnel changes beyond the administrative decisions.
The Congress has sought to portray the reshuffle as evidence of deeper governance issues within the ministry, arguing that administrative instability has coincided with what it describes as inadequate environmental protection and weak climate governance.
The government has not publicly commented on the Congress’ allegations or on the broader political claims surrounding the personnel changes beyond the official ministry notifications.
The latest exchange adds to the ongoing political confrontation between the Congress and the BJP over environmental governance, with the opposition alleging that the Centre has prioritised rhetoric over environmental protection while the government maintains that it is pursuing development alongside conservation.
