CAG plans environment audit; convenes international conference

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) will organise an international conference on environment concerns about water pollution ahead of undertaking an environment audit, to assess `water pollution in India.'

"Issues, causes and mitigation methods relating to rivers, lakes and groundwater in the country would be addressed in the audits. The aim would also be to identify critical issues and suggest solutions, which would help the government to conserve and protect this scarce resource more effectively," an official release said.

The conference will deliberate on the causes of pollution, action taken by governments and civil society to address these concerns and environmental, management and legal interventions needed to put lakes, rivers and ground water on the path of sustainability.

Vinod Rai, C&AG of India, R K Pachauri, chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, minister of state (independent charge) for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh and Josef Moser, president of the Austrian court of audit and secretary general of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions would be addressing the conference.

More than 20 experts on water and water pollution issues would speak during the conference. The heads of supreme audit institutions from countries like Austria, Maldives, Bangladesh and Bhutan will also be present to share their experiences regarding audit of water pollution in their countries.

The conference would also take into account the vast experience and knowledge of panelists in this field to assess how the CAG can contribute meaningfully towards more effective environmental management.