The Ashok Chawla committee report on the allocation of natural resources has triggered a heated debate even before it is formally released by the government. The committee headed by a former finance secretary seeks to adopt a transparent rule- based system for exploitation of resources by all sectors, instead of often- discretionary powers exercised by the ministries concerned.
As a result, the plan to post the report on a website of the government early this month has got delayed. The committee had finalised its recommendations and presented them to a group of ministers in the first week of June. But since its recommendations will effectively change the powers of several ministries, the ministerial group has asked for further consultations with a committee of secretaries.
This could delay the formal adoption of the report by the ministries. The sectors which were examined by the Chawla committee include land, mining, coal, petroleum, natural gas, telecom, forests and water. So far no government body has ever looked into harmonising policies for all these sectors. Based on the report, ministries will have to substantially amend the laws concerning them to include the changes suggested by the group.