PARTICULARS OF ORGANIZATION, FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES

The survival and well being of any nation depends on sustainable social and economic progress that satisfies the needs and aspiration of the present, without compromising the interest of future generations. Environmental conservation is an integral part of the socio economic development.  But the spiraling population and increasing industrialization have posed a serious challenge to the preservation of our terrestrial and aquatic eco systems. Conservation and enhancement of life support systems like land, water, forests and bio-diversity are important for ecological security of Tamil Nadu. Several initiatives have been taken by this Government for pollution abatement in the rivers and lakes, besides promoting environmental consciousness among the school children and the public at large.

The Department of Environment was created in 1995 as the Nodal Department for dealing with the task of promoting environmental consciousness in the State.  The Department is entrusted with the monitoring of major projects like pollution abatement in the river Cauvery, Vaigai, Tamiraparanai and in Chennai City waterways under National River Conservation Programme and Pollution abatement in lakes under National Lake Conservation Programme besides all aspects of Environment other than those dealt with by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.

Government of India have constituted a State Level Coastal Zone Management Authority with the Secretary to Government, Environment and Forests Department as the Chairman and the Director of Environment as Member Secretary to protect the coastal areas and to implement the provision of Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011. Proposals seeking environmental clearance under Coastal Regulation Zone Notification 2011 are scrutinized and approved or recommended by the TNSCZMA.

The department is administered by the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Forest Service Officer (IFS).  So far, the following officers have worked as the Director.

The Director of Environment and Climate Change in the cadre of Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests is assisted by an Additional Director in the rank of Conservator of Forests.

List of Officers:

A DIRECTORY OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

• Thiru. A.R. Rahul Nadh, IAS., Director
• Thiru. Vivekkumar Prasanth Yadav I.F.S., Assistant Mission Director
• Tmt. L. Sowmya, Deputy Director (Land Use)
• Thiru. V.K. Saravanan, Forest Range Officer
• Thiru. P. Arivazhan, Assistant Environmental Engineer
• Thiru. P. Kanagaraj, Asst. Programmer
• Thiru. R. Parthasarathy, Superintendent
• Tmt. Krishnaveni, Assistant
• Ms. D. Sivagami, Steno-Typist
• Ms. N.K. Visheshmi, Junior Assistant
• Thiru V. Murugan, S.G. Driver
• Thiru R. Muthukumar, Driver
• Thiru. N. Manoharan, Record Clerk
• Thiru G. Sampathkumar, Office Assistant
• Tmt. K. Padmavathi, Office Assistant
• Thiru. M. Satish, Office Assistant

PARTICULARS OF RECIPIENTS OF CONCESSIONS, PERMITS OR AUTHORIZATIONS GRANTED BY IT

This department is not granting any concession or permits.  However, the details of clearances issued by the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority are furnished in the departmental website (URL:  www.environment.tn.gov.in) along with the projects recommended to NCZMA for consideration.

DETAILS IN RESPECT OF THE INFORMATION AVAILABLE OR HELD BY IT ARE REDUCED IN AN ELECTRONIC FORM

Important and appropriate records have been computerized and are available in the departmental website viz.www.environment.tn.gov.in.

THE PARTICULARS OF FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO CITIZENS FOR OBTAINING INFORMATION, INCLUDING THE WORKING HOURS OF LIBRARY OR READING ROOM, IF MAINTAINED FOR PUBLIC USE

There is a library under ENVIS and it is open to public during office hours i.e. from 10.00 AM to 05.45 PM on all working days. The required information on Environment is also furnished by the ENVIS Centre.

THE NAME AND DESIGNATION OF THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

Deputy Director