The NDA government came to power promising greater accountability and transparency in higher echelons of government. But, on issues of environmental rights and attendant public interests it has instead worked in stealth mode on one too many occasions. It is secretively deciding important policy issues that impact large sections of society.

The impact of some of these policies are also likely to be irreversible once unleashed. The lack of information on these occasions has only ensured lack of public engagement beyond that by vested interests. As a result the people are being handed ...